Are You There? It’s Me, Dominic

Untitled, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

 

Untitled

Untitled, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

First of the Holgas from the Divine Lorraine.

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Star Foster

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Star Foster, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

Name: Star C. Foster
Neighborhood: Center City
Photographed in: Rittenhouse Square, on the Goose Girl Fountain
Why she chose it: Star chose Rittenhouse Square because it’s been one of her favorite spots in the city, and she’s been visiting ever since she was a kid growing up in Northeast Philadelphia. Star calls the park a gathering place for all sorts of city residents, and notes that her favorite part is that it’s a gathering place for artists. In the park, she’s seen one-man bands, break-dancers, drum circles, a midnight techno-dance party – and even a faux animatronic chess playing mime. Specifically, she cose the Goose Girl because she’s a good landmark for where to meet … if only she knew exactly what it was that the young girl is doing to that goose.

Note from Dominic: Out of the 40 or so shots, I picked this one because of her facial expression. Is it any wonder they call her Sarcasmo?

If you live in Philadelphia and want to photographed for the project, just let me know. You get to pick the place, and you get a 4 by 6 out of the deal.

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Marisa

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Marisa, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

Name: Marisa
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Photographed in: Rittenhouse Square, on a park bench
Why she chose it: Marisa lives in an apartment that’s been in her family since 1966 that’s two blocks away from Philadelphia’s most notable park. She grew up on the West Coast, but she’d visit the city every summer to see her grandparents. On those visits she’s spend hours sitting and playing in the park. The park, as it is for many Philadelphians, is an extension of her home and life, but perhaps even more so.

If you live in Philadelphia and want to photographed for the project, just let me know. You get to pick the place, and you get a 4 by 6 out of the deal.

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Addie and Seuss

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Addie and Seuss, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

Name: Seuss (left) and Addie (right)
Neighborhood: West Philadelphia
Photographed in: Kangaroo sculpture, Lawrence Court, Society Hill
Why they chose it: The Kangaroo sculpture in Lawrence Court is an anomoly in Philadelphia’s tremendous public art universe. Generally, no one knows who made it or even what signifcance it has. Addie chose the spot and Seuss tagged along. When they arrived at our sculpted steel pals from Down Under, I decided to shoot them both. During our 20-minute shoot, we talked a lot about the marsupial mystery, going so far to speculate what it must be like to live in the very nice (and, one assumes, very expensive) houses in Lawrence Court with people like us swinging by every day to make photos. Seuss may very well have disentangled a bit of the legend by spotting what could be a signature – or weld marks – on the tail of the leaping roo.

If you live in Philadelphia and want to photographed for the project, just let me know. You get to pick the place, and you get a 4 by 6 out of the deal.

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Rita Soto

Philadelphia Portrait Project: Rita Soto, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

The first in a series of portraits of everyday people living in Philadelphia.

Name: Rita Soto
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Photographed in: Her home in Bella Vista
Why she chose it: Rita wanted to be photographed in front of her bookshelf, which contains so many books, I couldn’t even count. She pointed out many of the ones that were signed, and I became very jealous when she told me she had an autographed Michael Chabon tome. If you look closely, you’ll see a peacock feather on the shelf behind her. She told me all about how her husband chased it down at the Philadelphia Zoo, only to be plagued by questions from passersby about where they found it.

If you live in Philadelphia and want to photographed for the project, just let me know. You get to pick the place, and you get a 4 by 6 out of the deal.

Afternoon, South Broad Street

Afternoon, South Broad Street, originally uploaded by dominicmercier.

One more for today. The title just about says it all.