I'm one of a diminishing number of people who never left the place they were born in. I've spent my entire life living within a one mile radius from my childhood home. And awhile back, when my mother got sick, I moved back home again.

Most of my friends from long ago are long gone from here. I keep a light in the window waiting for their return. But the light grows weaker as the place I live in keeps changing. Much of it would be unrecognizable to them now.

And so it is in communities all over the world today.

Our world keeps rapidly changing, and we must document today before it recedes from memory. We must also try to preserve that which has been before. We should make both the relics of the past and the record of the soon to be history easily accessible to others. It's a monumental collective task, and I am trying to do my small share here.

I'm fascinated by the past, and old photos and other visual images (such as vintage advertising) have a way of providing a portal through which one can imagine another time and place. A moment frozen forever.

I see the Internet as one large library with some web sites being little quaint books and others, like this one, vast rooms, filled with wondrous works which are yours if you are able to find them on the shelves. The knowledge that I have added in some small way to this collection's value gives me a sense of fulfillment. I shall venture to guess that you who are reading these words are also among those who share this feeling. If not, take heart in the knowledge that each one of us has something special to offer the world. Look into your heart, and you will know what it is that you would like to share.

If I have photographed your house, it is because I believe it's special and beautiful. Cherish it and respect its past when you plan its future.

Lastly, look around you carefully, and document the things that may seem commonplace to you now, but will be sorely missed when they are gone. You, and perhaps others who see the artifacts you've memorialized will be thankful you took the time to capture small parts of our ever-changing world.

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Read Sheepshead Bites at www.sheepsheadbites.com/ for news and information about events in Sheepshead Bay.

Lisanne!'s favorite photos from other Flickr members (116)

  • man on chalk by jeremoss
  • cat! by jeremoss
  • Tale of the Fish from the Tree by odieresis
  • Amish Traffic by Triborough
  • Young 'Possum by glblanchard
  • A bagel and 2 bucks...he blessed me. by sowhatithaps
  • DSCN3539_2 by sowhatithaps
  • I can hear clearly now the rain has gone. by sowhatithaps
  • Kitty Empire 4 by chicapoquita
  • Jerzy and the meat toy by chicapoquita
  • $20.11 by Triborough
  • STARLING in New York, USA. Dec 2007 by Tom Turner - SeaTeamImages / AirTeamImages
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Testimonials (8)

  • view profile

    krstl_blu says:

    "I have only been to New York once, and that was over 25 or ..ahem..30 years ago. It was a 3 day field trip. Lisanne's photos make me want to visit it again. We share a common interest in trying to keep history alive in our way of documenting it through photography. She captures some of the most ordinary things and makes you want to look at it again. One day, I believe Lisanne and I will co author a photography book which will become a best seller, become rich and famous, then once and for all prevent more disgusting condos from being built. But first we have to meet each other somewhere sometime...."

    7th June, 2008

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    Silly Luis says:

    "Lisanne photos are a really funny mix of tragedy and humor in a world so quickly changing. The child in me (and sometimes the man!) keeps staring at all those findings among the garbage with the eyes full of desire to get into the photo and enjoy them. Uppermost, though, I love how Lisanne's work show a New York that I didn't really know, so much different than the Hollywood one and making it look so very interesting. And that is very important when the viewer lives so far away. Thanks, girl!"

    30th May, 2008

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    Dana(ful) says:

    "Lisanne doesn't know me at all. I stalk her photos silently, but they make me ache for the Brooklyn in which I grew up, more than 20 years ago. The fact that I happened onto her stream because she'd taken a photo of the house my grandparents used to own on East 15th was the beginning, and every photo since then has made me happy. Thank you, Lisanne, for trying to capture the New York of my childhood, before it's completely gone."

    21st January, 2008

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    purplewon2000 says:

    "Lisanne takes wonderful photos of her disappearing and evolving neighbourhood, documenting what might be lost forever. She also documents old advertisments so no one will forget them, either."

    26th June, 2007

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    Wishbook says:

    "Lisanne's wonderful collection of vintage ads show us how far we've come and how far we haven't."

    24th February, 2007

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    carwax (if you see Kay) says:

    "who wouldn't like Lisanne? She's from Brokklyn, yo. Better check yo'self before you cross her..."

    4th January, 2007

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    ♥ shhexy corin ♥ says:

    "I don't like Lisanne. Her nose is prettier than mine."

    28th December, 2006

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    Paula Wirth says:

    "So glad to run across another collector-librarian, eager to share her wealth of vintage goodies with the collective web-world. Lisanne's collection is a joy, and now she is moderator of the Early Advertising Pool, which promises to provide a wealth of historic entertainment. Brava!!!"

    29th May, 2006

Joined:
February 2006
Hometown:
Sheepshead Bay, NY