This is a project for my Documentary Photography class where I took one picture per block from the Schuykill River to the Delaware River. I started at Schuykill River Park at little before noon on Sunday, the day after the snowstorm of this century, and made my way down to the Delaware River.
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11:45 a.m., Schuykill River Park
After tromping through calf-deep snow, I am rewarded with a charging dog.
11:48 a.m., Between 25th and 24th
The journey begins. Spruce is one of the main streets in Philadelphia that have been (mostly) cleared.
11:52 a.m., Corner of 23rd
Three huskies, in their natural element. They were on their way to Schuykill River Park.
11:56 a.m., Between 23rd and 22nd
By noon, some locals were clearly thinking ahead. Behind the Mini cooper, another car has a lot of work ahead of it.
12:00 p.m., Between 22nd and 21st
I find blue snow more unnerving than yellow snow.
12:04 p.m., Between 21st and 20th
A cactus basks in a ray of sunlight, safely inside.
12:10 p.m., 1913 Spruce Street (between 20th and 19th)
Surprisingly, this is only the first of two snowmen I see all day – and neither one was real.
12:13 p.m., Corner of 19th
Just blocks south of Rittenhouse Square, an elderly couple crosses a dirty mix of snow and salt.
12:23 p.m., Between 18th and 17th
Clearly, the melting has begun. Water sprays from a leaky drainpipe
12:28 p.m., Between 17th and 16th
Not all dogs get to kick it at the River Park; this guy gazes longingly outside.
12:31 p.m., Between 16th and 15th
One of the few beer distributors around, Spruce Market sees a lot of business.
12:35 p.m., Corner of 15th
As the day enters the afternoon, the street glistens, steam rises and melt water accumulates in exposed drains.
12:42 p.m., Looking North up Broad toward City Hall
Let it go, let it go, let it go.
12:48 p.m., Looking north up Watts Street (between Broad and 13th)
An untended, dark alley offers a glimpse of what much of the rest of Philadelphia looks like the day after the snowstorm of the 21st century.
12:55 p.m., Between 13th and 12th
On the plus side, this owner won’t need a heavy duty shovel and ice scraper for their small vehicle.
12:58 p.m., Chartreuse, corner of 12th
This snowman inside the storefront window blends seamlessly with the reflected snowy scene outside. My self portrait for the day.
1:02 p.m., Spruce Street Espresso, corner of 11th
I would hate to be the one walking under this when it breaks.
1:06 p.m., Corner of 10th
In retrospect, I wish I ran up to them to get their story. The little girl being dragged in the sled was having a blast.
1:13 p.m., Mikveh Israel Cemetery, between 9th and 8th
Viewed through the locked gate of the cemetery.
1:17 p.m., Between 8th and 7th
I understand the trail on the left; I wonder about the story behind the footprints that go halfway up the stairs in the middle. Did they give up and go back? Were they abducted by aliens?
1:21 p.m., Between 7th and 6th
The flowers match the shutters and window box perfectly; I wonder if they popped out from the snow on their own or if their caretaker fished them out.
1:24 p.m., Between 6th and 5th
A lovely archway and courtyard.
1:29 p.m., Between 6th and 5th
The reflection from the back of a truck’s chrome side mirror.
1:31 p.m., Looking north, up 4th Street
An ATV with a plow jumpstarts a truck with a plow…
1:34 p.m., Corner of 3rd
… and some kind of bulldozer with a plow. Over the course of the day, I saw all types of trucks with plows; if Philadelphia had spare mules with plows, I think they’d use those, too.
1:39 p.m., Between 2nd and Front
I REALLY regret not getting their story. I also REALLY had to pee.
1:57 p.m. (after a desperately needed bathroom break)
After nearly twenty minutes spent looking for a public restroom, I finally took this picture, looking South, at the Olympia, which is right on the waterfront of Spruce.
