photo walk: oaktown 3/26 (part i: preservation park)

[escapewindow]

Aaron once said he loved Oakland despite what other people thought of it. Perhaps even because of it. I've met others with that mindset as well; fiercely East Bay, despite the popular belief that the city across the bay is somehow superior. They're definitely in the minority; most people seem to have an aversion to Oakland without even getting to know the city themselves.

In the past... almost nine years, now, it's become home for me. More home than Claremont ever was. I haven't noticed it being much more dangerous than other cities I've known. Or the suburbs, even, where you're in constant danger of keeling over from sheer boredom. Flatline. The rictus the first glimpse of a smile anyone's seen from you in years.

Today I went on a photo walk to capture some of Oakland. Just small glimpses. It was fun. And I noticed things about my town that I hadn't noticed before. I think I'll want to do some more of these. To share my view of Oaktown. And to encourage me to do more exploring. Not necessarily limiting myself to the one city, but it's a good place to start.

Some quotes:

Oakland, at one point in time, was a classy and elegant city.

Mayor Jerry Brown writes about Gertrude Stein's comment, "There is no 'there' there" (which is not, in fact, directed at the entire city of Oakland).

One destination I planned to visit (and photograph) was Preservation Park, 16 restored Victorians in the heart of downtown.

I entered from the east gate...


I think I liked this one the best.
However, I think the real beauty of the park is the entirety of the setting, rather than any one building. I'm afraid I was unable to capture that.


A view of the downtown salt and pepper shakers from the heart of Preservation Park.


The old and new.


I departed from the southwest corner.
There are hundreds of Victorians throughout Oakland, but the fully restored park is definitely something special.

I still have photos from downtown and Jack London Square to post. And in the future I want to explore and photograph:

• flea markets and farmer's markets.
• west oakland; east oakland; warehouses and artist communities. a study of burrito vans.
• lake merritt and the hamilton house.
• rockridge and my old apartment.
• piedmont and the half-mil 8 bedroom houses.
• the hills, possibly. or urban decay.
• the aesthetics of railroads and freeways.
• the port of oakland.

Will you show me your city?

Comments

[arkany.livejournal.com]

i love the first two pictures immensely. I have no camera action, and even if I did, taking pictures of bumper to bumper traffic is not as interesting as the critics would have you believe.

[drkscrtlv.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
Yeah, I'm not a great photographer but if you take enough pictures some of 'em come out nicely ;-)

It's too bad you don't have a camera, but there has to be more interesting things to see in North Hollywood than just traffic. Plus, time-elapsed taillight action can be interesting, as well as views of congested freeways from a distance.