Natural Lens Photography

SOCIAL - POLITICAL COMMENTARY: Transitions

There is a popular saying, “change is inevitable.” But what is change? How does our mind’s eye perceive a continuous set of alterations in something? What is the “same” something that persists, and yet is different from what it was? What are the changes that occur without altering the identity of this “same” thing?  

While change occurs everywhere, and at all levels, it is the visual manifestation of change that we see daily that I hope to capture in the Transitions Collection. By examining visual manifestations of change, I hope to prompt the viewer to pause, reflect on, and appreciate the cyclical rhythm of nature and man's place within it; to see value and rejoice in the broader human condition. 

  • Mercy Health-Cincinnati, formerly Mercy Hospital, at 2446 Kipling Avenue in Cincinnati's Mount Airy neighborhood, closed the nearly 70-acre site in 2013 after the opening of Mercy Health’s West Hospital in Green Township.  The property was once the Pinecroft estate of entrepreneur Powel Crosley, a radio pioneer who was owner of the Cincinnati Reds when he died in 1961. Two years later, it was sold to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. They used the Crosley mansion as a convent and sold some of the original 113 acres. St. Francis Hospital bought the property in 1969, and two years later opened Providence Hospital. The Franciscan Sisters joined Mercy Health in 1999. Mercy Health donated the house and 17 acres to the Cincinnati Preservation Association in 2011.  Mercy Hospital was demolished because Hamilton County commissioners determined it would cost too much to renovate the aging buildings.  Mercy Health is still seeking a buyer for the Mount Airy property.
  • Constructed in 1850 as the First German Reformed Church in Cincinnati's West End neighborhood along Freeman Avenue, only blocks away from downtown Cincinnati.  The church served a community, which at the time, was a largely German-American immigrants.  The church became known as the First Reformed Church in 1918 due to the spreading anti-German sentiment following WWI.  The church building was sold in 1970 after the congregation of German immigrants dwindled. It became known as the Freeman Avenue United Church of Christ in 1970, to serve the now largely African American community, which lasted five years before closing, The property was then transferred to Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Inc. on November 18, 1993.The church, once a splendid example of Gothic Revival architecture, was constructed with a front limestone exterior with the remainder in brick, a limestone-fronted steeple, and a bay of four large, stained glass windows on the southern and northern front of the building.  The former beauty and scale that the church once possessed shows the level of importance it once had to German immigrant community. The current squalid conditions show just how much those things have changed after decades of neglect.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 3, 1980 as St. George Parish and Newman Center.The red brick church was designed by Samuel Hannaford in the Romanesque Revival style, and opened in 1873. Declining attendance brought about by shifts in neighborhood demographics and worship habits in the 1970s and 1980s led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati to consolidate the parish with St. Monica's and close the church in 1993. The property was sold the following year to a group called the Christian Ministries Center, which operated a community and arts center out of it until 2004. St. George's two steeples caught fire and partially collapsed on February 1, 2008.[2]In March 2015, Crossroads Church acquired the property from the Clifton Heights Community Urban Development Corporation and announced plans to renovate and occupy it as their fifth location in Ohio.  The church has completed a $13 million renovation of the building and tried to preserve the building's historic character.  The stained glass windows in the main sanctuary and the leaded glass in the friary were all stabilized and preserved. The vaulted ceilings of the sanctuary were also stabilized and cleaned but not repainted in order to let the history of the building show through.  Crossroads began hosting services there on Aug. 21, 2016.Crossroads wanted a presence Uptown because churches across the country are shutting their doors because of a lack of life or interest coming in from a younger generation, she said.{quote}Having this location on the corner of UC's campus gave us an opportunity to reach out and bring the younger generation into the church – a generation that's given up on church,{quote} Schuler said.This is an image of the church gallery.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati.  This is an image of the church sanctuary.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati.  This image is of the abandoned library in the basement.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati.  This image is of a side corridor near the sanctuary.
  • Brighton, a neighbowhood located northwest of Over the Rhine and downtown Cincinnati.  Walking these narrow streets, a person can, for a moment, almost feel the history of a once bustling and vibrant neighborhood  which today, is virtually abandoned. Its streetcar and subway lines were long ago removed, its storefronts boarded up, sealed or displaced.
  • South Avondale Cincinnati, OHThis badly neglected home is a couple of houses from the apartment building that my grandparents lived in during the late 60' through late 70's.  I actually lived with them off and on and I have fond memories of that time with them and of the neighborhood.  Today there is a mix of older homes and newer homes, but I'm happy to report that this dilapidated house is an unfortunate anomaly on this quiet side street, and has been demolished.
  • Medical Center - Ohio Image of elderly gentlemen in physician’s waiting room.  After a certain age, one often ponders human, and individual mortality, and a routine visit to the doctor’s can become a life-altering event.
  • Music Hall OTC Cincinnati, OH.  Image of second floor backroom used for storage before the major renovation project had begun.
  • Music Hall OTC Cincinnati, OH  Image of Backroom on second floor used for storage.
  • Private Residence Liberty Township, OH.Private Residence Liberty Township, OH.As we progress through life’s stages, and experience the changes in our bodies and mind that come with the progression, in quiet moments, we often reflect on existential questions; has our life had meaning, are we in a good place now, and how do we want to live in the future?A self-portrait.Image is a self portrat.
  • Memorial Hall Over the Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio.  All images in this collection were taken prior to the 2016 renovation.This image of the attic area which was typically not accesible to patrons.  As I left the vintage parlor behind the performance stage at Memorial Hall, I noticed even narrower, diimly lit steps leading up to another level.  I was reluctant to venture into the darkness since this area was clearly the path less travelled.  I proceeded with caution, although the space was very dusty and smelled a little musty.  There was a single closed door at the top of the stairs and this image is what I saw when I opened the door and entered the space.  The natural light from the open window against the rugged brick, iron and masonry interior was irresistable.  An alluring yet eerie scene.The Hamilton County Memorial Building, more commonly called Memorial Hall OTR, is located at Elm & Grant Streets, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The building is next to Cincinnati's Music Hall and across from Washington Park in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. It was built by the Grand Army of the Republic and Hamilton County in 1908, as a memorial to the military of the city and county. The building was built in the Beaux-Arts style. The building, including the Annie W and Elizabeth M Anderson Theater, is used for 300+ events per year.Constructed according to a design by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the Memorial Building was intended to commemorate members of all branches of the U.S. armed services, as well as the pioneers who had established the United States.   The hall contains a 556-seat theater that was designed for speaking, but is also used as a venue for concerts, film screenings and theatrical events.   The theater's small size produces a sense of intimacy among the audience, and its acoustics are exceptional: words spoken on stage in a normal voice can easily be understood even at the back of the balcony.In late 1978, the Memorial Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying for inclusion both because of its architecture and because of its place in the area's history.  Its location on Washington Park places it in the historic district that embraces most of Over-the-Rhine, which was added to the Register five years after the Memorial Building was individually added.An $11 million renovation to the building was completed in December 2016 and allowed for the preservation of its historic character. Additionally, extensive improvements have been made to increase audience and performer comfort, modernize amenities, and enhance performances. The renovations include new, larger restroom facilities, a new HVAC system to accommodate year-round events, new and more comfortable seating, the addition of a contemporary catering kitchen and backstage crossover space for performers. Lastly, the acquisition of new equipment, audio/visual components, and technology to ensure the best possible event experience.
  • Music Hall OTC Cincinnati, OH. This is an Image of a strange room in the bowels of the basement that housed a section of the large plenum that was used to distribute air into Springer Auditorium.  The title is a whimsical exaggeration of the stories concerning Music Hall being built on top of a cemetary.
  • Music Hall OTC Cincinnati, OH. This is an Image of a winding basement passageway leading to the plenum air deliver room.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati.  This image is of the narrow stairway leading to the gallery.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati.  This is an image from the bottom of the stairs leading to the upstairs seating gallery.
  • Old Saint George Church is a historic Catholic church in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati. The door in the shadows leads to a stairway up to the bell tower that had towered over the city since 1873, and was destroyed in a fire in 2008.
  • Forest Fair Village (formerly Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills, and Forest Fair Mall) is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is situated on the border between Forest Park and Fairfield, at the junction of Interstate 275 and Winton Road (Exit 39). The mall, built in phases between 1988 and 1989 as Forest Fair Mall, has become noted for its troubled history; despite being the second-biggest mall in the state and bringing many new retailers to the market, it lost three anchor stores (B. Altman and Company, Bonwit Teller, and Sakowitz) and forced it's original owner LJ Hooker to bankruptcy less than a year after opening. The mall underwent renovations throughout the mid 1990s, attracting new stores such as Kohl's, Burlington Coat Factory, and Bass Pro Shops. Mills Corporation renamed the property to Cincinnati Mills at the start of the 21st century and renovated the mall once more. By January 2005, the mall had a 90 percent occupancy.  Despite these renovations, the mall's tenancy began to slump again in 2006.  This included the loss of Media Play, which went out of business entirely, and Johnny's Toys, which was closed so that Steve & Barry's could create a larger store using all of the former Elder-Beerman store. In addition, the president of Bigg's reported that their store in the mall had constantly struggled in sales due to it being located at the back of the property.  Also contributing to the decline were continued competition with Northgate and Tri-County malls, along with a newer outdoor mall called Bridgewater Falls in nearby Hamilton; lower-class demographics surrounding the mall; shopper unfamiliarity with the specialty tenants within; bankruptcy filings of key tenants; and complications from an accounting scandal in which the Mills corporation was involved.  Simon Property Group acquired the Mills portfolio in 2007.   Following the sale of Mills portfolio to Simon Property Group, the mall was sold several times afterward, while continuing to lose many of its key tenants. After having been renamed to Cincinnati Mall and again to Forest Fair Village in the 2010s, the property has dwindled to fewer than five tenants as of 2017, and plans of redevelopment have largely been stalled. Kohl's, and Bass Pro Shops are among the remaining tenants at the time of this writing.
  • Forest Fair Village (formerly Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills, and Forest Fair Mall) is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio.  This was once a bustling children's play area.Image of largely forgotten lower level children's play area.  Recalling the former vitality of the mall, especially the play area, left me with a distinct sense of loss and melancoly.
  • Forest Fair Village (formerly Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills, and Forest Fair Mall) is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Kohl’s is still in the mall in 2018 despite the rest of the mall being almost totally vacant.Kohl’s was once one of several anchor stores. Mall walker taking a rest in empty lower level.Image from the mall entrance to Kohl's which has a release until 2021.  The Kohl's franchise seems to be competing well in other retail spaces, but I can't imagine how they are surviving in this dead space.
  • Forest Fair Village (formerly Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills, and Forest Fair Mall) is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio.  This retailer left in such a hurry that they didn’t bother to remove the mannequins from the window.From second floor corridor of a ahuttered retail clothing store showing abandoned mannequins in window.  Scene gave the appeance of a panicked rush to abandon the sinking ship.
  • Forest Fair Village (formerly Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills, and Forest Fair Mall) is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. These archways lead from a side entrance to one of the mall’s main corridor.  The corridor was once crowded with shoppers but are now barren.Image from side entrance leading to deserted main corridor.  One can walk the entire 1.5-million square feet of space and see maybe two or three people, usually walkers getting excercise.  Literally, no shoppers are using the mall corridors.
  • Forest Fair Village (formerly Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills, and Forest Fair Mall) is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio.  This view from the upper level in front of Kohl’s overlooks the once vibrant promenade below.  Sadly, the promenade and the upper corridors are now empty except for a few mall walkers.Image from upper level escalator in front of Kohl's entance.  Kohl's is one of a handful retailers remaining.  The interior mall area  is well maintained and clean, as though expecting a rush of shoppers that never come.  Only dark, empty corridors that reminded me of scenes from the Twighlight Zone television series.
  • Mercy Medical Center, Mt. Airy Cincinnati, OHMercy Medical Center, Mt. Airy Cincinnati, OHThis image from the back of two ladies walking together down an empty corridor in a medical office building piqued my imagination.  I saw a middle aged woman accompanying her elderly mother to a doctor's appointment.  In this image I felt their, love, respect, trust, and compassion for each other, as well as their strength and determination to face the future together.  Maybe I read too much into such a simple scene.
  • Memorial Hall Over the Rhine (OTR) Cincinnati, Ohio.  This image is of the upper gallery level seating area.
  • Memorial Hall OTR Cincinnati, OH.  This image is of one of two lavish marble staircase leading from the gallery to the main foyer.
  • Memorial Hall OTR Cincinnati, OH. This image is taken from the gorgeous landing at the bottom of the marble staircase leading to the main foyer.
  • Memorial Hall OTR Cincinnati, OH.  Image from corridor outside gallery entrances highlighting beautiful arched windows overlooking Washington Park, and the United States flag as a memorial to the military of the city and county.
  • Music Hall OTC Cincinnati, OH.  This image is of Lindner Grand Foyer from the gallery level.   The three beautiful crystal chandeliers, shown in this image, which were formerly located in the Lindner Grand Foyer were moved to Corbett Tower which overlooks Washington Park from the gallery.
  • Music Hall OTC Cincinnati, OH. This is an Image of Lindner Grand Foyer before renovations.  It was stunning before the renovation.  Can’t wait to see it afterwards.Music Hall, one the nation’s most treasured performance venues, has undergone a major renovation in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood finally bringing to fruition the long-awaited updates and upgrades throughout this iconic structure that builds upon its world-class acoustics and retain the hall’s historic grandeur.These include a refreshed exterior that connects the hall more directly to the neighborhood; a refreshed Springer Auditorium with new, more comfortable seating and flexible configurations for different types of performances; improved access for those with disabilities including two new fast-traction elevators; new practice rooms, dressing rooms and other backstage necessities for performers; a new large rehearsal/event space on the second floor and a new event space on the first floor; new high-density storage for the largest orchestra library in the world; expanded restrooms and concessions; various features to improve safety and energy efficiency; and other enhancements to improve the concert-going experience.
  • This is an image of a beautiful infant with her entire life ahead of her.  So much promise and hope for her future, and symbolically for all mankind as well.
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