Trending Now - Photographer Reveals The “Addicted” Side Of The Streets Of Philadelphia, And It’s Terrifying
Kensington Avenue in North Philadelphia is infamous for drug abuse and prostitution. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. Kensington Blues is a photography series by Jeffrey Stockbridge, 36, that documented the struggles and the dark reality of local residents.
Between 2008 and 2014, the photographer took a series of intimate portraits of people capturing a side of Philadelphia that is rarely seen or talked about. The residents shared their stories, talking about drugs, prostitution and other struggles of their lives.
“The goal of my work is to enable people to relate to one another in a fundamentally human way, despite any commonly perceived differences”- Jeffrey shared on his website. “I rely on the trust and sincerity of those I photograph to help me in this process.”
Take a look at the powerful images below.
More info: kensingtonblues.com
Carroll
She told that she often sleeps on the streets during the day to protect herself at night.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Matt Neal
He struggled with drug addiction after being released from prison. Sepsis developed in his left leg. Because of his addiction, he failed to meet the treatment regimen and eventually the doctors had to amputate part of the leg.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Matt Neal
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Tanya
She is 25 years old, working in the sex industry since she was 18.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
The Twins Tic Tac and Tootsie
“We out here so we can get money so we has somewhere to rest our heads. We look out for each other. If I can’t get money, she gets it, and whatever money we get we share…We need quick money cause we need somewhere to sleep every day. I mean, trust me, we don’t want to be out here doing this. This is the last thing I want to do. But I do what I have to do to take care of my sister. Cause she’s all I got and I’m all she’s got.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Lauren
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Vinny
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Woman on East Sterner Street
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Bobby
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Carol
A local resident, at the time she was 41. Carol told the photographer that she had been doing heroin for 21 years and it became “the love of her life”.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Jamie
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Sarah
“I’m 55 years old, I have a master’s degree in psychology, but after my husband, mother and father, died in a car accident two years ago, I lost my whole family, my career, one, my health, all in one go.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Unknown
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Sarah and Dennis
The veins in Sarah’s arms were no good for injection, so she asked Dennis for the drug to be injected to her neck.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Ashley
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Pat and Rachel
They still have children, whom they gave away to a special agency for their protection. “We gave the kids away, people say it’s a selfish act, but I think it’s the best I could do for their better future,” Rachel said.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Paul (left) and Anthony (right), in the courtyard at The Last Stop Recovery House
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Scrappers
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Mary
“I don’t just do this for drugs. I do this because I wanna eat, because I like to buy clothes, because I like the small things, you know. I did have a normal life once but…I really believe, like if my, if my family say like, “Mary come, come home stay with us” like, if I could I would…”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Maria
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Matt and Brian
Matt shoots Brian in the neck in front of the McPherson Square Library on Kensington Avenue. It’s 10 AM on Sunday morning.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Vinny
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Dalmata
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Kensington and Somerset
Maria: “I’ve been here almost 8 years and I see a lot of bad stuff going around. They say when you go between it, you gonna do it too.” Robert: “You don’t need no cable, you don’t have to watch TV. You just gotta sit out here. You see drama, you see soap opera, you see violence and crime.” Maria: “You even see sex.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Eric Kyle
“What I’m doing I really don’t particularly care to be doing, but I do it anyway, and I’m not ashamed of it ’cause if I was ashamed of it, I wouldn’t do it….Until I decide to change it’s what I’m gonna do. Hopefully, like, the will of God…will make me strong enough and give me the determination to stop and get some help.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Melissa’s Arms
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Nichol
“I don’t really ask people for a lot, I get my money, like I don’t like to, cause a lot of times to get people to take care of you, you have to lie to them. And then lead them on and make them think that you’re gonna get clean. And then, and then it ends up getting to be too much, where they’re trying to control what you do. And I’d rather just get the money and end it at that with no strings attached cause I don’t need someone following me around, trying to track me down like, trying to drop me off at rehabs and shit.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Nancy
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Alex
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Christian
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Susan
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Crystal
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Al
Al lives in a house off Kensington Avenue without electricity or running water. He sometimes rents his upstairs bedroom to prostitutes in need of a private location for engaging in sex and drug use.
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Bob
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Jose
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Jennette
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Edward
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Marion
“I went into rehab, for, like, snorting cocaine, taking oxies, perks, and I met people that did dope and smoked crack, and, you know, like, one thing led to another, and I was just, I was, I wanted to try it, and I did.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
A woman stands on Kensington Ave
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Christina
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Diana with her kids
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Bobby
“I sold a lot of drugs and was involved with a lot of like, stuff that had to do with shooting guns and all. Most of it was uh selling drugs and collecting money that was owed to me and it caused me getting into a lot of trouble.”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Nancy
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Jamie
“I’ve been raped, and, you know, almost killed really”
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
Nichole
Image credits: Jeffrey Stockbridge
