Alexandria, Carlito, and Shayne, Jackson Street, 2006 by Spring HS Justin James Reed

Justin James Reed
Currently residing in Philadelphia, PA

website: http://justinjamesreed.com

Work Statement
I moved to South Philadelphia about two years ago from rural Idaho. It was quite a shock to be in an urban inner city again, and I was surprised by how put off I was by the environment. It was only until I started exploring this specific part of Philadelphia at dusk that I was able to approach it as a photographic subject. Exploring streets and finding isolated moments of serenity became my way of coming to terms with this city. I became interested in the relationship between evacuated spaces, and contained lives in the cityscape. Focusing on the young people that live here is another way of revealing quiet beauty under a rough exterior. Through juxtaposition of portraits with the lived environment a more personal vision of this hostile terrain presents itself. By focusing on South Philadelphia's individual aspects I am documenting the place that I see, and am now proud to call home.

Bio
Born. 1980 Boring, Oregon

My family moved all over America for much of my childhood, and I ended up in Minneapolis at the age of 17. It was there that a great friend gave me my first camera, a 1972 Nikkormat. After a few years of personal practice, I decided to pursue photography from a more academic angle at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. After graduation I worked as both a commercial photographer, and as a printer for Alec Soth. These experiences helped to solidify my interest in pursuing my own work. So I headed for greener pastures (read living on a lake in the middle of the woods) in Idaho. After a year of solitude and a lot of shooting, I moved to Philadelphia. I am currently in the process of finishing up my Masters at Temple University's Tyler School of Art.