a HI! from Western PA/MD

sistinedream

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Hi everyone; I've been meaning to join/post for a while.. but my 9-5 owns me.

I'm Chelsea
Frostburg State Univ Grad, BFA Graphic Design & Photography
I first started really pursing photography in college -- had a professor who was mentored by Ansel Adams. I learned with a tank of a Minolta SRT 102. It still takes pretty little pictures

I'm into the "Junk aesthetic" otherwise known as trespassing to take shots of old, rotting stuff.. later calling it "art." I like the snapshot aesthetic of Nan Goldin; however I am most inspired by Hiroshi Sugimoto.

I have all kinds of cameras but my favorite as of late is my Kodak Bantam RF.. I also have two WWII-era Agra Billy Compurs.. one has a hole in the bellows, the other doesn't. And.. a whole bunch'a box cameras.

I heart my holga.. and I'm looking for a reasonably priced glass lens one.

And since my portfolio site is always a work in progress.. so here's some of my work:





Pretty sure these two images were made with Ilford 100 speed film.. and printed on Forte Elegance paper.. I think. It's usually what I use.

PS: I don't own a digital camera.
 

Drew B.

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Welcome from the lower east side of Massachusetts. Hey, we have a city named after you! In fact, its probably the second such named place in the world!

drew
 
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sistinedream

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winger said:
I'm near New Stanton (I've already stopped saying which town 'cause it's so small).
Click to expand...

not a big deal; i'm pretty up on my pa geography though

my hq for my job is in monroeville.. and i've travelled 22 & the turnpike really frequently (and rt 30, too, for that matter!)

i'm originally from bedford.. if you want to talk small towns!
 
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sistinedream

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Drew B. said:
Welcome from the lower east side of Massachusetts. Hey, we have a city named after you! In fact, its probably the second such named place in the world!

drew
Click to expand...

your city is named after chelsea clinton.. and you wouldn't believe how many times i've heard, "oh, your name's chelsea? like the president's daughter!?"
 

DWThomas

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Welcome from the eastern end of PA.

I like that shot with the reflections.

DaveT

(And Bethe, New Stanton is relatively well-known, as it's the PA Turnpike exit for I-70 west for anybody heading to -- Wheeling, Columbus or Indianapolis!)
 

Shawn Dougherty

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Welcome from Western PA! I'm in the Hermitage/New Castle area. Agreed with the above, the photograph using the windows and reflections is lovely. Best. Shawn
 
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sistinedream

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DWThomas said:
Welcome from the eastern end of PA.

I like that shot with the reflections.

DaveT

(And Bethe, New Stanton is relatively well-known, as it's the PA Turnpike exit for I-70 west for anybody heading to -- Wheeling, Columbus or Indianapolis!)
Click to expand...

Thanks, thanks, thanks!
I think she lives near New Stanton, and not necessarily IN that town.. there's so many small, blink-andyou-miss-it towns in this area.. sort of the no man's land between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
 

winger

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Yes, I actually live in Scottdale. Since only people in Scottdale have heard of it, I've started saying near New Stanton. I haven't heard of Bedford, yet, but I've only been here a few weeks still. I do know where Monroeville is (hoping to get to the mall soon ) and I've gone to the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Besides that, it's been mostly Greensburg to Connelsville to Ohiopyle (love Cucumber Falls).
 

DeBone 75

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Welcome I live up North in Erie, but I grew up around Sprindale, just north of Pittsburgh. As far as Scottsdale goes my wife grew up in Connellsville. I don't think Scottsdale is smaller than Dunbar is it?!! Any how this is a great place to learn and share.
 

TheFlyingCamera

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Altoona, eh? My extended family still lives in Altoona. Lots of subject matter there for you if you like that "junk aesthetic". What part of Altoona? My one aunt and uncle live not too far from Blair Mansion, and I've got another aunt and uncle outside Hollidaysburg. Mom's dad was a conductor on the Broadway Limited from Altoona to Chicago. Have you ever made it up to Tyrone to the old Gardner's Candy store? (if it's still there...) I used to love going in there as a kid, to wander around and look at the stuff on display- they preserved the original 1880's vintage store with the old wood and glass cabinets, and still had true penny candy.
 
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sistinedream

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!!!
I live in Hollidaysburg.

I've actually been working on a project photographing gazing balls.. not sure why, but I hate them. I am trying to learn to love 'em but.. it's not working!

I think one of the reasons why I prefer my junk is because, to me, I've never thought it to be totally revolting .. but I like the philosophy of the earth eating itself (if that makes sense)

Gardner's Candies is still there; they have so many little stores in the area -- their chocolate is by far my favorite. Penny candy, unfortunately, is no longer a penny.. but good stuff, though!
 
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sistinedream

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The Yough (Youghiogheny River, one of the 3 rivers in Pittsburgh) is great for white water rafting, especially near Ohiopyle.

Bedford's to the east by about 50 miles from New Stanton on the 'Pike.

The Monroeville mall is my HQ for my job (hoping that'll change soon, btw). Go to the Warhol Museum too and check out all those shops in that area. I love it! Greensburg's 60 miles from Bedford on RT 30.
 

Drew B.

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As I've been telling Bethe, you all should organize a weekend shoot...and we'll be coming from every direction!
 

Photo Engineer

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The Yough actually ends in McKeesport by merging with the Monongahela. It never makes it to Pittsburgh. There was a big ball park and A&P store right at the confluence of the two rivers there in the 10th ward.

Andy Warhol was from McKeesport as was Murph the Surf. I went to school at MHS with Murph, who sat behind me in most classes as our last names both began with "M" and we were almost always arranged by alphabetical order.

As they say, "Pittsburgh is a beer drinking town with a football problem". I think Cowher does a fine job though and I'm gonna miss "the BUS". Did you know he had a band and a TV show on KDKA a few years ago?

PE
 
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sistinedream

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I had a brain fart.

It's Allegheny, not Yough..

I suppose you'll miss Cowher, too?
 

Photo Engineer

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I was rather amused as the Yough (as one woman called it, the Yokamahogany) is so small compared to the big three.

I didn't know he was leaving too. We only get the Bills here, so I have to rely on family telling me what went on.

I went to school with Sy Hugo Green and the Ricketts brothers. Dick was a close friend who used to brush the ceiling in our house with his afro. He also worked with Kodak until his death a few years ago from Leukemia. Green was killed about 20 years ago in downtown. I guess he is all but forgotten as is Rege Cordic.

Go to the Cordic web site for a hoot and make sure you buy some Olde Frothingslosh.

PE
 

TheFlyingCamera

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Also, you know the Sheetz's are from Altoona? They still live there, actually. My parents went to high school with them.

Definitely, if you organize a shoot out that way, I'll come up, and bring some folks along! Look into doing a day trip to East Broad Top railroad museum when they're running their steam train- you'll get TONS of folks to come out for that.
 
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sistinedream

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I've been to the Broad Top area -- it's so lovely.

The Sheetz Bros are still around; they're gaining in popularity -- at the original location of the 17th street Sheetz, it has been totally redone into a "restaurant" and it's total sensory overload! Flat screen tvs, free wifi, drive-thru, gelato, paninis, gourmet pizza, fried food! They even tried to sell beer(s) for a while until that idea got shut down (drinking + driving).
 
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