henryvegaortiz - Tumblr blog

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This is a low tech phone camera study of a found image I intend to photograph in my studio, which I finally got set up after being out of commission for a while. This will be a return to my "shrine" project of photographing discarded photos. At one point this photo of these women mattered to someone but now it's lost to history. I think we all have a duty to remember the everyday person, otherwise the narratives of the past will be written only for and by those in power. Thanks to @sdotkimb for the box of estate photos. #iphone6s #found #portrait #color #flowers #shrine #lgbt #photooftheday #love #appropriate (at Cambridge, Massachusetts)

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I have been passing these objects hanging on display for the past three years. I just realized that they are the remaining tracery details of the Great Hall at Harvard Union (Barker Center)--AKA "living room" by #mckimmeadandwhite . It was torn out in the mid-nineties to make room for offices. Apparently, "the Great Hall 'had no use that would be acceptable to the faculty'" because 'scrupulous preservation becomes an obstacle to teaching and research.' Shortsighted thinking. If colleges and universities don't protect our cultural heritage, who will? Check out the before and after pictures. #architecture #architecturephotography #history #ivyleague #campus #harvard #college #undergrad #archaeology #art #culture #identity #american #neogeorgian #preservation #lament (at Harvard University)

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Wheat paste art in Someville

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City of Dreams. Ehru player takes a moment from playing in Hong Kong’s Central Market

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Breakfast in Penang

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Netsuke still life

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Fronteras by H Vega Via Flickr: Cambridge, MA 2015

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El Mundo de Alfonso by H Vega Via Flickr: Alfonso poses at his post in front of the many murals that line Calle 29 in the Getsemani neighborhood of Cartagena, Colombia.

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Alfonso by H Vega Via Flickr: Alfonso in front of one of the many murals that line Calle 29 in the Getsemani neighborhood of Cartagena, Colombia.

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Photo of found image

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Morning light in Penang. A vendor and his trishaw carrying his wares before the city awakes.

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Spring 2016 Newsletter

Here is the latest undergraduate newsletter I designed for the Dept. of English at Harvard University. 

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Author, Alison Bechdel, guest lectured today.

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This is Atiekah, a student of architecture I met while wandering through the streets of Penang, Malaysia. On the day we met she was cycling through Georgetown doing a survey of the neighborhood. We had a brief conversation but we connected very quickly. And, just before I could ask her, she asked me to take her photo. 

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Meet Vincent. A young 81 year old who speaks four languages and has lived in various parts of Asia as well as Australia. He was born in mainland China and arrived in Hong Kong as a young boy. He's been a flight steward, a bank teller, and an oil trader. His wife thinks he's crazy because he likes to talk to strangers. He says it is very hard to talk to young people, so he was very glad I stopped to talk--I of course was glad to be considered young--We spoke briefly but immediately connected as if we were old friends. He wished we had met sooner so he could take me out for proper tea. Before we parted he taught me a new year's greeting: Gōngxǐ fācái

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Tucked away barber shop in Hong Kong

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The son of Mr. Lee, "The Joss Stick Maker" (man in background), holds portrait of his parents. His mother recently passed away and his father continues to make traditional hand made sandalwood Joss sticks.