"Philadelphia Inbetween": Snaps Of Bland City Sites Score Stares Not Snores!

**typicalgenius** · 10-07-2012, 09:25 PM

Hi. I'm a Philadelphia photographer with a site that catalogs the brilliant, anonymous spots and routes throughout the city -- Philadelphia Inbetween: Philadelphia Inbetween

As the site describes: "Philadelphia Inbetween celebrates places that are not places. We spot, shoot, and script the anonymous public areas -- beautiful or not, awkward or elegant -- that connect the city's more defined buildings and landscapes. We love these places to which you can't give directions."

I'd love any feedback. Moreover, I accept submissions: you can submit through the site (Philadelphia Inbetween, Ask) or via email (philadelphiainbetween@gmail.com), and please provide proper attribution or links.

I hope you enjoy!

**Sailaway** · 10-07-2012, 09:56 PM

Very nice, and deeply appreciated. Permit be two minor critiques: First, open with something a bit more vibrant. Also, I would make them bigger, not blog-sized, but exciting nonetheless. Very minor suggestions to a great site!

In case you are not aware, there are a number of excellent photographers at this site: I recommend looking at the works of MikePenn, Phillyxpat, Radical Ed, and many others who I just can't name off the top of my head but are quite good at their craft.

**PhilaCap** · 10-08-2012, 08:54 AM

cool site

so, that's where are all the recycling cans went

**InYourVacancies** · 10-08-2012, 08:59 AM

I like the marketing twist on typical street scape photography. I like the ones of small, close up details... certain things you wouldn't notice otherwise. Some of the broader shots come out as rather generic tourist snapshots though, there's no real meat the draw the viewers attention and are easy to skim over. With shots like that, you can't really rely on what your eyes are seeing in person as opposed to seeing it as a viewer, on a computer. The impact is a lot different. It does start with a cool scene to the eye, but honestly, beyond that you kind of want to not even see the scene itself, but more look purely at the structure of the scene in addition. This is where you have to pay attention to things you wouldn't while you're just casually walking through the city. Look at how angles, colors, and lighting play onto each other to form the frame of the scene to make it pleasing to the eye. Color and lighting also play into this as well. When factored in with standard composition rules in mind, you will see a big improvement in your pictures as you work with it.

P.S., a great photo tip I learned awhile back and still keep in mind when it comes to which pictures you choose to publish. overlook your pictures but only in your standard thumbnail sizes. If its strong enough to grab your attention even at such a small size, it's good. Doing this will help you understand what I mean about all the little things that can make or break a photo.

**typicalgenius** · 10-14-2012, 03:55 PM

Thanks all for the kind and thoughtful responses. Though I was slothy for the past couple months, I intend to update the collection more regularly; there's a new batch up today and several dozen waiting to be uploaded.

Photographs, especially in the Internet age, are no more than what they seem -- and rightfully judged accordingly. No artist should complain when the art fails to defend itself. But, since we're chatting, I might as well mention that I *love* a scrappy, snapshotty quality -- at least for street photos like these. While carefully composing, selecting, cropping, and editing them, I generally allow them to have a frayed, extemporaneous aesthetic. Every photo is shot with my Blackberry, for example. I don't think all photographs should be fettered to such standards, but it seems appropriate for this.

And to reiterate, I welcome contributions, if anyone would like to join in. I've found that hunting inbetweens -- seeing what doesn't want to be seen -- quickly becomes a pleasant compulsion. I patrol my regular routes around the city, but of course there are vast regions I never get a chance to explore. I'd love contributions from the Northeast, North Philly, West Philly, the Deep South, and any other region you suspect is underrepresented.

And thanks for giving my photos a bit of your time!

**typicalgenius** · 10-14-2012, 03:56 PM

Thank you -- and thanks for the suggestions.

**InYourVacancies** · 10-18-2012, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by typicalgenius

Photographs, especially in the Internet age, are no more than what they seem -- and rightfully judged accordingly. No artist should complain when the art fails to defend itself. But, since we're chatting, I might as well mention that I *love* a scrappy, snapshotty quality -- at least for street photos like these. While carefully composing, selecting, cropping, and editing them, I generally allow them to have a frayed, extemporaneous aesthetic. Every photo is shot with my Blackberry, for example. I don't think all photographs should be fettered to such standards, but it seems appropriate for this.

then let me ask you this, if "scrappy, snapshotty quality" is what you like, then why are you editing or cropping them? Once you go to that point, I don't think it can be a snapshot anymore. I'm not trying to come off as judgmental here, just trying to understand. I get fully the roots of street photography. It was gritty, it was raw, and fast. However that typical street photography (where composition is thrown out the window) was typically of the street life itself, IE the people, which is where a photo gets its story. When it has that story, yes composition can be discarded much more easily. However these aren't such pictures. With no human element, action, or most importantly (in this case) composition, there is nothing to draw your viewers attention or hold it. Those pictures almost come off as filler. You're artistic intent is all well and good, but since you're trying to create a successful blog, you want it to attract and keep it's viewers. So you can't exactly see it from your own artists perspective. You're now trying to "sell it" in a sense, and how your viewer see's the picture should be equally important.

**ArcticSplash** · 10-18-2012, 12:54 AM

Lots of pictures of breezeways

**ArcticSplash** · 10-18-2012, 12:59 AM

Ahh I like this one... very good compose

**typicalgenius** · 10-23-2012, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by InYourVacancies

then let me ask you this, if "scrappy, snapshotty quality" is what you like, then why are you editing or cropping them? Once you go to that point, I don't think it can be a snapshot anymore. I'm not trying to come off as judgmental here, just trying to understand. I get fully the roots of street photography. It was gritty, it was raw, and fast. However that typical street photography (where composition is thrown out the window) was typically of the street life itself, IE the people, which is where a photo gets its story. When it has that story, yes composition can be discarded much more easily. However these aren't such pictures. With no human element, action, or most importantly (in this case) composition, there is nothing to draw your viewers attention or hold it. Those pictures almost come off as filler. You're artistic intent is all well and good, but since you're trying to create a successful blog, you want it to attract and keep it's viewers. So you can't exactly see it from your own artists perspective. You're now trying to "sell it" in a sense, and how your viewer see's the picture should be equally important.

You know, these are fantastic points. And I can't say I disagree with any of your arguments -- there is a contradiction within street photos that are primped and cropped and tidied. (Oh the Photoshopping...) But I like this contradiction. I'm neither trained nor equipped to produce "professional" shots (and there's a yawniness to slick professionalism) and I'm definitely not "street." I like elements of each but I'm not keen to fit wholly in either.

What I kinda maybe do well, though, is find ways to love unlovable things. What's an improper subject for a photo? This alley, this awning, this UPS truck? "Looking" for these places and moments is only a part of the process; forcing them is much more interesting.

The people-less-ness is purposeful, though I completely agree -- photos with people (especially faces) are invariably fascinating. (Maybe too fascinating; is any closeup of any face boring? Wouldn't it make an interesting project to try to make boring photo portraits? I don't think it can be done.) And I think there's a real killing to be made with Photos Of Philadelphians Being All Philadelphian Around Philadelphia. But for Philadelphia Inbetween, I just want to show building textures and places. It's so hard to find people or sneak photos of them, but bricks and buildings and especially alleys are patient with me.

The blog's photography is pretty boring, but hopefully it's pretty + boring. It's not haute cuisine and it's not ramen noodles; it's ramen noodles with a kooky veggie. It's a modest improvement on the vernacular that I strive to pull off with reasonable wit. Oh anyone can be a visionary artist, but how much more worthwhile to be a slightly-better-than-average amateur! Though whether I'm even slightly better than average, well, that's up for the vote...

**typicalgenius** · 10-23-2012, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by ArcticSplash

Ahh I like this one... very good compose

Thanks! (And yes, SO many breezeways...I'll never get through all the luscious breezeways...)

**ScottBudman** · 10-23-2012, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Sailaway

Very nice, and deeply appreciated. Permit be two minor critiques: First, open with something a bit more vibrant. Also, I would make them bigger, not blog-sized, but exciting nonetheless. Very minor suggestions to a great site!

In case you are not aware, there are a number of excellent photographers at this site: I recommend looking at the works of MikePenn, Phillyxpat, Radical Ed, and many others who I just can't name off the top of my head but are quite good at their craft.

Is this MikePenn MICHAEL PENN PHOTOGRAPHY : STREET & FINE ART : PHILADELPHIA, PA ? Do the other photographers have a website or blog ?