Things have been pretty slow over the last year, so to speed them up, I started a new photo project.
Phoenixville Firebird Festival 2013
Once again, the best festival in town has come and gone. This years Firebird Festival took place in a new location, on the North Side of Phoenixville during a snow/ice storm. The weather was completely terrible, heavy snow turning to freezing rain covered the beautiful bird with a pale glaze which was no match for the inferno which it quickly became. Here’s some pics!
Long Beach Island, May 2013
We finally made it to the shore for the first time this year. It’s been almost 6 months to the day that hurricane Sandy smashed this place, and a lot of the damage still remains. The apartment my parents stay in was thankfully untouched as its on the second story, however until 2 weeks ago, there was no staircase to get in the door. This was also the last trip in the field with my beloved Canon 5D. I’ve finally upgraded cameras and passed the 5D along to my buddy Brendan. No fish were caught, the weather was overall terrible and it was a great time, here’s some of my favorite…
Steel Site Hike
Probably the most interesting feature in our new found hometown is the abandoned Phoenixville Steel site. Ages ago, the steel mill built this town and up through the 1980’s, was the chief employer in town. The mill went out, and the site, which separates town from Mont Claire/across French Creek is one big, bizarre open space. Debris, abandoned rail lines, smoke stacks, bridges & brick cellars dot this landscape, remnants of this centuries aged industrial wheel. Needless to say, it makes for great photography, and how amazing would it have been to hit this place in the mid 90’s? The town has multiple bids on this property, condos, apartments, minor league baseball,…
Slow Spring…
Philadelphia Too much work and not enough photography as of late.
Valley Forge Snow
Here’s a couple snaps from the first snow of the year back in December.
Firebird Festival 2012
Its wild to think we’ve been here for over a year, and that this is the second Firebird Festival we’ve attended. This is probably the most interesting and worthwhile of Phoenixville’s events, and definitely worth checking out. Steel was this town’s main industry, the Phoenix becoming the icon for the intense forges. The mill went out of business in the 80’s, and the town fell into poverty, apparently Phoenixville was a pretty terrible place. The festival started in the 2000’s, as the town slowly (and still is) turning a new leaf and becoming a nicer place. Its a great way to turn the page on the year. Firedancers/eaters from theplayingmantis.com group
Greg & Tina
Recently, I had a chance to fly back to the Rose City to shoot good friends, Greg & Tina’s wedding. Great day for a wedding in North Portland, and always great seeing friends. Here’s some of my favorite shots.
Mamiya RZ67
I picked this camera up a few years ago on Craigslist from a studio shooter, and have shamefully only run a dozen or so rolls through. This camera, though huge, is a joy to shoot, and hopefully if all things go right, I will be using it for an upcoming project, shooting a ghost town here in SE Pennsylvania. Excited about the potential of the project on the akinator game and this wonderful machine. James Cascade Locks, Oregon Fish Creek, Oregon
Bar Portraits
Tony A couple shots from the local watering hole. Ryan Slim