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The high Note Cafe, & Comcast Tower experience.

Published June 22nd, 2008 in Personal, Philadelphia and Photography. 0 Comments

This last Thursday Alice and I went out to dinner at a restaurant located at 13th and Tasker streets called the High Note Cafe. Besides having some of the best Italian food in Philly, (we shared a rolled eggplant appetizer and a shrimp scampi entre which was more than enough to satisfy us both), the walls are lined with photographs and album covers of the greats in opera, and Philadelphia notables. On Thursdays they always have accordion music often accompanied by a wait staff and clientèle that get up and sing.

After dinner we decided to have our maiden visit to the Comcast Tower. What an extraordinary experience. Inside the lobby is the world’s largest High Def screen. Its imagery bridges the 2d and 3d worlds. The 2d images were almost indistinguishable from the real world. Also the figures walking on beams above you incorporates the space into the overall experience. Whether you like Comcast or not, the tower is a coup for Philadelphia and will become a staple in what attracts visitors to our city.

Even though the experience of the interior was magical, being up close and personal with its “skin” was awe inspiring. The skin, reflecting the sky at dusk, had a translucent soft surface. The angles, reflections, open space, lighting and its overall presence was an instant inspiration to me beginning both a color and black and white series of photographs. This Sunday was my first visit to photograph it. I am excited and optimistic about the work. I will keep you posted.

As my last comment: Go visit this newest wonder that is now part of the fabric of our great city.

Armond Scavo

Geno’s Steaks or Pat’s

Published May 13th, 2008 in Personal, Philadelphia, Photography and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Being born and raised in South Philly I have eaten my share of great steak sandwiches. When I was a teenager places like Berrie’s on 2nd and Jackson street which was a Irish neighborhood, Milano’s on 11th near Morris streets, an Italian neighborhood, (Milano’s was supposed to have invented the pizza steak), Jim’s on 62nd Street above Market, or John’s Roast Pork on front and Snyder, (It is still there) made great steaks. But Pat’s, founded in 1933, was the place my father went to when he was young, and for special nights out he would take us there for the experience. It was then, and still is an experience. It was in 1966 when Geno’s opened, the great steak sandwich debate started. I can’t say which sandwich is better, but I can say that there is no other place that tops Philadelphia. Friends in Denver say they can’t bake the right kind of bread; some say it is the water. I travel to 15 -20 cities a year exhibiting and selling my photography, and what ever reason, there is nothing like a Philly steak sandwich any where else. And even though one may have their favorite place; when you go to Geno’s or Pat’s, day or night, and wait in those lines, across from the ball field and under the neon lights there is a phenomenon that takes place: The sandwich your eating always is the best! Click image for larger view.

For more information about Philly steaks or how to purchase a photograph of Geno’s or Pat’s contact me through my website: http://earthlightimages.com/
 Armond Scavo

Over the Wissakickon: The Walnut Lane Bridge

Published April 22nd, 2008 in Philadelphia and Photography. 0 Comments

Thursday evening I went to the Atwater Kent Museum for a talk on the Walnut Lane Bridge. It is its 100th year anniversary. At the time The bridge was built it was an engineering wonder. The talk inspired me to go out to the Wissahickon Creek and see it. When it was built the word that the designers and engineers used to describe the union of form and function was beautility; beauty and utility. In 1908 the word must have resonated. The goal of the project was to build a bridge that aesthetically fit into nature.

Upon seeing it I realized how many times I either walked or biked under it. I have always appreciated its grandeur, and with this added history the human element became alive.

This bridge and the Wissahickon Creek are Philadelphia treasures for all people to enjoy!
Below are websites you may want to browse for more complete information:
http://www.walnutlanebridge.org
http://www.preservationalliance.com
http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_atwater.htm
Walnut lane Bridge 5x4 150 dpi cropped .jpg

A Early Spring day in Ocean City NJ

Published April 19th, 2008 in Photography. 0 Comments

This year I had the privilege of being chosen as one of the Jurors for the Ocean City Arts Center’s annual Photography Show. I don’t have access to any of the images to show you, but The exhibition and spending the day is worth the trip. It was for me. The weather was ideal, and after a wonderful lunch served by the Arts Center for the jurors and guests, Alice and I drove to our favorite spots and took long walks on the beach and boardwalk. As is our tradition before leaving we went to Mac and Mancos pizza at 9th street for one of the best slices available. I am sure they have a secret ingredient.

As we walked to the car we came upon on of the few close up views of the Ocean City Ferris wheel. With the day so clear and the sky so blue I couldn’t resist.

Ocean City Ferris Wheel 8 bit.jpg
Ocean City Ferris Wheel.

For cat lovers

Published March 6th, 2008 in Personal. 2 Comments

For you fellow cat lovers (cats have been my favorite animal from the first time at the age off 7 I saw a 700lb. Bengal tiger at the Philadelphia zoo), I have a special bit of advise which I just learned. Last Monday my girlfriend was bitten by her otherwise gentle, loving cat. It was a one-time event. The bite was a small puncture of the skin. She washed it out with soap and water and alcohol, thinking that was enough. But it wasn’t. Within 24 hours there was a raging infection, severe swelling and extreme pain.

We decided to go to the emergency room because the pain was so severe we thought that there might have been bone or nerve damage. The emergency room experience needs another time and entry to explain, so suffice it to say we left untreated after 3 hours. We went to her doctor who prescribed a strong antibiotic and a most important piece of advice: no matter how minor you think a cat bite may be, because of all the bacteria that live in a cats mouth, always take antibiotics ASAP. The infection if untreated can lead to more severe illness and possibly a one-way ticket to the afterlife.

The day I met Richard Thompson

Published February 22nd, 2008 in About my photographs and Personal. 0 Comments

land_DimmingOfTheDay.jpg

In my Bio, http://earthlightimages.com/docs/biography.html., I mention my love for the Western movie.
My photograph “Dimming Of The Day” is meaningful to me at many levels. This photograph was taken at Monument Valley, which is where John Ford filmed one of John Wayne’s greatest Westerns “Stage Coach”. This film was, and continues to be, one of my favorites, and marks the beginning of my love of the western landscape.

One summer in the late 70’s I drove out west to photograph. After driving through Arizona and Utah for several days I came upon Monument Valley. It is entirely within the Navajo Indian Reservation on the Utah/Arizona border. After some conversation with the Navajo representative I was granted permission to camp there.

After dinner I set up my camera and laid back listening to some music. It was one of the times when everything was the way it should be. There is no time I cherish more that to be in a landscape that expresses the Divine; listening to music that I love; and waiting for the sun to go down, ending a wonderful day, and beginning a star filled night.

While waiting for the right moment, the clear sky clouded over and created a soft painterly palette. There was an instant when the soft quality of the sky draped the landscape in the warmth of the most extraordinary light. I made several exposures. Playing in the background was “Dimming of the Day”, a favorite song on the album titled “Pour Down Like Silver” by Richard and Linda Thompson. It was and still is one of my treasured albums (now in CD format).

Many year’s later on a Summer Saturday night, Richard Thompson performed at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia. I attended the concert. Early the next morning I went to The Head House Craft show to set up my exhibit and have some down time before the show opened.

I was sitting there reading when someone walked into my booth and commented how much he enjoyed my work, especially the one of Monument Valley. I looked up and immediately recognized the person. It was Richard Thompson. Little did he know that the photograph he liked was titled after one of his songs? I was thrilled to be in the company of one of the world’s greatest guitar players and singer songwriters. We talked for a while and I told him the above story. Before he left I gave him the photograph.

We talked about music, art, travel and many other things. We also agreed as artists, that it is always a privilege to share one’s work with an appreciative audience; and as artists, we hoped that our art could bring pleasure and fresh vision to new audiences. To experience this is my goal as an artist.

Please visit my website and feel free to share your impressions.

http://earthlightimages.com/index.html
Armond

PS
I highly recommend listening to “Pour Down Like Silver” by Richard and Linda Thompson as well as anything else they ever recorded.

Their music is a major part of the sound track to my life.
http://www.richardthompson-music.com/

Dear John

Published January 9th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Dear John

Published January 9th, 2008 in About my photographs. 0 Comments Edit

Something I truly enjoy is telling the stories behind my photographs. From time to time I will share these stories with you.
Today I want to share the short and ironic story behind “Dear John” Dear John

When out West, I like to get up before dawn and photograph the landscape until the sun is up. During one of these mornings in Kansas, I took a breakfast break at a Kansas highway truck stop. Truck stops almost always have very hardy breakfasts. After breakfast I went to the men’s room to freshen up. (At this point you must know that while traveling, my camera equipment, all of it, is NEVER out of my sight).

While in the men’s room I saw this roll of toilet paper sitting on a shelf next to a frosted glass window. What struck me was the elegance of the light washing the tiled wall, the shadows that were created, the overall tonality of the scene, and the gentle fold of the one sheet.

While setting up my camera equipment to photograph this wonderful find, I noticed I was starting to attract the attention of the other occupants who started to gather around. You could imagine the expressions and comments of these big rig cross-country truckers to this guy photographing toilet paper in a truck stop men’s room.

As several of the men were curious about what I was doing I told them that I was an artist from Philadelphia, and started to describe what I found interesting about this still life. As I talked about the light, shadow and composition, they started to understand why I was photographing toilet paper. What I said to them was to imagine that it was a bottle of wine, bread, cheese and fruit on the shelf rather than toilet paper. They not only saw the beauty of the scene, but the irony and humor of the photograph. As they said “you have to be an artist to see something like that.” It was a once in a lifetime exchange.

As to the title: “Dear John.”
While in my darkroom printing the photograph, I was listening to one of my favorite guitarists and song writers, Richard Thompson. The song was titled “Tear Stained Letter.” The lyrics were about a broken hearted lover who received a tear stained letter from the woman of his dreams; telling him she had found another and was ending their love affair: A Dear John.

As I was simultaneously evaluating the quality of the print and listening to the lyrics, there was a moment of synchronicity; the title suddenly occurred to me. I verbalized Dear John. It was perfect, a perfect pun.

Philadelphia Parking Authority

Published December 8th, 2007 in Philadelphia. 5 Comments

I don’t know how long ago the PPA made the change to many center city parking time limits ending at 6:30pm + 8pm to 10pm, but I do believe with meters and signage limiting the allowed parking time to 2 hours, it must discourage many visitors who are here for dinner and entertainment to have to be concerned with a 2 hour parking limit. It either forces them to accept a ticket, or park in one of the many PPA  expensive parking lots in the area. This seems to me to be another cynical attitude that the Philadelphia Parking Authority has towards the city. A easy solution would be to change the 2 hour limit to 3 or 4 hours. This would give people more time to relax and enjoy our great city.

The Lights in Rittenhouse Square.

Published December 2nd, 2007 in Philadelphia. 2 Comments


Dear Reader,

I have been photographing the beautiful and colorful holiday lights in Rittenhouse Square since 1999. This first year was new to the residence of the square, and people would openly comment on how wonderland and festive the square was.
The first snow of that year gave me the opportunity to capture the magical quality everyone was feeling. From my morning photographs “Winter Walk” and “Rittenhouse Square” to the evening work which includes “Luminaire in the Square”, “Umbrellas in Snow” and “Twin Urns”, I new this was going to be a special series.

Over the next several years I continued to photograph Rittenhouse Square as it became a destination for people wanting to see one of William Penn’s original Squares transformed into a wonderland.

Even while on my show circuit, people from as far as Milwaukee would comment on the beauty of Rittenhouse square as seen through my photographs. This series has sold well everywhere I have shown them, and it has given people a new take on Philadelphia.

Then, for whatever reason the effort changed. Gone were the multicolored orbs sprinkled throughout the Square and the festive holiday feelings. They were replaced last year with a scant, seemingly unplanned arrangement of white spheres.

This year there are more of the same white globes all around the perimeter, with a lone lit Christmas tree in the middle. Again with no apparant sense of placement.

Because of my association with Rittenhouse through my photography people ask me all the time what happened to the colored lights. I have no answers.

All I can say is I hope whomever is in charge of the Rittenhouse Square holiday lighting project can see their way to going back to the original approach. It worked. It made people feel the holiday spirit.

Sincerely,

armond Scavo

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I am very excited and proud of the recognition this work has garnered

Published December 2nd, 2007 in Personal. 2 Comments

As some of you may know, I truly do enjoy living in Philadelphia. My bio on my website gives you an idea of how I grew up in a South Philadelphia Italian neighborhood. I cherish how I grew up in Philadelphia, and except for a short period, I still feel the same way.

I Have lived in many neighborhoods: Germantown, West Philadelphia, Poweltown Village, Center city, and for the last 23 years, South Philadelphia in the Italian Market. Even though I am a native, Philadelphia wasn’t a major subject early in my career. It wasn’t until in 1996/1997, through my relationship with Alice, that I started seeing Philadelphia in a different light; its physical beauty.
Before then I rarely saw urban photographs that were optimistic and positive about city life. Most were photo journalistic. Even though they were powerful images, they were more exposé on the plight and difficulties of urban life. There was one exception.

It was during a period in 1979-1981, while studying with Ray K Metzker at the Philadelphia College of Art, now The University of The Arts, that I was exposed to another approach to photographing the city. His black and white images of Philadelphia are elegant studies of pattern, shape, silhouette, shadow and highlight. They were neither optimistic or critical. They were about the image .Even though I did not adopt his style, it did open me up to a different.

It was in 1999 that the beauty of Philadelphia started to be expressed in my art. Starting with my images of wintertime in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia has become my favorite subject.

In the last several months my Philadelphia series has received recognition with two articles written about it; one in The Rittenhouse Magazine,
( http://www.rittenhousemagazine.com), and the other in Art Matters Magazine. If you go to my website and open the “What’s New” page, PDF are available and you will be able to read both of these articles.

I am very excited and proud of the recognition this work has garnered.

Please let me know what you think

Armond Scavo

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