West Huntington: October 27, 2013 - 6:00PM

More stories to continue... but in the meantime, here are the images.



You're The Only Dancer, Oct. 27, 2013





Homeless woman fixes her hair, Oct. 27, 2013



Homeless lady with stroller in the West End, Oct. 27, 2013

Homeless couple in the West End, Oct.21, 2013

Boot in the middle of the road in the West End, Oct. 27, 2013

 

 

10TH ST W, Oct. 27, 2013 

 

Mother with step-daughter at old West Middle, Oct. 27, 2013



Monday, October 21, 2013 - 5:30PM

The very next day, during the beginning of our class time for this New Deal Era project when we meet on Mondays, we had an opportunity to walk around the neighborhood close to the Board Office or get in our cars to find a location or subject to shoot.  Hunter Roush, a teacher and friend of mine who's also in my class, partnered up and decided to walk in the general location of 5th Avenue immediately.  The think that first caught my eye was sign dancing lady from Little Caesar's so I approached her and asked to take her picture but she declined.  So we first made it to the building immediately beside the Little Caesar's, Hanlin's Shoe Repair. So we walk in and start a conversation with the owner, Wayne Hanlin.  We briefly told about him what the project was about and at first he seemed hesitant, saying it was close to closing time.  But as we were still exchanging dialogue he at some point changed his mind and said it was alright (maybe he felt more comfortable about the idea as we added a little further in detail of what the project was about..)  So, we asked him if we could take a few pictures of his workshop.  He agreed to show us around.  He was a real super nice guy all-around answering all of our questions and was very hospitable.  We wanted to know if we could see him working on sewing something up if he could at all possible.  He didn't have anything that needed patching, but luckily I had on my classroom-battle tested dress loafers with a couple rips in them. (Thanks Marshall's clearance aisle Calvin Klein shoe selection!)  To my defense, the shoes were recently bought and holes early in their development...well, mid-development....I digress. So he fixed both shoes (yes, both had holes in them) for me, right in front of my eyes with double the amount of original stitching over top of the rip and voila! my shoes were fixed in a lickety split.

Wayne told us stories about how this is has been a family business for quite some time in Huntington.  I didn't even really know it existed.  All of this equipment that he has in his workshop were actually his father's when he ran the store in its former downtown Huntington location years ago.  Most of the equipment are antiques and he told us they are worth a great deal in themselves because they're so rare to find and still fully functional.  I just wish I'd taken more pictures of Wayne using or even standing beside some of the vintage equipment....(I suppose that will be for a repeat visit.). So here are a couple of the pictures from that session. 

Oh, and guess how much it cost me to fix my shoes?  I offered money, but Wayne wouldn't take my money.  Like I said before super nice guy all-around.  Totally recommend his service and he does a variety of repairs and customization to your shoes and other products.

Check him out at: Hanlin Shoe Repair
                              2887 Fifth Avenue
                              Huntington, WV 25702
                              (304) 522-6632


Cobbler (Wayne Hanlin) fixes my shoe, Oct. 21, 2013

Cobbler shows off his custom shoes, Oct. 21, 2013 

Here are a couple more shots from that day of shooting.  We met a few interesting people who were nice enough to briefly let us in to their lives and talk with us for a few moments.  Stories accompanying them will follow soon.

Grandson of man who passed out American flags, Oct. 21, 2013

 

Man and his clock workshop, Oct.21, 2013

 

RC owners' workshop, Oct. 21, 2013

The other end of the RC owners' workshop, Oct. 21, 2013

 

 



Sunday, October 20, 2013 - 7:00PM

It was very late by the chance I got to get out and take pictures this evening.  It seems I'm always fighting for the last remaining beams of sunlight when I've taken shots recently.  I think part of it is a conscious decision to photograph at sunset and get some pretty colors captured.  But the other half is just simply not having enough time to snap pics in general and that's really the only opportunity I get to shoot.  For this shoot, like most times, I don't have any real direction that I'm heading to when I walk out the door.  I just have the intention to capture candid shots of people in my shots so I typically end up going north in the general direction of downtown.  After a few minutes of random lollygagging around town, I made the conscious decision to go to Harris Riverfront Park.  Since there was a very pretty sunset forming and I hadn't got to shoot the Ohio River up to that point, I thought it was a good idea.

Upon getting there, I happened upon some kids (some past and current HHS students) sitting around on the sidewalk beside the restrooms watching each other perform tricks on their boards.  I tried to get a good group picture of the kids, but with the sunlight quickly fading, I couldn't capture a good enough pic without having a little blur.  But I did take a few shots of one particular skater in general.  He was very excited to get his picture taken and was very animated when I took his shots.

Skater points at the camera at Harris Riverfront Park, October 20, 2013

Skater flashes a peace sign at Harris Riverfront Park, October 20, 2013

 

With the last few gasping rays of sunlight remaining, I went down to the amphitheater and tried to capture the stunning beauty of the sunset, the Ohio River, and the bridge together in unison.  It just so happened that the three bikers were strolling by as I was taking this shot and their appearance in the picture is well timed in respect to composition of the photo.

Sunday evening, October 13, 2013

I had a very busy weekend out of town and neglected to take any new pictures this entire weekend...until I got home on Sunday evening around 6:30pm.  With about an hour of daylight remaining, I went out and started to take shots and realized I forgot my memory card in my laptop...so I went back home and picked it up and started back in in a different direction....I wound up on 9th Avenue first, where I had a brief conversation with the man who operates the "King Kool" ice cream van, where he was serving the neighborhood children goodies.  I explained the scope of this project.  He was very responsive and provided his own insight by explaining the effects of the government shutdown into the parallels we are making with the New Deal era.  In this shot he is mid-conversation explaining his perspective.

King Kool man, October 14, 2013

 

 

For the next stop, I ended up on 8th Avenue near 10th Street.  I saw a man sitting by himself outside of a church, River Cities Lighthouse church.  I introduced myself to the man and explained the scope of this project. He was very nice and seemed amused by the whole proposition.  I think I'm going to have to start taking a notepad / audio recorder to these shots, because I'm beginning to realize that I'm not doing these people I meet justice they deserve, unless I start to recall their names and retell their stories in more detail.

 

Man sitting outside River Cities Lighthouse Church, October 14, 2013

 

 

With the last few remaining minutes of daylight remaining, I scrambled to find a last shot.  I continued on 8th Avenue and took a right onto 8th Street going under the viaduct.  I came up on the other side of the viaduct and noticed what appeared to be a homeless or transient man who was shaking his hands and pointing at what appeared to be nothing.  I'm not sure if he was hallucinating or was having a conversation with himself.  He appeared to be very animated and involved in what he was doing.  So I parked my car right off of 8th Street, walked across the street, and approached the man.  I began taking shots and although at first he didn't appear to be disapproving, after a few shots he asked me not to take any more pictures.  I respectfully did not take any more shots.

 

Homeless man on sidewalk near 8th Street viaduct, October 14, 2013

 

 

 





 

Morning and Afternoon shots - Saturday, August 31, 2013 (before Camden Park)

Once again, I present a variety of different shots in the Huntington city limits, primarily in the Fairfield district where I live.  The everyday interactions and sights of Huntington are displayed in these shots.  I especially am proud of the picture with the lady sitting on the concrete slab porch with her 6 pack of Coca Cola beside her.  I politely asked her if I could take her picture and explained the purpose and scope of our project and she agreed. Then she asked me if I could give her a ride to her destination after the picture.  Apparently her ride didn't show up and left her waiting. She didn't appear threatening, so I obliged and we had a brief conversation on the way.  I mentioned that I worked at Huntington High and she asked me if I knew an employee there and I told her that I did.  A few moments later I dropped her off at her destination and we exchanged pleasantries as she exited the vehicle with her 6-pack of Cola Cola.  Weird experience.  But cool.

Lawnmower guys outside Emergency Room of Cabell Huntington, August 31, 2013

Patient at Cabell Huntington sits in front lawn, August 31, 2013

 

 Coca Cola woman waits for a ride, August 31, 2013

Junk truck beside Hilltop Motors, August 31, 2013

Camden Park shots - August 31, 2013

Here are a few more shots from Camden Park from Saturday, August 31, 2013.  I really wanted to focus my attention on shooting the unique sights and subjects that Camden Park had to offer.  I took a variety of pictures showing many of the ride operators, concession stand workers, and park attendees in action.  Additionally, I captured a wonderful Americana-themed musical band, Humming House, from Nashville, TN who was the evening's entertainment for the park.  Since I am a musician myself, I like to document musicians, local or regional, whenever I get the opportunity.  And they did not disappoint whatsoever in the least bit.  They were a very professional, tight, and engaging bluegrass-inspired string band indeed.

 

 

Humming House singer at Camden Park, August 31, 2013

 Haunted House worker, August 31, 2013

 



Man waiting beside the ski lift, August 31, 2013

The Scrambler, August 31, 2013

Backdoor of the Haunted House, August 31, 2013

 



The Spider parts disassembled behind the burned out Dodgem cars lot, August 31, 2013

My first night of shooting - August 24, 2013

 

These pictures were taken on the evening of August 24, 2013.  I set off with my camera for my first "official" shoot with the intent of capturing something that most Huntingtonians would not see in their normal everyday lives. I didn't have a real plan on where I was going; I just knew that I wanted to capture something different and hidden to most residents. So I drove to Eighth Avenue and parked my car.  From a distance, I saw a man and child who caught my eye. When I saw them from a distance the child was in the Power Wheels and the man was just watching her play.  I approached him and asked his permission to shoot their picture and he obliged.  The child then got out of the Power Wheels and sat in her father's lap.  This was the absolute first picture I took for this project. I titled it "Father and child embrace". 

 

I knew this image would set the tone for the next hour as I ventured across the train tracks in between Eighth and Seventh Streets and covered an area from Fourteenth St. to Ninth St. ending up at the City Mission downtown.  It was thoroughly exhilarating uncovering and discovering a side of Huntington that I never knew existed.  That first excursion hooked me and I have been looking at Huntington differently ever since that evening.

 

 



 

Father and child embrace, August 24, 2013

  

 

 Burning warehouse light, August 24, 2013



 Monster, August 24, 2013

                         Trainyard skyline, August 24, 2013    City Mission at sunset, August 24, 2013

 
Train antennae sunset, August 24, 2013

 

The next week, I made it a goal to capture as many unique and interesting shots within the city limits of Huntington that captured the essence of the good and bad in Huntington, the old and the new, etc.  I went out in morning and afternoon on Saturday and shot a variety of shots in the Fairfield district and also I ventured on top of Eighth Street Hill for a short period of time.  Lastly, I stopped at the Boulevard Memorial Park behind Spring Hill Cemetery and captured a variety of images.  More shots will follow...

 

 

Empty chair with rake overlooking Spring Hill cemetery, August 31, 2013

Graffiti in tunnel on West End, August 31, 2013

Hilltop Motors, August 31, 2013

Man on bike with headphones beside tunnel on West End, August 31, 2013

Tunnel on West End, August 31, 2013

Weedeater man taking a break, August 31, 2013
 

 

That evening on that same day, my family and I went to Camden Park Amusement Park for celebration of my daughter and completing her chores, lessons, and behavior over the last month of summer.  More shots will follow...

Pronto Pup stand, August 31, 2013