title credit: Bob Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues
COMMENTS
Mariusblack said at 2:30 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: another neighborhood tabblo! love that car and that door besire the rose(?) bush. thanks for sharing your corner of the world, pam. =D
Siagian said at 2:31 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: the mood swings back and forth from despair and hope but in the end hope wins by a mile. nice work Pam.
sraines902@***.com said at 2:35 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Very nice, Ms Keener. I'm remindedI led my sister on a walking tour of Brownsville and Matamoros in the 80's when she was taking a photo class. It was going to be her final project. We found many similar objects of similar vintage, even similar vegetation and had an extremely interesting four hours or so. I hope you enjoyed your walk as well as we did. Of course, it appears that you did. Excellent work. -Stan
Jigs said at 3:29 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Oh PAM, thanks for taking us along on your walk. I really enjoyed this tabblo - must be the voyeur in me but I do enjoy peering into people's "real lives". I know it's weird but sometimes I can stand only so much prettiness in pictures but I don't want to look at dark and dismal images. So today, for me, the chalk-drawn hopscotch on the sidewalk that recalls to me the innocent joys of childhood, the downright homey wooden gates and old jalopies, that dismantled door leaning on the wall beside a red rose bush, normal people living normal lives — I dunno, the authenticity and normalness of it all cheers me up. Life goes on, we go on... the best way we can :-)
Flinkfar said at 3:32 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Oh Pamela - I'm constantly amazed, how you see the beauty of things..............Kewl job.
Umair said at 4:33 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: to present ordinary in extraordinary way is the spirit of art, and skill of artist. but for that, an artist's got be get involved with the atmosphere and absorb every minute detail with an emotional intesnity. you accomplished that in this very tabblo. wonderful work. regards!
Wildthing said at 4:33 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Superb set from the Keener files. Terrific images. I really enjoyed my walk down this alley way through your eyes and camera. There's something sad about rundown areas, but also fascinating. You're one hell of a photographer!
Wopmusic said at 7:14 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: ''every thing looks worse in black and white''
Pkeener said at 8:48 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Alleys have always held a certain mystic to me. Like a parallel universe. Streetside, all pretty and nice, but in the alley, you get a glimpse of the low down. kids sneaking cigarettes, discarded and broken things, abandoned basketball hoops, dismantled cars, and some really delightful things to photograph. I used to love taking short cuts dow the alley when i was a kid, seeing all the cool stuff and feeling like i discovered a whole new universe. When my family moved to the suburbs when i was 11 years old, i never got over the fact that there were NO alleys!!!
Thank you all for your great insights and comments.
Pkeener said at 8:49 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Frank, you are quoting one of my favorite songs!
William44 said at 8:50 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Excellent tabblo Pam.
Wopmusic said at 9:09 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: 'kodachrome' also ''when i think back on all the crap i learned in high school''.............
Tunderke said at 9:13 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Almost like an Art. Love some of the door pictures. Mostly the white door #8 and deffenetly #20. Did u clime up to the tree to take the lost picture? It is a good one!
Bxrgirl27 said at 9:25 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: So many photo ops in the alleyways of life! This one is no exception - thanks for the tour!
Pkeener said at 9:28 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: BY the way, I had to use a certain amount of restraint and sensibility to leave out photos that might have been offensive! So, this is not as accurate of a report as I would have liked.
Tunde, it was on the ground. No climbing for that one. Umair, i would love to put a sentence together like you do. Thank you, friend Mike, likewise. Bertil, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and maybe my eyes are a bit off! ;) Woody, I think that's exactly where my mind goes on a daily basis!! Marius, I love the sharing we have between our worlds. Hey Steve!! Thank you for dropping in. reminds me to check in on your wonderful blog!
YorkJodi said at 9:36 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: LOVE THIS, Pam!!! I think I've been down one of those alleys... looks like where Wade used to live... I'll have to ask him. Anyway... beautiful photos... I love old door, paint chipping off... covered with vines etc... every photo is terrific... GREAT!!
JuDeck said at 10:44 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: another Keener kool...the paint peeling doors and fences, the lonely BBall hoop, but my fav is the tree busting through the fence...all great shots and all with the K-touch of magic.
Lifequest22 said at 10:47 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Pam, these are perfect alley shots. Reminds my of my "Hood" and makes me want to walk the alleys. You nailed the mysterious atmosphere of neighborhood alleyways.
Welshchick said at 10:53 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Cool cool walkabout ~ love the greenish blue garage door (French blue shutter color) and the rose growing there and all the little icons and chariots of the past (luv the mustang!) ~COOL tabblo Pam!
Maz2001 said at 11:01 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: What an alley. Such an interesting walk thru the present and the past. Lovely.
Ira said at 11:06 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: I like very much these realistic photos. Very much familiar and native. As at us. Are similar very much to our places.
Babooshka said at 11:13 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Very well captured! Nice done!
Bravemoonbearer said at 11:35 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Great captures.I agree with Jigs and Linda's comments.These surely resemble many an alley in Tampa's hoods.
Moabjeeper said at 11:47 a.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Very perseptive.
Pkeener said at 12:16 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Glad you all enjoyed this walk. I encourage all of you to do it, with or without your cameras. Rhonda, I couldn't believe the aging paint colors on the wooden doors. Meegs, What's a Hood without the flip side? Jude, I just had to smile at that tree. Necessity IS the Mother of Invention. Thank you Robert, Jane, and Ira, I think it's great we have very similar places across the world from each other. Sandy, I would love to see the STUFF in a Tampa Alley!
Setu said at 12:40 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Pam, I always love your Vision, perception and presentation ! I always like how you bring out the depth of expressions from any subject you choose, that's what I like about your photography ! Great work !
Photosfornow said at 1:03 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Your street pixs do capture the feeling, mood of o the underbelly of a third world living experience. But, one would not think of Denver on first glance. Safeways want's that cart back now, there might be a reward for it. Good work Pam...
Leftofcenter said at 1:08 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: desolate, sad. well caught on film by your sharp photojournalistic eye (not sure that's a word) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g0cRRak-i8 and no one is gettin' fat except mama cass-
Chaitiamma said at 1:16 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Nice tabblo !!!
Pkeener said at 1:17 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Leftie! Thanks for the KILLER youtube on the Montery Pop Festival...I see the Magic Bus pulling in at the end. It is a word, and thank you!
Tony, Its all shot from Washington and Congress Park. I dont think those alleys have changed much in 25 years.
Setu, regards, and thank you, my friend.
Tishfish said at 1:18 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: I love the sign "free dirt and firewood", would like to have such a sign when I'm doing spring cleaning, LOL. Well done ! ! ! ! !
Pkeener said at 1:21 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Doreen, that sign was just so darn funny. I was going to title it "Summer Clearance" but decided to go with photos only. Thank you!
Bravemoonbearer said at 1:32 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Right on Setu.Her talents are very special and we reap the awards of her talents.
AliDar said at 2:46 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Alleys are good places to capture the reality of peoples lives. The fronts of the houses are just that, fronts, most of them manicured to keep up appearances, and except for an odd quirk here and there, most look the same. What I find interesting is the comments that people are leaving, about how the set has a feeling of despair, or of the underbelly, and I agree with them to a certain extent; it's sad to see things unattended to or over grown, but that's life, We do what we can, and put the rest in the back to deal with when we can get to it, or when it becomes important to us again. ... Great set Pam, I love the textures and old paint, the bent garbage can, the old cars... My favourite shots in this context though are the overgrown basketball hoop and the last shot of the kids hands in the cement. Life goes on, even though some kids grow out of shooting hoops in the back alley, others always come along to replace them. :)
Pkeener said at 3:42 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Dar, thank you, as alays, for your great insight and observations. You know, i never felt despair once while shooting. I felt serendiptious and adventurous, and as Jigs pointed out, voyeuristic. A bit naughty, like a kid, sneaking shots of stuff people don't put on display. Its real life going on. ANd the new kids keep coming, don't they? the coolest thing is, they are still drawing hopscotch boards and shooting hoops, just like we used to all those years ago.
Pkeener said at 4:03 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: OK PUBLIC APOLOGY! I called my friend STAN Steve when I thanked him, so I want to set the record straight for my absentmindedness. Also check out his BLOG:
One of the best I have ever seen. So many creative people there!
Noe said at 5:12 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Nice captures Pam, that's a cool neighborhood, love the urban ordinary photos, you capture great details =)
Andre. said at 7:29 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Ok..I'm late...Anyway, I was trying to post this earlier. Iduncare:) This is you, what can I say...Unsurpassed and sooo...You. Duper Super Reality show:)
Sirnicolay said at 10:28 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Amazing captures, Pam. I love the tour in this small neighborhood of yours. :) THanks!
Abking said at 11:00 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: Funkadelic beauty, Pam. I love this world of untrimmed trees, hopscotch, gloriously peeling paint, old cars, motorcycles, rickety gates, doors that aren't, the old and the young, and free dirt.
Peggysuew said at 11:09 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: my sister, isn't she so great?? :) :) love the pics...i really love the old car under the carport, but the one that made me immediately smile is the hopscotch one and all the flyers posted next to it!! such a great eye, such a great artist :) i'm so glad you share your talent with us :)
Debdog said at 11:51 p.m. on Jul 10, 2008: classic Keener :) love it :)
Marcif said at 12:09 a.m. on Jul 11, 2008: Very cool pics. Love the old, classic, dusty car in the carport (don't know what kind it is) and someone is really disrespecting that poor Mustang in the bushes! I also like the old bike and the stacked trash cans.
PhotoPop said at 10:04 a.m. on Jul 11, 2008: I guess we are all a little schizo, the life we present and the life that IS, with baggage we can't always unload. Wonderful collection, as Edward R. Morrow would say, "and that's the way it is."
Ohlanbrooks said at 10:04 a.m. on Jul 11, 2008: Wow Pam! I like your comment about alleys being a "parallel universe" - you've certainly captured that is these pictures. I especially like the weathered gate with it's shadow projected forward and surrounded by the irregular lattice of fencewire - all in shades of black and grey and highlighted with bright spring yellow - green! Also, the picture of the smudged handprints and scribbled names of the children on the wall is very appealing to me - it is almost like a tombstone without the date inscribed - a monument to people from another time that now long gone. In the spirit of that parallel universe, the picture of the grocery store shopping cart sandwiched between the two garages also intrigues me - it infers that the garages actually contain cars that are secure, sheltered from the elements and it speaks of poverty and how the poor use shopping carts as their "cars" to transport their groceries - they have no garages to protect these carts nor tdo they even own them - perhaps a metaphor for the fact they have no protections from the other assaults on their lives such as age, failing health, and eroding income. Well that might be a stretch but your pictures invite that kind of speculation.
Pkeener said at 10:57 a.m. on Jul 11, 2008: I absolutely love all the philisophical comments you are leaving here. A little mind bending. FUNKADELIC BEAUTY another great Allan-ism. Free Dirt, what a concept! Andre, you are Never too late for me. Noe, =+) James, l so enjoy your presence AH, Peg! You are so sweet. Do you remember the aleeys? or were you too young? Marci, that mustang and The BMW! sad shape. classics John, a little schizo, for sure! We are photographers! Nice on the Morrow. Randy. So glad to see you commenting. Thank you for noticing the details..That's what life is for me, the little things that surround you and quite often, go unoticed. Those handprints are actually in cement on the ground, but I love your interrepatation.
DocEna said at 3:26 p.m. on Jul 11, 2008: Wow, what a stroll down the lane with the old and decaying things that make up a culture of people, a bit strange in you country but here in Brasil we have that everywhere contrasting the beauty and the beast...but I feel that even in these old decrepit structures you find artistic beauty...Nice Tabblo to see over and over again.
Gerardfotografeert said at 5:06 p.m. on Jul 11, 2008: What can I say, Very beautiful, a little suspens, great and awesome details such as that hopscotch, and the handprints. But also the atmosphere of those alleys, you've captured it complete. Magnificent piece of art Pam. Beautiful.
Pkeener said at 8:26 p.m. on Jul 11, 2008: thanks Deb! Enaldo, I like that concept of beauty and the beast. you can't have one without the other.. Gerard, you are so wonderful to notice the art in life.
Krisu said at 8:52 a.m. on Jul 12, 2008: Cool shots. :)
EMA said at 11:19 a.m. on Jul 12, 2008: Terrific set of photos Pam. You are a master in finding beauty where the others see ugliness only! :)
21-gramm said at 1:55 p.m. on Jul 13, 2008: Dear Pammie, the life on a backyard is taking its course. This inexorable truth of our times! You expressed all the pain, all the nostalgia and all the joy of this parallel life. Thank you! <3
MHCityPlanner said at 9:53 p.m. on Jul 13, 2008: Reality alleys ... wonder what my New Urbanist friends would think of this. Nicely done as always, Pam.
Mirella said at 5:43 p.m. on Jul 15, 2008: Pam,our friends have said everything; what can I say now ? I'm thinking that in the other side of the world some children play or have played the same "hopscotch"; we call it "campana (bell)" , I dont' know why. Who invented it ? Who got it in the other side of the ocean ? Also the old things are the same, perhaps not the cars, we had much more small cars, these cars of yours made us dream of Hollywood, stars, rich people; now we are much more similar. Thanks for this trip in the past. Ciao
Pkeener said at 6:21 p.m. on Jul 15, 2008: Mirell, Grazie! So many thing are the same, aren't they? Children always play. Cars are dicarded and life goes on. Thank you. Wayne, Your friends would probably discuss some kind of Post Modern Dribble, while secretely wanting to play hopscotch! Den, you have a eloquent way with words! Edite, Ugliness is everywhere, why not try to find the beauty?
Jantass said at 11:28 a.m. on Jul 19, 2008: Excellent images and textures, great combination and layout … my favorite photo is the first one .. great work ............................(Excelente imágenes y texturas ,gran combinación y layout …mi foto favorita es la primera ..gran trabajo )
Pkeener said at 11:50 a.m. on Jul 19, 2008: Thank you Jeanie. It is my favorite too. Grandma playing with the grandkids and the dog..
Chilla said at 11:59 a.m. on Jul 20, 2008: This is a really thought provoking tabblo.
JoanW said at 2:53 p.m. on Jul 21, 2008: Rundown, overgrown and disused....you've got it all here. A wonderful collection of 'timre-forgotten' things. It is amazing how much charm these scenes create when gathered together and displayed. Love them all. I would love to meet Tulley, Kay and Nancy.
Appropos said at 4:49 p.m. on Jul 25, 2008: a nice stroll down the alley
Toadstone said at 7:00 p.m. on Aug 7, 2008: A differant view....very nice :)
