Here's your chance to tell an Inquirer photographer where to go.
I'm ready to hit the road again. It won't be the regular weekly road trips for the newspaper this summer, like I did last year, but I still want to explore the region occasionally.
I received many photographs from readers last summer, and many suggestions of places I should visit, so that's exactly what I'll be doing: Driving to the places you send me.
Last summer Ann Spaeth of Miquon sent me some of her photos of old covered bridges in Lehigh County, including this one of Rex's Bridge (1858) over Jordan Creek.
She suggested I check them out, as did Drexel economics professor Roger A. McCain, who told me it was the "pictorial appeal" of the bridges that first hooked him, but in the true spirit of the summer Road Trip, they provided him a "fun reason for a drive in the country."
Still true (even with gasoline costing over $4. per gallon) and I intend to take them up on their suggestion.
This is exactly the kind of serendipity I already enjoy working on the streets of Philadelphia. On Tuesday, I stumbled across a just-graduated (B.F.A., crafts) artist outside City Hall yesterday.
I was covering two different press conferences there and in between, I passed Alex Irvine, 22, of South Philadelphia who had his camera on a tripod pointed toward a "black stoneware" ceramic sculpture. I asked him about it, made a few photos of him and the reactions of passersby before I had to move on. He was still there after I finished the second press conference, so I shot more photos, and then, when he had finished, I followed him as he pushed his "self portrait" toward the University of the Arts.
I will continue to celebrate and share scenes like this, which serve to remind us to enjoy the journey - even one just a few blocks down South Broad with a 150-pound work of art - rather than focusing on the destination.
Click on the links here, here, here and here to revisit some readers photos from last year. I look forward to posting more here this summer as well. Like last year, please send them to me as jpeg attachments, in an email to roadtrip@phillynews.com
Comments (2)
Hi Tom, one thing that always interests me is the amazing variety of places that you can see the Philadelphia skyline from. Last night I was driving on Union Landing Road in Cinnaminson and went past a small farmer's market stand in a corn field. And peeking out over the field were the tops of Liberty 1 and 2 and the Comcast tower! It was a totally rural scene with an unexpected urban view. It made me wonder what other interesting locations also are within sight of the city skyline.
Posted by Rosemary | June 19, 2008 8:58 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 08:58
Rosemary, photographer B.Love, who is MISTER Philadelphia Skyline - http://phillyskyline.com - has made a few photos over the years just like the one you describe. Her are links to some of his far away, but still within sight photos (along with his descriptions):
From afire tower Pine Barrens (32 miles away)
http://phillyskyline.com/misc/wallpaper_pinebarrens_skyline.jpg
Above the Northeast Extension in between Lansdale and Quakertown (also about 32 miles)
http://phillyskyline.com/misc/wallpaper_071217a.jpg
From on top of the Tidewater Grain Elevator only 5 miles south in South Philly (shot with wide angle lens) three days before it was imploded.
http://phillyskyline.com/misc/wallpaper_071227a.jpg
About 2 inches above the Delaware River at Neshaminy State Park (14 miles as the crow flies).
http://phillyskyline.com/misc/wallpaper_070715.jpg
Posted by TomG | June 25, 2008 2:43 PM
Posted on June 25, 2008 14:43