Wakefield and Ward Streets
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May 30, 2012, 6:09 AM
Filed under: Pennsylvania | Tags: oakland, pittsburgh, polaroid, self portrait, softtone film, spectra
Filed under: Pennsylvania | Tags: oakland, pittsburgh, polaroid, self portrait, softtone film, spectra
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When I lived in the South Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in the early ’90s, I rarely ventured outside my tiny world on Semple Street. I dreamed a lot about leaving the city when I graduated. But lack of funds, and fear of the unknown, kept me here; I explored my hometown, searching for a place to call home. I know Pittsburgh well - its shortcuts and cul-de-sacs – streets so familiar I don’t even remember some of the names, like feeling your way through a dark room in a house you’ve lived in your entire life. So I was excited to find this part of South Oakland on the Ley Line walk, a piece of the city that looks as if you have arrived in the country.
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6 Comments so far
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Hi, I liked the washed out polaroid colours–summer is often like that. You countered those images so well with your text and the familiar dark house: just great. Are you reading those letters on Semple Street? Oh, and I liked the old telephone and Mary of course.
Comment by Michael Williamson May 31, 2012 @ 9:55 AMthanks for your comments, they’re so sweet!
Comment by Lisa June 1, 2012 @ 10:46 AMi was reading the letters on wakefield street, much more interesting than semple (that building was kind of a dump back in the early 90s!). the letters are from my mother’s papers. they still smell a little like her amber perfume.
Yes, I love the perspective as well. Who knew that Oakland has yinzburgh farm country nestled in its nooks.
Comment by Allegheny Eats May 30, 2012 @ 12:57 PMit makes me wonder why we weren’t more adventurous explorers when we lived in oakland (squandered youth!).
Comment by Lisa May 30, 2012 @ 4:23 PMi like how you can’t tell that these were taken in oakland. love the polaroids!
Comment by jeff May 30, 2012 @ 7:36 AMthe polaroids turned out kind of painterly, which i like -i think the bright day really washed out some of the colors.
Comment by Lisa May 30, 2012 @ 7:44 AM