Previous | Next :: Skater Boy in the Mirror : Gary : Indiana | August 31, 2010, 11:25 pm

I am flying........... really ........... I am at 37,000 feet over Georgia heading for Heartfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta........ its my second home...... well Matt's place is........ I'm flying and listening to the Foo Fighters ........ its something I do a lot....... both fly and listen to the Foo Fighters ...... Yeah Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters ........ I guess they are just about my fave band at the moment .......... right now I am hearing 'When the Wheels Come Down'......... that has to be my theme song........

Here is another Michael Jackson related image........... Well only very marginally related I guess......... It was made in the downtown streets of his hometown of Gary Indiana on Friday .......... Some of these streets are almost returning to a natural state ....... so many buildings are abandoned, derelict or gone ....... The foliage and grass grows unchecked creating an odd cross between a grim urban vista and a natural place .......... Inner city urban with the accompanying sensation of desperation, drugs and the pressure of the constant proximity of violence........ but weirdly mixed with a feeling of quiet countryside and nature ............

Unusually I was making my pictures with another photographer along........ Corey I know through blogging....... we've spoken on line a lot and I've met him in Chicago before....... I sent him a message saying I was going to shoot in Gary having originally said on the blog I was going to be shooting in Chi-Town ....... Corey then having spoken to a relative of his .... a State Trooper..... sent this tweet back: .

" coreywagehoft .... @jezblog Jez.. Gary is also known as Scary Gary... Very high murder rate there.. I would not recommend exploring the area. " .

I read it and smiled........ I've received a fair few warnings like this in my time.......... I said I would being going anyway............. and you have to admire Corey cos he came along anyway himself ......... and was completely cool.

Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXX

www.jezblog.com