Jeffrey Stockbridge sheds light on parts of Philadelphia that no tourist would ever think of setting foot in, let alone with Philly natives. Yet this Philadelphian photographer has decided to brave these desolate and abandoned neighborhoods, which were hit quite hard by the post-industrial economic decline during the mid-to-late 20th century and clearly have not been able to recover since then.
Armed with his large-format 4x5 camera, Jeffrey Stockbridge documents "this bleak alternative vision of American domesticity," as Fast Co Design so eloquently puts it. Although Jeffrey Stockbridge's work explores the negative side of life, there is still glimmer of hope in the faces of some of the portraits, namely in the idea of survival and perseverance.
Jeffrey Stockbridge's work is currently being exhibited at the Wapping Project Bankside, a gallery in London.
Urban Apocalypse Photography
Jeffrey Stockbridge Shows the Abandoned Side of Philadelphia
Trend Themes
1. Abandoned Urban Photography - Opportunity for photographers to capture the beauty in cities' neglected areas and showcase their preservation
2. Post-industrial Documentation - Documenting the aftermath of economic decline in areas around the world that still have yet to recover could provide insight on necessary interventions
3. Survivalism Imagery - Survival and perseverance captured in photography that highlights the tough conditions in which urban residents live
Industry Implications
1. Art - New markets for urban decay photography and the exploration of the emotional impact of social and industrial decline through art can be explored
2. Tourism - The rise of urban exploring encourages new opportunities for tourism and responsible preservation in depressed urban areas
3. Media - Marketing and documentary works such as magazines, TV shows or movies can revive interest in abandoned spaces and draw attention towards recovery and redevelopment efforts