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Michael Penn
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Biography
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Michael Penn was born in 1969 in the small town of Edgewater Park in southern New Jersey.
Always being interested in photography Michael loved to take photos with whatever camera he could get his hands on. His only instructions on the craft came from his father almost thirty years ago at the age of eight. Besides reading the occasional "how to" book Michael learned by doing.
In 1995 Michael moved to the city in which his family history can be traced back to William Penn, the states founder. Always being fascinated by it's buildings and structures Michael decided to focus his photography on the place that means so much to him.
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Statement
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Benjamin Franklin Bridge
With the corner stone being laid in 1924 the Benjamin Franklin Bridge also known as the Ben Franklin Bridge has stood the test of time. Standing at 385 feet tall and with a main span length of 1750 feet it was once the longest suspension bridge in the world. Always seeming to be in a state of disrepair it's this peeling paint, missing rivets and rust that give this structure it's character. To many Philadelphians this bridge represents Philadelphia. Whether walking on its pedestrian sidewalks or the streets below, driving over the span or on it's commuter train you will see people marvel at it's glory.
After three attempts at trying to capture this grand old structure I'm finally pleased with the latest images. Adding to the difficulty was trying to photograph a heavily used bridge in a post 911 world. Often trying to dodge security I've had to develop a wild west philosophy of shoot first and ask questions later. Sometimes this ended up with me being stopped or detained. Living literally a stones throw from the bridge for the last thirteen years I refuse to give up until I capture all beauty this structure has to offer.
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Exhibitions
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Walkway
Pier 12
