Film Roll #4 & #5
Adventure to the past…
My fourth and fifth rolls of film are devoted to a winter adventure to West Philly. A few weeks back, my friend and I took to West Philly to grab some shots of some abandoned places and to visit Bartram’s Garden. We started with an abandoned lot— protected by an entirely unlocked gate. The best part here was an iron platform 12 ft. off that ground that blended seamlessly in the trees. We marveled at the old machinery and their rooms that housed them and moved on to our next unplanned destination: the scrap yard. Another opportunity to marvel at the past— this time with people’s old belongings. We gazed at the hollow bodies of cars teetering at the top of scrap metal mountains and watched a crisp white refrigerator get crushed into scraps . We finally reach Bartram’s. Garden where we walked through the historic property of rolling hills and colonial architecture. The public park which boasts huge crowds in the summer was a winter retreat. Being my first time there, I was comforted by this hidden garden right in our city. A slice of serenity. Our last stop was an abandoned old waste facility in West Philly which had burned down years ago but lives presently as a vault of graffiti and debris, unhinged lockers, and great concrete walls.
These photos were taken on the same day (1-19-21) with a Canon Rebel K2 and on Kodak 400 film. Edited in Lightroom.
A walk through the Industrial Era…
Our first stop was a discarded lot that housed large steel machinery now rusted from the lack of use over the years. Machinery that once glistened as an age of new technology and progression for our civilization, now stood overgrown, useless, and abandoned. How quickly we can ignore these buildings that catapulted us into the future— and now, we stood and wondered about all of the souls that walked through the gate before us. Although left to fend off nature, the steel machinery held our curiosity— an invitation to view the past from the perspective of now.
A visit to the scrap yard…
Acting on an impulse, we decided to embrace the ‘Enter at your own risk’ sign and walk into the scrap yard. It’s always fascinating looking at the leftovers of machinery and toys— kitchen hardware to miscellaneous rods and springs. It’s a feast for the eyes. The heaps of trash illuminate a saturated past where each small piece of metal carried the memory of kitchen meals or driving lessons. Also— why is there such an enjoyment in watching the power of big machines crush things?? (Lol) It must be a nod to my past of attending demolition derbies in VA—
A stroll through history…
We finally reached our intended destination: Bartram’s Garden. A public garden hidden in the folds of West Philly and standing since the beginning of American history. Because of the coldness of the day, it seemed we had the entire property to ourselves. The winter garden only made me fantasize of the summer there. Skeletons of bushes that bloom in the springtime stood frozen around the property. An empty venue hall embracing the harsh wind and silence was left to hibernate until the first weddings of spring. A quiet visit with nature close to Philly—winter silence in anticipation for summertime.
Abandoned at 51st—
Believe it or not, an open gate led us inside this building off 51st. A new brick building stood proud next to it’s abandoned brother— nearly flaunting its complete ceilings and insulation. Yet, there were parts in the abandoned building that seemed to have life. The lockers still remained intact. Beer cans suggested visitors. A closed writing desk covered in ceiling remnants tempted our minds to think of the paperwork and pencils that were once politely tucked away. A chess board waiting for an opponent. It was a building serving no purpose but to entertain the minds of those interested in the details under the rubble. A past— now overgrown with moss.
