Gentrification...Washington,DC

Every major metropolitan area goes through periods of gentrification where a once undesirable area transforms and reinvents itself. One example in Washington,DC is the H Street Corridor South East of the US Capital. Currently there are many changes(including renaming it the Atlas District) that is first noticed by the improvement of the sidewalks and the main thoroughfare. Additionally a trolley car line is being built to serve transportation needs and provide ambience.

Of course repairing the streets and sidewalks is a good thing, but my question is, did they not need repairing before the neighborhood started to change ?

A little history about H Street includes the fact that it was one of Washington's earliest & busiest commercial districts including the location for the first Sears Roebuck store. The area started to decline after WW2 and was severely damaged during the 1968 riots. Back in 2002 concrete plans were made to revitalize the area but is has been slow in coming. 

There are several neighborhoods in DC  I cold have chosen to write about but H Street/ Atlas District is still up and coming and frankly who is to say it will ever come all the way back. Interspersed amongst the new live music venues, tea & coffee lounges are wig shops, nail salons, liquor stores and check cashing joints.

Progress is being made for sure, and hopefully the new Atlas District can retain some of it's current charm (and residents) and become a great example of urban renewal not urban recycle.

4 Women...

Washington,DC
Soweto, South Africa
Washington,DC
Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic

Four Women is one of my many favorite Nina Simone songs. Powerful. She sings of four women in particular but they represent all women and the strength that they possess. The song tells the stories of these women and their trials and tribulations but ultimately speaks about their power. The fotos here are of four women of different ages, nationalities and stations in life. I love Women and I respect Women. Very intriguing beings. The more I know, the more I want to know.

What are these women's stories ? What is yours ?

One day at a time...

What does the name Home Depot mean to you ? Well, for most Surbanites it is where they go to either fix up or beautify their slice of the American dream with a new kitchen with a Sub Z fridge and Viking range or a new entertainment center to house their new flat screen.

There is another side of the Home Depot equation, and that is the plight of the day laborer who patiently waits in the parking lot for a shot at getting work and a piece of the dream...at least for the day. I find it interesting and paradoxical the juxtaposition of these two groups. America is growing and changing but there is still a huge gap and becoming less about race and more about class...food for thought.

Celebrating life !!!

Like everyone else, Haiti has been on my mind and in my prayers this last week. I have never been to Haiti but have been to the Dominican Republic several times and fell in love with the beauty of the people and the country. The purpose of this blog post is not to highlight the terrible tragedy that is happening now but I want to illuminate the spirit,pride and energy of the Caribbean people.

These fotos were taken in the Summer of 2009 and capture the essence of the DC Caribbean Festival parade down Georgia Avenue in Washington,DC. There is a huge extended family of Caribbean immigrants in the US and DC in particular and my hope is that Haiti rises as a stronger and better nation and can begin to celebrate life again.

The Commute...

Living in a major metropolitan city has it's advantages but traffic grid lock is not one of them.

I took a few pictures of Washingtonians making their way home. Something needs to happen to ease this traffic congestion...personally I vote for mass transit. What do you think ?

Everyday People...not just a song

Heredia, Costa Rica

Soweto, South Africa
Washington, DC - Chinatown

Chang Mai, Thailand

In perusing my foto library, in preparation for this blog post I realized that I have many types of fotos - landscapes, architecture, sunsets, etc. but the type of fotos that really get to the heart of Soulfotography are the shots of everyday people doing everyday things. I have included a few that capture the essence and soul of all of us...near and far. Enjoy.

Diner Night

Hanging on a string...

Another image from back in the day. Was hiking one day with the camera and saw this solo leave literally hanging on a string. Sometimes life is like that but the key is to hang on...

First One

This is the first photograph I had published on the www back in 2006. Big shout out to Zach Barocas at the culturalsociety.org I've come a long way since then and now take fotos and not pictures. Looking forward to big things stay tuned...