Even Nothing is Something: Mindful Photographs of Suburbia

Within the Past year, I've photographed scenes ranging from the mountains and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park to the monuments in Washington, D.C., to the Manhattan Skyline to the rustic landscapes near my home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. When I photograph these places, most of my images have a significant subject in center stage:  The Empire State Building, Half Dome, The Lincoln Memorial, etc.  

My photographs in this post are a bit different. There are no famous skyscrapers or mountains or monuments.  But as John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Perhaps you remember the "Seinfeld" exchange between George and Jerry as the two are pitching a show idea to NBC executives:

GEORGE: The show is about nothing.

JERRY: Well, it's not about nothing.

GEORGE: No, it's about nothing.

JERRY: Well, maybe in philosophy. But, even nothing is something.

In a similar way, the following photographs are of "nothing." People don't travel for thousands of miles to see the stairs in back of a Giant supermarket or the water droplets on a plastic bag.  Often we pass by these situations without noticing them, but these mundane subjects can create beautiful or interesting patterns and abstract designs.  In the spirit of "mindfulness," the trick seems to be to slow down and focus our attention in a non-judgmental way on the present situation.  Here are my recent photographs of "nothing."

Back of Giant Supermarket,
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania

Ice and Water Droplets
On My Car

Railing on the Side of the Road
Core Creek County Park,
Middletown Township, Pennsylvania

Kitchen Chair with Shadow (in Our House) 

Manhole Cover (with Snow),
Sidewalk Outside Starbucks,
Yardley, Pennsylvania

Office Building
Newtown, Pennsylvania

Side of Building with Railing,
Lambertville, New Jersey

Winter Tire Tracks,
Starbucks Parking Lot,
Yardley, Pennsylvania

Water Droplets on Newspaper Bag
(Our Driveway) 

Back of Giant Supermarket,
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania

Spring Flowers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

After a seemingly endless winter, I was more than ready for signs  of spring:  warmer days, the start of the baseball season, and spring flowers.  I've gone out several times during the past two weeks to photograph flowers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  The photographs below were taken at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve (in New Hope, Pennsylvania), and various locations in Yardley, Pennsylvania (next to Lake Afton, and a Dogwood Tree near the old cemetery on Yardley-Morrisville Road).  After the grays and whites of winter, its great to see the assortment of spring colors.  To see more of my flower, nature and landscape photographs, click HERE.

Beautiful Walls in the Inner City: Photographing Philadelphia's Murals

When people think of Philadelphia, what often comes to mind are the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks, or Rocky Balboa.  The Philadelphia Museum of Art, whose steps were immortalized in the Rocky films, displays some of the world's truly magnificent and famous works of art.  But one of the interesting (and I think very cool) things about Philadelphia is that hundreds of beautiful and inspiring paintings are on permanent exhibition, all over the city, in plain view.  Over the past few years (most recently a few days ago) I made trips into Philly to explore and photograph these wonderful murals.  

"Famous Franks" 
345 S. 13th St. 

"Common Threads"
Broad and Spring Garden Streets

"Heavenly Hall"
40th and Poplar Streets

"Dr. J"
1219 Ridge Ave.

"It Has To Be From Here…Forgotten but Unshaken"
3263 N. Front Street

"Jackie Robinson"
2803 N. Broad Street

John B. Stetson School
320 B Street

"Father Paul Washington"
3405 Ridge Avenue

"Healing Walls (Victims Journey)"
3065 Germantown Ave.

"Philadelphia Muses"
S. 13th and Locust St.

"Philadelphia Stars: a tribute to Negro League baseball"
4304 Parkside Ave.

"Progress for Women"
1307 Locust St.

As I photograph the murals, at times I tried to highlight a particular section or detail (see my photographs of "Common Threads" or "Progress for Women" above).  Other times I tried to show how the mural is situated within a neighborhood (see "Jackie Robinson" or "Healing Walls" above).  Prior to venturing into Philly, I always map out a few murals which seemed interesting (using my online resources, below).  While I always tried to reach predetermined locations, I always had "happy accidents", in which I was looking for a particular place only to stumble upon another beautiful wall.

Most of these murals were created as part of Philadelphia's MURAL ARTS PROGRAM. Visit their website to learn more about their mission and their interesting 30+ year history.  To search murals by theme, artist, or section of the city, use "muralBase," and click HERE.  To see more of my photographs, or to purchase a print, visit my online ETSY shop, and click HERE.

Saratoga Springs, New York

I'm just back from a day in beautiful Saratoga Springs, New York (picking my older son up from his 3-week summer program).  I had a little extra time (my middle-aged bladder usually doesn't allow me to sleep much past 6 a.m.), so my Cannon 7D and I went out to explore the area.  The sign to an old diner caught my eye, and I was lucky enough to have a clear morning with blue skies.  Perhaps the older I get, the more charm & character I see in these vintage signs - a nice break from the familiarity of Home Depot, Target & McDonald's (I'm NOT lovin' it!).

Saratoga Springs has loads of cool shops - Saratoga Salsa & Spice Company, Bettie's Cakes (an deliciously awesome cupcake store, that makes you feel like you woke up in 1958...).  On our way to lunch, the cool collection of cowboy boots in front of Saratoga Saddlery got my attention.....