New Typology

  Over the years I've mentioned my typology projects but I've never made known how my interest in it began. While riding the mostly empty subway today I had time to think about my past photography. Now when I say past I mean pre 1995. I don't like to think about the my past, especially before 1995, but I made an exception in this case.

  In 1991I was much more of a painter than a photographer but every once in a while something would catch my attention. And in 1991 in New York City I began to photograph the hand written notes that people would tape to their car's side windows that stated that there was "No Radio In Car" or " No Valuables In Car". Some where more creative than that but the message was still the same; Don't Break Into My Car.

  I took a few dozen photos of these notes with the Minolta SRT101 camera that was left to me by my father. For the life of me I can't remember what happened to those photos but I have a good idea who made them disappear. I will not be mentioning that person, ever again if I can help it.

  A couple of years later I just rented a huge loft in Old City, Philadelphia and I began taking photos around the neighborhood. It didn't take me long before I began taking photos of those "No Radio or Valuables In Car" notes but then something quickly happened. The invention of the car alarm. Those notes seemed to have disappeared in a matter of weeks and along with it my chance to put together my first real typology project. Once again those photos disappeared, but it wasn't the fault of the person I wouldn't mention before. She was out of my life. What most likely happened was I became frustrated that I only was able to take a few photos before that window note practice ended, and I ended up destroying the photos and once again returned to painting. I'm only guessing what happened because at the time I was tending bar six nights a week and was drinking a lot.

  Fast forward to today and I have been slowly building up several typology portfolios on various subjects. The photos I'm sharing here are of how people cover their broken car windows. Some during the day and others at night.