The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

We had a beautiful sunny day here in West Philly today. Fall colors hanging on the leaves. Just poked my head out the window for a shot. Enjoy.

Tandoor India, West Philly

Self Portrait - 19^th Street Trolley Stop, Center City

Danger, 19^th Street Trolley Stop

Trolley Tracks, 19^th Street Trolley Stop

Bench, 19^th Street Trolley Stop

Graffiti, West Philly

3/12, West Philly

Philadelphia Runner, Center City

House and Clouds, West Philly

Today was a quintessential fall day. Crips light and hard shadows during the daylight hours and warm, enveloping light at sundown. Shot these while grocery shopping. Cell phone shots again. Enjoy.

Ivy, West Philly

30^th Street Post Office, Center City

Empty Lot By the Numbers, Center City

Amtrak Station, Center City

Schuylkill River at 30^th Street Bridge, Center City

Trees and Lights, Center City

Okay, so this is kinda silly but I needed some escape’ism today at work. I’ve continued the camera phone shenanigans. Hard to believe this thing is only 1.3 megapixels (amazing what you can do with Photoshop). Have a chuckle. Enjoy.

Self Portrait, 49^th Street Train Stop, West Philly

The Delaware Online News Journal just did a bio-intraspective piece on my brother, Mike, who draws some of the comics and cartoons some of you watch (from Spider-Man to Darkhawk. Samurai Jack to the Venture Brothers on Cartoon Network). I can’t think of any major title Mike’s not penciled or inked. And speaking of drawing, the article also discusses the magazine which he created/edits, DRAW! He’s traversed the bounds of working professional to art educator. But enough of that. Read the article here. Congrats, #1 brother.

It wasn’t like him to stay late at work. It was as if he didn’t get enough of work. He worked too much as it was. But he felt chatty; something seemed to keep him on, conversing with the next shift for a few extra moments. He looked down at his watch and saw that it was growing late. He hated missing the trolley; he’d have to wait another half-hour if he did and he had homework to do when he arrived home. Grabbing up his backpack he made his way to the elevator and out through the lobby. Read more this entry »

Fall has made its presence know. Cold, stiff breezes and color-burnt leaves were all the rage today as I put one foot in front of the other as I plunged head-long to work. My usual four-mile walk. Starting to get better with the camera phone. Eid mubarik. Enjoy.

Chairs at The Green Line Cafe, 43^rd and Baltimore

Tall Grass at The Green Line Cafe, 43^rd and Baltimore

Pipe and Shadow, 41^st and Baltimore

Old Wall, West Philly

Bricks and Leaves, West Philly

In the Heart of University City, West Philly

Utility Box, 40^th and Spruce

Curly’s Cleaners, West Philly

More shots from the camera phone. I didn’t realize it had multiple quality settings. I’ve noticed a slight difference between the lower ones and the highest. I could actually make a 5×7 inch print with this setting (an 11×14 if I use Genuine Fractals on the file!). Two from the very cool and brisk walk home. Enjoy.

Community Garden, 48^th and Windsor

Anti U-Penn Sentiment, West Philly

Because I’ve had such little free time to go out and shoot, I’ve resorted to using my camera phone. Traditionally, I had nothing but contempt for such things as they allowed people to performed mere “tricks” of photography versus capturing bona fide photographs. While my thoughts have not totally changed, I have relented a bit, incorporating a few shots here and there with it. Interesting thing is that the depth of field is really shallow and one can almost “tilt or shift” the plane of focus as one would on a view camera. Lens is also far from sharp but here’s a few doodles from the last couple of days. Enjoy.

Door, 19^th Street Trolly Stop

Door, 19^th Street Trolly Stop

Standing Pipe, 19^th Street Trolly Stop

Grate (on the back of my residence), 48^th and Springfield