101 images Created 28 Jun 2015
New London
New London, Connecticut, is in a season of transition. Like many small towns, the impact of a modern mall enticed most shoppers to the comforts of indoor shopping effectively causing the small businesses in the once-vibrant downtown to close their doors, one by one. Like many communities impacted by this kind of economic shift, New London is striving to reinvent itself. She has a long and colorful history, however, which suggests that something as trite as “the times” does not have the power to sink her.
Founded in 1646, New London was established as an English settlement. At that time, her harbor was considered the best deep water harbor on Long Island Sound. Subsequently, it became a base of American naval operations during the Revolutionary War. In 1781, New London was raided by the British — lead by Benedict Arnold — and most of the burgeoning town was burned to the ground. But the town survived the assault, rebuilt, and by the beginning of the 19th century was regarded as one of the three busiest whaling ports in the world (along with New Bedford and Nantucket, Massachusetts). Whaling was plentiful and lucrative then. The resulting wealth provided the capital for most of the buildings which give New London its character today. The problem for now is that most of the buildings stand vacant — vestiges of an era in her long history.
In my youth, New London’s downtown was bustling with small mom-n-pop shops populated with lots of foot traffic. It was the center of commerce, as well as a social hub. Fortunately, the town remains a center for transportation with a train station, ferry service, and bus station, and is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, and provides services for a nearby U.S. Navy Submarine base.
The architecture, and the struggle to reinvent itself, is what attracted me to photograph this area as a project. I was able to effectively scout the area while riding along with officers of the New London Police Department. The sense of expectancy is palpable; the town is about to begin a new era. The grand buildings (which now offer low rent housing) provide customers for a nearby shop and restaurant trying to survive. It’s a small seed, but I find the process fascinating and full of photographic potential.
Quite simply: I want to see—and photograph—the next era as it unfolds. For this project (using a Canon 5D mark III with Zeiss 35mm and Zeiss 50mm lenses) I focused on and around Bank and State Streets, which are commercial areas. Many mornings I arrived early to photograph the lines of the architecture, reflections of the store fronts, and the remnants of New London’s prosperous past. And even though Benedict Arnold once destroyed this town, I believe the spirit of New London is still present in its population of 28,000. They will find a way to offer what no mall can: Artist spaces. Coffee shops. Pubs. Galleries. Boutiques. It’s all here, just waiting to happen — and when it does, I’ll be here.
Founded in 1646, New London was established as an English settlement. At that time, her harbor was considered the best deep water harbor on Long Island Sound. Subsequently, it became a base of American naval operations during the Revolutionary War. In 1781, New London was raided by the British — lead by Benedict Arnold — and most of the burgeoning town was burned to the ground. But the town survived the assault, rebuilt, and by the beginning of the 19th century was regarded as one of the three busiest whaling ports in the world (along with New Bedford and Nantucket, Massachusetts). Whaling was plentiful and lucrative then. The resulting wealth provided the capital for most of the buildings which give New London its character today. The problem for now is that most of the buildings stand vacant — vestiges of an era in her long history.
In my youth, New London’s downtown was bustling with small mom-n-pop shops populated with lots of foot traffic. It was the center of commerce, as well as a social hub. Fortunately, the town remains a center for transportation with a train station, ferry service, and bus station, and is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, and provides services for a nearby U.S. Navy Submarine base.
The architecture, and the struggle to reinvent itself, is what attracted me to photograph this area as a project. I was able to effectively scout the area while riding along with officers of the New London Police Department. The sense of expectancy is palpable; the town is about to begin a new era. The grand buildings (which now offer low rent housing) provide customers for a nearby shop and restaurant trying to survive. It’s a small seed, but I find the process fascinating and full of photographic potential.
Quite simply: I want to see—and photograph—the next era as it unfolds. For this project (using a Canon 5D mark III with Zeiss 35mm and Zeiss 50mm lenses) I focused on and around Bank and State Streets, which are commercial areas. Many mornings I arrived early to photograph the lines of the architecture, reflections of the store fronts, and the remnants of New London’s prosperous past. And even though Benedict Arnold once destroyed this town, I believe the spirit of New London is still present in its population of 28,000. They will find a way to offer what no mall can: Artist spaces. Coffee shops. Pubs. Galleries. Boutiques. It’s all here, just waiting to happen — and when it does, I’ll be here.