Usry Alleyne

Author: Usry

  • Rain In Richmond

    Rain In Richmond

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    Usry
    in , ,

    As a photographer in training, I was cautioned to never to take photographs through a window. For me, being told to never do something always inspires me to ask why. I’ve learned to ignore the word never as much as possible. Since I spend a large part of each day, looking at the world through…

  • Used Car Lot

    Used Car Lot

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    by

    Usry
    in ,

    Shiny things that move get my attention. These rainbow colored tassels over a used car lot in Richmond, catch my eye every time I drive by. They won’t make me buy the car but they do signal the idea that this is a fun place to spend my money if I were to buy a…

  • Cross Walk

    Cross Walk

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    Usry
    in , ,

    I’ve driven rapidly over this underpass hundreds of times. It never crosses my mind that I’m driving over the heads of others. The juxtaposition of the black and white crosswalk, the gold, glowing murals and the dark box shaped shelters of the unhoused is halting every time I drive through this underpass at night. 

  • Grand Green Lights

    Grand Green Lights

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    Usry
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    This image was taken seconds after “Red Grand Lights,” but because of the color change from red to green, it feels quieter. Green always signifies quiet for me most likely because I associate it with walking through places with dense vegetation. I also find it to be a soothing color. 

  • Grand Red Lights

    Grand Red Lights

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    by

    Usry
    in ,

    This image is loaded with some of my favorite visual phenomena. There are diffused, bright lights, converging diagonal lines, distinct points of light, reflective surfaces and darkness. My sense of hearing is also tied to this piece from the sound of tires on the wet road and the know and swish of the wipers moving…

  • Liquor Store

    Liquor Store

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    Usry
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    A lot of alcohol deliveries and consumption happens at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. We also smooth ourselves at the day’s end the day with weed, ice cream, candy, cookies and other sweet treats. I wonder when and where it began and why it continues despite how much damage it causes? We know…

  • Underpass

    Underpass

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    by

    Usry
    in , ,

    I’ve driven rapidly over this underpass hundreds of times. It never crosses my mind that I’m driving over the heads of others. The juxtaposition of the black and white crosswalk, the gold, glowing murals and the dark box shaped shelters of the unhoused is halting every time I drive through this underpass at night. 

  • Wet Window

    Wet Window

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    Usry
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    The permanent streaks on the driver’s side window of my car, diffuses light reflected from my rearview mirror to give the impression that light is coming from below. Unless the source is volcanic, or a reflective body of water, we are used to seeing light coming from above. This has metaphorical significance for those who…

  • McNally’s Irish Pub

    McNally’s Irish Pub

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    Usry
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    Roofs are designed to keep us warm and dry. Combined with walls, they provide comfort and shelter. They shield our heads from rain, lightning, excessive heat, snow, bird, feces, and other things that fall from the sky. They also stop us from seeing the moon, the sun, the stars, the clouds and clear blue skies.…

  • Upside Down Domino’s

    Upside Down Domino’s

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    Usry
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    Americans eat a lot of flour, cheese, tomatoes, and pork. Millions of hours of human life are used to make dough, sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Countless hours of human life are spent driving what others make for us to eat. When we read the words, look at the pictures and press the buttons to place…