R. Bradley Maule, aka B Love, has been documenting the streets of Philadelphia and beyond for several years and has been sharing his discoveries at PhillySkyline since 2004. I've been clicking through his images, feverishly, since early 2005. I'm always awaiting the next photo essay of a neighborhood that I soon want to explore myself.
A documentarian and street photographer, his style is right up my alley, but there's more to his photos than simply holding up a mirror. Exposing bit by bit, parts of Philadelphia newcomers like me have never heard of and neighborhoods I've walked through over and over again, he always finds something intriguing. With no further ado, the third installment of Philly Future's Photoblogger Fortnight series.
Albert/Philly Future [PF]: What got you started taking photos and when did taking photos take a more serious turn for you? Do you see yourself as a professional photographer down the line, photography being the sole source of your income?
R. Bradley Maule [Brad]: I got my first camera, a little plastic 110 film camera, for my 10th birthday, but I had actually taken pictures before that. I have a picture of (Chicago White Sox manager) Ozzie Guillen from his rookie season with the White Sox I took in Toronto as a 10 year old kid. I've always enjoyed taking pictures, but to be honest, I think going digital has totally changed my eye for framing, just because the quantity digital allows eventually leads to an improvement in quality, which in turn leads to better judgment. I'd like to say photography could be my primary career some day, but I don't want to assume anything.
PF: How long has PhillySkyline.com been up and how long do you see it staying around? What keeps you shooting day in and day out?
Brad: I registered the domain in 2002 but I really only started using the site in early 2004, and finally launched the current site in February of this year. I just like taking pictures and shooting all digital allows for shooting as much as humanly possible, which means as much urban exploring as humanly possible.
PF: What camera did you start taking photos with? What camera do you use now? What's the rest of your photo taking/editing hardware/software setup?
Brad: The 110 film camera, but I've gone through a few 35mm SLRs, my favorite of which was a 70s era Minolta T-102. Right now I'm still stuck with a Sony CDMavica, but I'll eventually purchase one of the "prosumer" Canons on the market, and I sincerely apologize for using that term. Otherwise it's just Photoshop.
PF: You're originally from Central/Western PA. What about the region do you miss? What about Philadelphia helps make you forget it? Any favorite places to shoot when back home? What about Central/Western PA has influenced your photography?
Brad: Believe it or not, what I miss most about central Pennsylvania is the stars. The noise of the city doesn't bother me a bit (other than car alarms and house alarms, each of which is completely worthless), but not seeing millions and millions of stars on clear nights is sometimes disheartening. Oh, and Sheetz. I'm sorry, but Wawa has got nothing on Sheetz. Those and the proximity of the woods, I guess. I love the Wissahickon and Fairmount Park, but having the Appalachian Trail at your fingertips is pretty incredible. There isn't any one thing I set out to shoot when I visit home – I really just like seeing urban places and people. My hometown of Tyrone would hardly be considered urban by most city folks, but it really is urban at the smallest scale, with its grid layout and numbered streets and the services the town provides.
PF: If I could grant you a wish to photograph anyone/thing/place anywhere, where would it be and what would be the subject? Why?
Brad: Hmm, that's a good question. I guess I'd say someone like Bob Dylan, in New York, but only a couple of pictures. Anything more would be awkward. It's like sports and concert photos to me – you can get a couple of good shots, but to spend the whole time taking pictures is taking away from your appreciation of why you're there, or is a job. I'd like to take a couple pictures of Dylan to hang on the wall and say "yeah, that one time with Bob Dylan" and then talk about the conversation we had. Or maybe Christina Ricci. You know, her conversations and all.
PF: When did your fascination with buildings/skyscrapers start? Do you have a favorite one to shoot or just look at? Favorite one you've been in? I'm partial to the Drake.
Brad: My fascination with skyscrapers started the first time I saw One PPG Place in Pittsburgh, which as I recall, was in 1984, a year after it was completed. It's still my favorite building in the world. In Philly, nothing comes close to the PSFS Building, in style, in its interior, in its name, in its views … it's the perfect building in Philly. I do like the Drake too, as well as Mellon Bank Center and Cira Centre. Comcast Center is going to be a great building as well.
PF: Who are your photographic/artistic influences? Which photoblogs do you visit on a regular basis?
Brad: I don't have any famous photographic influences, but a friend of mine Matt Loos sort of changed the way I see photos. I don't even think he takes pictures any more.
PF:How often do you get out shooting? With the winter coming, how will that affect your shooting schedule? Do you expect a slowing down of posts?
Brad: I probably average one shoot a week or so, sometimes more sometimes less. Winter doesn't affect me at all. I've lived my whole life in Pennsylvania; I'm prepared for snow. Some of my favorite photos were taken in the snow.
PF: What hidden talents do you have? Are you an accountant? A baker? A jazz flutist?
Brad: Chili. I welcome all challengers.
PF: Why is Philadelphia such a photographic city for you?
Brad: It's like Sir Edmund Hillary: "because it's there." I love Philly and want to overturn every stone in every inch of the city. That's why I try to cover as much ground as possible. Tinicum to the Boulevard, Chestnut Hill to Northern Liberties, I love it all.
PF: How often do you print your work? For yourself/family? For selling?
Brad: Not as often as I should. I usually make large prints for family and friends and wedding gifts, and pretty much exclusively at CBOP (now known as Cardinal Photo Lounge). Their quality is amazing, especially on matte paper. I've sold a few photos here and there, but I plan on developing a sales section of the site specifically for prints.
PF: Have you ever had any problems with the police in regards to photographing buildings? What are your thoughts on photographic rights in public spaces?
Brad: I've been pretty lucky, I think. Philadelphia Police have been really cool the few times they've questioned me, and Ben Franklin Bridge (DRPA) Police have been a little more imposing, but over all I haven't had too many problems. Public spaces are public spaces are public spaces. Taking a picture of a skyscraper or a subway train is in no way, shape or form going to aid or abet some terrorist or what have you, and to suggest that it is is a truckload of horseshit.
PF: What aspect of your photography would you like to improve upon? How do you plan on improving that aspect? What do you feel is your strongest point? Why?
Brad: I'd like to improve on my portraiture, as well as the approach to portraiture, particularly with people on the street. The only way to get better is to do it, and having a better camera will at least help me enable that, I reckon. I don't know that I have a strongest point per se, but I like the way I frame subjects.
PF: Do you have any formal training behind the lens? If yes, what kind? Did you like it? If not, do you plan on complementing your skills with selective coursework or otherwise?
Brad: Wellll … I had what amounted to four photography classes in college and I graduated with a BA in journalism, so take that for what it's worth. But to say my learning is done would be foolish. On the other hand, I don't know what formal coursework can teach you that you can't learn yourself by just getting out and shooting, shooting, shooting.
PF: What is your dream camera equipment setup? Do you plan on upgrading any of your equipment you currently have anytime soon? Has your recent test drive with the Canon 20D changed anything?
Brad: Dream setup? On this date, it would be the Canon 5D with every imaginable L-series lens (most notably the 10-22mm super wide), but in a year's time I'm sure I'd tell you something different. The 20D set did nothing but make me expedite my upgrade. I'm "this close" to picking up something new, exactly what I'm not yet sure.
PF: How have the various neighborhoods of Philadelphia changed since you've been documenting them? Which have changed for the better? Which for the worse? Where would you like to see the City invest more resources?
Brad: Well, in the five years I've been in Philly, most of it has been spent in the Graduate Hospital Area / Fitler Square, so I almost feel like I'm part of the (gentry) process. I mean if Toll Bros of all people are selling million dollar homes here, you know something's changed. I haven't been here long enough to say what's changed for the worse, but every time I'm in Southwest Philly, I just kind of scratch my head. I'd like to see the City stop investing money in things like retooling Love Park to keep skaters out and making a citywide wireless network and figure out a way to make SEPTA work, as well as holding all the developers of all these high-end projects to a high standard.
PF: What's your favorite neighborhood to shoot in? Why?
Brad: Probably the Graduate Hospital Area, because it's my own, because I'm most familiar with it, though I do like shooting in Northern Liberties, Strawberry Mansion and around Fairmount Park.
PF: I've heard Philadelphia referred to a city of a thousand villages/neighborhoods. Do you think you'll ever run out of neighborhoods to document?
Brad: Probably not, because just when I think I've got something covered, I realize it can be broken down even further, and besides, you could shoot the same neighborhood for ten days straight and not come away with redundant pictures.
PF: What's your favorite photograph from your archives? What makes that shot special?
Brad: That's also a tough one. Guess I'd have to say this one, just because it was such a special and unique event to Philly, and that it's colorful and full of people and, well, the Philly skyline.
PF: Favorite cheese steak?
Brad: Dalessandro's!
Please take a minute and take a click through Brad's photoblog. Stay for a minute, an hour, a year! His photos will be in the spotlight here for the next fortnight. So come on back to see some highlights from his archives.
