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This is inspiring to me.



Christopher Irion, an advertising photographer with a studio around the corner from my place, has a portable photobooth thinger that can be set up pretty much anywhere. Kinda like Clay Enos’ Streetstudio, but If you ask a fella like me, Irion’s work has a striking intimacy and purpose.



According to his website, Irion has shot over 2000 portraits across America, focusing on particular groups or communities. After shooting the portraits, Irion installs his work in a public thoroughfare in that community.



Really, I’ve been meaning to write this for several weeks now. I have several chicken-scratch rough drafts in my trusty green notebook. I guess I wanted to marinate my thoughts a bit. These photos were taken at the “opening” on May 15. It was a special moment; strangers and neighbors and friends enjoying a warm San Francisco evening, looking for each other on the wall in front 900 Minnesota.







Every few days I find myself walking over to this wall of portraits, taking another look at my neighbors’ faces. One day I ran into the FedEx guy who serves the area. He told he recognized just about everyone up there.



Without sounding like a cheap parrot of James Howard Kunstler, the great post WWII push to the suburbs cheated American communities of all sizes the common areas that allow society to thrive.







It’s exciting to see Irion’s portraits bringing together a community like these 9 square blocks called Dogpatch. It’s exciting to see photography enchant and engage people and even get them to start talking to each other.