Shooting Without A Memory Card.

On Sunday, I went out to shoot photos without the use of a memory card. It was one of the most frustrating experiences in my life. I'm the type of person who has to always have a camera on them. I even bought a crappy coolpix camera just so I could have a camera to throw in my purse and take with me everywhere, just in case I see something I want to shoot. I wasn't feeling very good, but it was a beautiful day, so I had my boyfriend drive me around to some areas of Columbus we have never been to. We checked out the west side by the river and made our way east driving down Champion Ave. all the way down to the Mt. Vernon area. It was so frustrating not to have any of the photos I "took." From the 10 cop cars searching a car on Mooberry St, to a beautiful old decrepit mansion on some unknown street that I may never find again, I only have my memories, and no photographic evidence. It was kind of like these dreams I have about often where I am somewhere beautiful, or weird, or in another country, and I have to get to my camera. When I get to my camera, it never works, or the photos never turn out right, but I just never am able to get the photos I want. Sunday was like these dreams. However, I suppose the success of this assignment was that I got to see more with my eyes, and that I found some fascinating places that I plan to go back to and shoot again.

Recreate a Photo.

Level 2 Snow Emergency.

Three photos I took on January 28, 2009.

Girl Talk Show.

Newport Music Hall, January 17, 2009.

Shawnee, OH.

These photos are from a series I have been working on about former coal mining towns in South Eastern OH. These towns were formerly bustling towns with plenty of jobs and businesses. Now, towns like Shawnee have more businesses that are empty and falling apart than open. Out of the many times I have been to Shawnee, the only businesses open are the Desparado, a bar, and Whorleys, the local carryout. One person we talked to who lives in the house behind the highway sign said that "you can't buy a job" in Shawnee.

Ohio Windstorm 2008.

This photo was shot the day after Ohio was overtaken by hurricane force winds as a result of the hurricanes down south in September, 2008. This photo was taken on Kelso St. in Clintonville, and was just one of many streets made impassable because of downed trees.

Level 2 Snow Emergency.

This is from the snowstorm in March 2008. This was taken on Arcadia Ave. in Clintonville.

The Drake Motel.

This photo is from a series I have been working on of photos of the old motels and motor courts on Route 40 (the old National Road). The Drake Motel is right near Springfield, OH. It's amazing that these motels stay in business since more people take Interstate 70, and there's only a handful of motels out of many along Route 40 that have closed. An example of one of these closed Motels is the R&R Motel, pictured below.

Cheshire, OH.

This is the town of Cheshire, OH. In the background of the photos is the American Electric Power Company, which bought out the town in 2002. Here's an Excerpt from the Washington Post from November 12, 2003: "American Electric Power Co. (AEP), the nation's largest electricity producer, has purchased Cheshire for $20 million after years of acrimony with residents over emissions at the coal-fired Gen. James M. Gavin Power Plant, whose towering smokestacks are just steps away from their homes. Governments have purchased neighborhoods, such as Love Canal, before because of environmental concerns, but this is believed to be the first time a private company has bought an entire town. All but a dozen or so of the village's residents took the deal and left." Read the rest of the article here: http://www.forgottenoh.com/News/cheshirewpost.html

Alpha Portland Cement Company.

This is some of the remains of the Alpha Portland Cement Company in Ironton, OH. Apparently, it's also being used for people to dump their trash.

Prayer is the best school supply.

This is the playground of an elementary school in New Vienna, OH. When we first went to this town, we noticed a church sign which stated: "Prayer is the best school supply."