Travel To Portland?
This post is categorized under travel, however I don't recommend people travel to Portland, Oregon at this time. It was mostly peaceful walking a for a few miles around downtown, however I was challenged/threatened a couple of times for having the audacity to take photos. With the exception of the Waterfront Park, there were very few people around. Uncharacteristic of Portland on a Sunday afternoon to witness this, but it's is what you get after months of riots and demonstrations.
My New Camera
This walk was a great opportunity to test out my new camera body, a Canon 6D Mark II, which replaced my dead 5D Mark II. I plan to write a separate post about that. It was a relief to finally take photos with something other than a cell phone, which I have been doing for the past several months.
The Silver Lining
One of the few silver linings to this civil strife, is the colorful murals that have popped up all over town. These murals are painted on thick plywood meant to protect glass doors and windows from being shattered by rioters. The murals themselves in many cases seem to be commissioned works of art, and are meant to deter other types of graffiti being painted on them. For the most part, this approach works, and I saw very few examples of these murals being vandalized. In contrast to these often pristine murals, other locations, such as government buildings, didn't fare so well.
Fresh or monotone-painted plywood is an invitation to other types of graffiti. In some cases you can see where the building owner has repeatedly painted over graffiti.
Enjoy the murals, I am posting them without any commentary or attempt at interpretation. Art is art, and given their temporary nature, I thought it would be cool to capture them. I'll have other aspects of the downtown experience to post later.
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
Thanks for reading. I hope that you enjoyed my photos and will return in future.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://joshman.com/the-colorful-plywood-window-murals-of-pdx
Great photos. I used to live in Seattle and have been to Portland a couple of times. My cousin lives there actually. On a social commentary note, considering the wealth and lack of cultural/racial diversity in Portland the situation there seems quite ironic actually to me. Seems some people like to even take over the fight for "minority" rights. That's just my two cents. I lived in the supposedly "liberal" Seattle and have never seen such racism in my life. And not just from the police. From people that would consider themselves "open minded". Ok enough of the negativity. Going back to the murals ;) Great artwork! One love!
Been in Ft. Lauderdale a little over a week. It’s really bad here too.
Yeah see I reckon these people think they're doing the right thing. I am all for action. However, if you see it from a person that is truly living in a place and situation of vulnerability (the ghetto)... if anything these people are just ramping up the possibility of violence by the police and racists. What might seem like doing the right thing can be doing just the opposite for those that are really at risk.
So true, they really need to be traveling to places where a problem actually exists.
Agreed!
bellos esos murales, demasiada arte junta amigo, definitivamente el arte lo defino con imaginación y aparte un don de sabiduría. muy buenas fotos.
Thanks brother, glad you enjoyed them!
Your locals don't sound like a friendly bunch!😏
I can understand people being concerned about covid but no need to be that paranoid. I hope you were wearing a mask!!!
It was nothing to do with covid. I think it's fear of putting 'protesters' in a bad light.
I see them during my travels to these 'dodgy places' but they are rarely this good. I know some of the better stuff is signed and I will be looking out for these in my future explores.
Yeah, it was really amazing these were left untouched. My next post will be a stark contrast to this.
Congrats on the new camera. I have look at the 6D ii as a spare body. It is a great one.
I really like it so far. It's an upgrade to the 5DMII in almost every respect.
That's a great art.. One day I will also paint my room :)
Glad you enjoyed them!
Very Sure.. Thanks Josh
Dang man, I didn’t know Portland was boarded up like that.
Yeah, it's crazy.
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