Iladelphia Christmas part ONE

Christmas is my favorite season, and my city has once again exceeded my expectations. I love this time of year because:

1) It’s a time for spiritual reflection, a time to celebrate family and love.

2) The city is transformed by lights and Christmas trees, a true winter wonderland.

3) As the sign outside Kenneth Cole at 16th and Walnut says “Make gift giving your forte” – I love thinking about and buying unique and personalized gifts for the people I love.

Here is a little taste of Christmas, Philly style. This set of photographs focuses on “Christmas Village”, an area around city hall of makeshift shops selling gifts, food, and trees, as well as a stage for performances. There was controversy a few weeks ago about the name “Christmas Village” not being inclusive of all in the city. For a few days the “Christmas” portion of the sign was taken down. A few days later it was put back up. I am all for inclusiveness and celebrating all cultures and religions. But that seemed to be a bit over the top. People will clamor about anything these days.

More to come.



1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.

7.

Despite the 65 degree weather this weekend, Fall has finally arrived in the city of brotherly LOVE. A chill has been in the air for over a month, but we are only now at the peak of the beautiful reds (see photographs 1-3), yellows (see photographs 4-6), and oranges (see photograph 9) that mark the annual transition into winter. I am no fan of cold weather, but this beautiful time of year is one reason that the northeast, and its four seasons, is worth it.

I’m not sure my photographs do it justice, but here is my attempt capture the natural beauty we have the fortune of witnessing once a year! Enjoy.



1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.

7.

8.

9.

untitled

1.




2.




3.




4.




5.

Schuylkill After Dark

Colored balls of light floating on water. Art or just something cool? It’s not for me to judge, so I won’t. But. It did inspire me to go down to the Schuylkill River after dark and shoot some pretty cool photographs. I shoot without a tripod, so nighttime photography can be challenging. I discovered that I have hands as steady as a surgeon. It also inspired lots of Philadelphians to come down to the river and enjoy the unusually warm late October weather. Just another reason why I heart you Philly :)



1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.

7.

Old City

Old City is, well . . . old.

It is in this part of the city where much of the historical stuff is – Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House (see Photo 3), Elfreth’s Alley (the nation’s oldest residential street; see Photo 6), and more. It is also home to a wide array of excellent restaurants, cute shops, galleries, and night spots. There is a certain bustle about Old City that I find attractive. On the first Friday of every month, for example, all the galleries keep their doors open late, and people come from all over to enjoy art, food, and people watching.

No matter the reason for a particular trip to Old City, I experience a sense of history, our history, that leaves me feeling more connected to the strangers around me. Just another reason why I love Philly.



1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.




7.




8.




9.




10.




11.

theme(less) two

A small collection of photo's related to each other only in that they are what my eyes are attracted to in this fabulous city. I love how if you take ten different people and drop them in one city (or even one street in one city), they will inevitably see ten totally different things. This is the essence of what makes art, and life, continually interesting.



1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.

7.

8.

Streetball I

Growing up, we had one TV in my house, and I was only allowed to watch it for 2 hours a week. Yes, I said per week. One of those hours was on Friday night – the first hour of TGIF. You can imagine then my anger when one Friday night my father informed me that I would not be able to watch TGIF because he was going to watch the Knicks game. “You want me to miss half my weekly allotted TV time for basketball? WHAT???” With nothing else to do, I watched the game under protest. I had never actually watched a basketball game before this night. My furious sulking slowly turned to intrigue.

Thus started my love of basketball and my obsession with the Knicks. I was in sixth grade.

All these years later, the Knicks suck and I haven’t had much to cheer for, but I still heart the game. I was delighted, then, when a friend brought me to a local Philly park where daily pickup games are played. Streetball. The boys play after school, and they are replaced by the men who come after work. There is something exhilarating about watching people play this most raw version of the game, purely for the competition, the passion, the bragging rights.

This is my first foray into sports photography. Comments, as always, are appreciated.

Boy first. Men to follow.



1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.

7.

8.

9.

10.