A tribute of sorts to Katie Yang. Not exactly like her ongoing series of film photos of things in alleyways, but here are some alleyways I’ve photographed, all on black-and-white film.
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I think it has been a mistake the way we stopped building residential neighborhoods with alleys. They accommodated the uglier parts of life (like trash collection) and kept the streets cleaner and more beautiful.
True. But it is more infrastructure to maintain.
Unfortunately some alleyways in some residential neighborhoods could get far, far too gritty and still not stop the streets from also looking dirty. Unfortunately San Francisco has hit the bottom in every alleyway in the downtown core and out into the immediately surroundings where there are alleyways. Shame as I was there all the time in the 70s, there every weekend in the 80s (girlfriend), and lived there all through the 90s. Haven’t set foot there for anything other than visiting a nursing home several times between 2016-2019 out near Japantown.
Love it! So many interesting details in them. I wish I could go to where you are and photograph those alleyways.
It would be fun to see how you treated Indiana’s alleys!
This is going to sound strange but I like alleys and the view of the world from a good one. You can watch people go by without knowing you are there and the alley tends to frame the view in a way you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.
I never thought of that!
Ha. Most normal people wouldn’t!
More contrast = more drama. Just a suggestion.
Noted.
Thanks, Jim (and Katie!)
😉
Photo Trick Number One, from my early 20’s. Find the grungiest alley in no matter what little community you live in, and if you photograph a rock band in there, they look like they’re from New York…
It’s good to know these tricks!
[…] blogger Jim Grey shared some terrific photos of alley views. I mentioned to him that I like alleys for a couple of […]
