Kensington by night

I've half-heartedly started working on a photo-essay of Kensington, the neighborhood where I'm living. It can be interesting at times, but I just don't think I have the time to do it justice. That would require spending a lot of time going to events and trying to get to know the people, and I just don't think I have it in me.

I do, however, like some of the photos I get at night, when evening drops a veil over everything, and the lighting makes everything seem a little more exciting, kind of like a lit stage.

In this photo, the boarded-up house would just be another boarded-up house (and believe me, there are plenty), but here it kind of becomes just a little more interesting. The shakiness, I think, helps. Even though the scene is empty, this can be a scary neighborhood at times. And although I'd like to photograph THAT, to be honest, I just can't cut it. I'd be robbed, or beaten, or killed. Maybe all three.

GUIDO

Pan, with his wild flamer
Now drives
A white Trans-Am.
I can't find anything
Sexual
In him,
He eats garbage...
And speaks the same



(published by Dot Dot Dot, May 1992)
followed by a quick blurb...

"Can't sing, can't dance,
likes to paint...
I know I can't wait for fate
to shape me and fear that
maybe I've been standing for
too long in drying concrete."


And I guess that's true. I have been standing for too long in drying concrete. That was 17 years ago. I haven't submitted anything for publication since (there were a few other pieces through Dot Dot Dot). Nor have I done any real painting or photography. The muse has never left me though, I've just been lazy. Oh, yeah, she comes and goes, but I just haven't written or produced. Usually when I'm inspired it's at an awkward time, when I'm away from home, and usually when I'm at work. 98% of my ideas have never been transfered from brain to paper. Partly because the timing's bad, and partly because for me once I've had the idea and experienced it, it's no longer new and exciting to me. It's been done. And I know I need to share that, and that's why I'm trying to open up a little bit more here.

Quite often a photo can benefit from some tweaking (burning and dodging, etc.), be it in the darkroom or in Photoshop, but this one seems pretty good as it is. I fooled around with it, but when you start to adjust it you lose the flatness that it has. And I guess without the flatness you kind of lose the perception of what it really is. It starts to look assembled... photoshopped ;) On the other hand, this is just another shot of a mannequin and a reflection of the street. I like the intersection in the middle though.

Another interesting guy. His expression is unclear, but he's obviously not having a good time at the moment. He seems anxious. Maybe angry. Maybe not... it might just be the sun in his eyes. Still, there's a tension to his posture.




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The posture of the man leaning on the door is kind of unusual. You're not really sure if he's looking for something, or waiting for someone, or just taking a moment to enjoy the weather. He has an almost classical pose. That's what catches your eye. But I also like the coolness of the photo. It's very blue. This was taken on one of those early summer days when it's almost cold in the morning, and the aqua tint of the photo really translates that. Then there's the little triangle of a pine tree and the boxes and bikes to the right that give it dimension. It's just a simple shot but I think it's nice.

Geez, I don't know what to say about this one. I guess I don't need to say anything; it's so simple. Kind of like potty humor, but fun.





















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Creepy store window. It glows! There's a gnome or two to the left, and then a skull sitting on the table to the right. Fancy, but weird.



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