Photography & Digital ArtJAN 3, 2018

Photographer Reveals the Dark Side of Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia

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Rocky Steps, Longwood Gardens, and Peddler’s Village. Places like these can get tarnished by the image of Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia, a location that became infamous among the sea of famous sights. From people fighting their drug addictions to truly tragic stories, you shouldn’t write off the avenue as some skid row of Philadelphia.

Kensington Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. Every corner houses a story about a broken person. The streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, don’t hold back on the scary factor. If there is a problem plaguing modern society, chances are you will find the living form of it in the 3-mile-long stretch.

Photos are the best way to experience the ugly, rugged, and dirty side of Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia. Between 2008 and 2014, the photographer Jeffrey Stockbridge took a series of intimate portraits of people he later put in a book, capturing a side of Philadelphia that is rarely seen or talked about.

In the Kensington Blues project, the residents shared their stories, talking about drugs, prostitution, and other struggles of their lives. Without further ado, let’s look at the photos, discover the difficult hand some people have been dealt, and learn more about the infamous neighborhood in Philly.

More info: kensingtonblues.com

This post may include affiliate links.

#21 Lauren

Portrait of Lauren posing near concrete wall and writing journal

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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31points

#22 Paul (Left) And Anthony (Right), In The Courtyard At The Last Stop Recovery House

Portrait of two friends

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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31points

#23 Maria

Portrait of Maria

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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31points

#24 Matt And Brian

Photography of Matt shoots Brian in the neck in front of the McPherson Square Library on Kensington Avenue

Matt shoots Brian in the neck in front of the McPherson Square Library on Kensington Avenue. It's 10 AM on Sunday morning.

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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31points

What is the Life Expectancy in Kensington, Philadelphia?

With crime going rampant, it’s easy to guess the impact it has on the average health of residents near or in Kensington, Philadelphia. According to the report mentioned above, in Upper Kensington, where the health factors are the worst, the average man lived up to 63.9 years. The average Philadelphia man in 2019 lived up to 72.3 years—that’s a 10-year difference.

#25 Nichol

Portrait of Nichol posing with blue umbrella

"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."

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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31points

#26 Ashley

Portrait of Ashley

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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27points

#27 Diana With Her Kids

Portrait of Diana with her kids

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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27points

#28 Scrappers

Photography of two mens with trolley

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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24points

#29 Marion

Portrait of 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."

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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24points

#30 Woman On East Sterner Street

Woman posing on red East Sterner street

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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23points

#31 Jennette

Portrait of Jennette

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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23points

#32 Edward

Photo of person sitting on the bench and writing journal

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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23points

#33 Crystal

Portrait of Crystal

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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22points

#34 Unknown

Photography of a man sitting in wheelchair

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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21points

What is the Documentary About Kensington in Philadelphia?

Pictures taken on Kensington Avenue are just one way to experience the life of the place. Independent YouTubers and news services also took cameras to the street. They captured the atmosphere of the avenue with sound and commentary. SBC News repeatedly covered the avenue, advising viewers to avoid the area.

Moreover, a 2023 documentary named Utter Nonsense has drawn attention to the opioid crisis in Philadelphia, specifically highlighting its impact on the Kensington section of the city.

#35 Dalmata

Portrait of Dalmata

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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21points

#36 Eric Kyle

Photography of Eric Kyle posing near graffitti wall

"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."

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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21points

#37 Bobby

Portrait of Bobby standing on the street

"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."

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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21points

#38 Christina

Portrait of Christina standing on the street

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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20points

#39 Nancy

Portrait of Nancy posing on stairs

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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20points

#40 Nancy

Portrait of Nancy posing on stairs

Jeffrey Stockbridge

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19points

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