A Photo Geeks ups and downs through words and images.
As we entered the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Center. I looked to my left to see this shadowy, low lit hallway. It was the beginning of what turned out to be a historical journey through an often ignored important part of our history.
As I sit here with my wife watching a You Tube video titled “Ghost towns and Abandoned places.” I wonder aloud, “Are my days of exploring uncharted territory and off limits properties over?” As early as the age of seven. (Long before I had a camera or the aching to use one. I was exploring the many off limits junk yards, body shops and construction sites of my Queens neighborhood. There was a burnt out house a few blocks from where my Dad lived and believe me, we explored every nook and cranny of the two story home and seperated garage. Getting a camera and reaching the age of accountability changed little. I still had that explorers curiousity and drive to find what was beyond that “No Trespassing” sign. My hopes are that there is still plenty of that desire to explore, and my ability to ignore my wife when she snaps, “Chop, Chop!” or overthinks every I make to ignore those posted warning signs.
Earlier today while enjoying breakfast at at Washington DC’s Union Market. I conversed with a stranger, recommending one of the booths for their outstanding pastrami sandwich. (Yeah, I know I shouldn’t be eating pastrami for breakfast. But I’m from New York City. So here’s my get out of food jail card.) I haven’t been very social and conversations with complete strangers have become something of the past. Considering his reaction to my recommendation and the smile that came with it. I went away feeling good.When I ran into him again as we were heading to our car. He approached me with that same smile telling me that he took my recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it. That small exchange made me feel like my old self again. The person who made friends with a smile and a wink. A tip of the proverbial hat. I miss that guy.
Get weird. Be weird. Stay weird.
Recently, while out and about, we stopped at a farm stand to pick up some fresh groceries to take home and enjoy. Like with most farm stands, there were some animals and a small area for feeding. I was lucky to capture a moment where a couple of goats were checking me out rather than ignoring me while going about their business. For as long as I can recall, I’ve always savored the moments I had out of the city. Having images to take home and enjoy are priceless. This was definitely one of them.
As we drove across the vast farmlands of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. My wife turned to me and asked what it was about these trips that brought such excitement and admiration. I said, “Think of all those TV shows and movies where the subject who grew up on a farm and the experience of wonderment they experience upon arriving in the big city. Now reverse it and take the city boy out to the country. (Omitting all the cliche Hollywood troupes where the character scoffs at the idea before learning a life altering lesson.)” As someone who’s closest experience with camping was as a drunken teen falling asleep on a rock in New York City’s Central Park. A trip to the country is pretty damn cool.
Taken earlier today at Washington DC’s Dupont Station while finishing up our visit to the areas busy farmers market. My wife picked up lots of greens and and enough apples to make a pie. While I was able to take a few worthy shots while getting my first sunburn of the season.
An Ethiopian breakfast in Washington DC. A stop at the old familiar and nearby National Harbor and our first, and probably last reminder to never again indulge in fast food, marked a pretty damn good beginning to our first full weekend since my wife travelled to Tokyo to visit her family. As much as I enjoy my solitude. I am forever grateful to have such a wonderful person to share my life and travels with. Like a ferris wheel. Life is full of ups, downs and in-betweens. Having someone special to experience it with, only makes the road worth traveling.
Since moving back east, we’ve been to over twenty breakfast joints. Eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, french toast, sausage, bottomless breakfast bowls and countless other breakfast dishes. Yet, for some reason, trips to random Waffle House locations excite me like no other. I took this picture a few weeks back on our way home from Philadelphia. Though I ordered a breakfast bowl. This marked the first time we ever had dinner at one of their locations.Here’s to starting the day off right. Or, in this case, ending one on a positive.
Below is another image from my time at Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary. While taking pictures, I learned a lot about the way prisons were run. How inmates and employees interacted and early influences on the current penal system. I hope to go back in a few months, but for now I’m very happy with the images and knowledge I left with.
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