Montreal an urban horror story

[DLLB]

I know you could find this in any city but WOW, pretty bad.

Please keep the pictures coming.

Thanks!

[ChiTownCity]

Gorgous! I'm loving every shot, keep it comin'...

[pallo]

Originally Posted by mr.John

I suggest you seek professional help......90% of photos were taken with a Nikon D80 with a 18-70mm lens both of which I no longer have,in fact I'm getting bored with photography in general ,all the time and effort I put in has been a dismal artistic and financial failure (I haven't made a bloody penny with any of photos)...anyhow enough with the whining let's continue the crapfest

It's very easy to make money with photos especially with great images like yours. All you need to do is

1) Get a flickr membership
2) join the Getty Images call for artist group on flickr
3) Submit a selection of your work
4) Start getting paid as each photo sells

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Avian001

You can create some sort of bizarre internal narrative about the "nobility" of great things long past, but for people who have to live in surroundings as depicted here, I'd say look into their eyes and tell me that they are are enamored with it.

I'm finding beauty in the persistence of these people with big problems in a worn environment, it's all very timeless. True, I'm really digging the photography and I'm looking at it "how it is." However, I have to laugh at the idea that living next to a boardup in a gritty city is somehow a deeply inhuman situation. I do apologize for the obnoxious comment. Montreal does make my nether regions tingle.

[Avian001]

It is deeply inhuman. Unless you believe that living in trashy surroundings is "Romantic." Hey, I'm fascinated by the pictures as well, but I have to ask myself why.

Because there is truth in them. And that is fascinating. But that truth is rather sad. If you love it, fine. That's your gig. But to me a celebration of urban sickness and decay is pathological, especially if it becomes nothing more than urban pornography.

[le calmar]

There is no way you can compare Montreal to North Philly and Cleveland (and I've visited both). Montreal sure has its lot of grit, it's a old city and has plenty of old neighborhoods. In most major Canadian cities, the older parts are where the yuppies, students and wealthy people live. Those old neighborhoods are mostly clean and well kept. In Montreal there are just too many of them. Some of the old neighborhoods are nice (Old city, le Plateau, the south end of Villeray, NDG, CDN), some are "okay" and undergoing a gentrification process, although parts of them are gritty (Lachine, HoMa, Griffintown, maybe even the east end of downtown) and some are mostly poor and in a bad shape (Verdun, St-Henri).

Even though Montreal is not even close to be booming like Toronto, Van or Calgary are, the city is in a good shape and things are going well there economically speaking. You can't judge the situation of a city after seeing a couple of pics, Mr. John always tend to show the dark side of the city.

[wisla_krakow]

horror story?! more like love story!
i've got a boner!!

[ChiTownCity]

Originally Posted by Avian001

It is deeply inhuman. Unless you believe that living in trashy surroundings is "Romantic." Hey, I'm fascinated by the pictures as well, but I have to ask myself why.

Because there is truth in them. And that is fascinating. But that truth is rather sad. If you love it, fine. That's your gig. But to me a celebration of urban sickness and decay is pathological, especially if it becomes nothing more than urban pornography.

not everyone considers a little rust here and there to be "trashy". I sure as hell don't feel the slightest bit of comfort living in a sterile, brand new (especially with today's architecture), spotless environment. I'll take me a nice old gritty hood any day (gresham counts right?).... but then again that may just be me... but then again maybe not.....

[kool maudit]

itis a bit of an oversimplification to imply that a fascination with "grit," or decay, is only some form of privileged affectation, some unhealthy patholology.

ruin and abadonment are an eternal artistic theme, and their aesthetic value lies in their ability to evoke the fact of man's impermanence, and the fleeting nature of human achievement and glory.

it is perhaps more "inhuman" to look at this and only see some sort of sickness, some sort of need for improvement, than to allow it to have its traditional power and meaning.

[Avian001]

Originally Posted by ChiTownCity

not everyone considers a little rust here and there to be "trashy". I sure as hell don't feel the slightest bit of comfort living in a sterile, brand new (especially with today's architecture), spotless environment. I'll take me a nice old gritty hood any day (gresham counts right?).... but then again that may just be me... but then again maybe not.....

A little rust is OK! But most of these shots don't show a "little rust." I gotta be a little more clear here. I am NOT arguing for "shiny, new and sterile" - that's just as inhuman. What is sad is that these photos show a lack of care.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by Avian001

A little rust is OK! But most of these shots don't show a "little rust." I gotta be a little more clear here. I am NOT arguing for "shiny, new and sterile" - that's just as inhuman. What is sad is that these photos show a lack of care.

Really. Prove it!

There is a long and noble tradition in the history of the art of photography to show the darker side of society. I suggest that you google "great depression photographer" for images. You'll see what I mean. But I suspect that even the iconic work of a genius like Walker Evans will hurt your oh so fragile sensitivity.

Beside, you have to be very naive to seriously think that the (amazing) pictures shown in this thread are a reflection of Montreal as a whole. You obviously haven't been in Montreal recently or at all to think that.

Get over it.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by Pompuss

VVV When I thing of French canadian this is what comes to mind. VVV

VVV And just like anyone who has a little French in them, there head is always up their ass. VVV

Not exactly the the Republican National Convention I's say. Great pictures of Montreal. It looks terrible but I know the city has some good parts too.

Wait, that was a joke, wasn't it?
For example, linguistics experts say that 30 to 40% of the English vocabulary is based on the French one. England has likely been the main victim of the French huge influence over Europe, for hundreds of years. Some French even still call England a colony lol. Therefore all English-speaking countries have "their heads up their ass" because of their language. Face it, people.

Now how large are those grim areas in Montreal? The thread obviously focuses on grit fetish only.

[Austinlee]

Nice. & Nasty.

[diskojoe]

Originally Posted by pallo

It's very easy to make money with photos especially with great images like yours. All you need to do is

1) Get a flickr membership
2) join the Getty Images call for artist group on flickr
3) Submit a selection of your work
4) Start getting paid as each photo sells

Well since they are not accepting new photos this quarter that might be difficult. I am part of the group and have yet to see a dime. not talking crap. Just telling how it is.

But seriously John, you keep doing what you are doing. I love your stuff and you've been true inspiration to me whether you knew it or not. Some of these comments seem to me like they are coming from people that do not have a realistic understanding of how diverse art can really be. n00bs.

[wong21fr]

Love the pics, I swear to God I saw Buckeye's future self in one of the shots....

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by mousquet

Wait, that was a joke, wasn't it?
For example, linguistics experts say that 30 to 40% of the English vocabulary is based on the French one. England has likely been the main victim of the French huge influence over Europe, for hundreds of years. Some French even still call England a colony lol. Therefore all English-speaking countries have "their heads up their ass" because of their language. Face it, people.

Now how large are those grim areas in Montreal? The thread obviously focuses on grit fetish only.

Don't sweat it. He's just jealous that we have 1000 times more hot women than where he lives!

[entheosfog]

Amazing stuff here. I love the diversity that exists in a large city which is why I couldn't live in anything but. I'd love to make it back to Montreal one of these days. Maybe not in winter though...

[MolsonExport]

On Montreal: http://www.jedisaber.com/sw/Sounds/ANH011.wav

[Greavsie]

are there many anglos left in montreal?

[le calmar]

"Left"? Anglophones are part of the identity of Montreal since 1763 (when France lost the Seven Years war to England) They are not going to leave anytime soon, so yes, there are many anglos in Montreal.