Stories of Courage and Success: Surviving and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Internationally

Community Cinema [DC] is kicking off the 2010 – 2011 with a brand new look and a DC perspective. The site is revamped for Community Cinema fans to “talk back” about our events and films. That’s what Community Cinema is all about.

Our new site introduces a DC perspective from Anthony “Ted” Nigrelli.  Known around Flickr, DCist, and Creative Commons sites as “Mr. T in DC,” I chose Ted’s photo of a D.C. flag tag on H Street, in NE as the banner image for the new look.  It’s seldom people identify DC by its neighborhoods or people who live here year round.  Ted is originally from Long Island, NY.  Judging by his photos, he’s definitely into being a DC guy.

You can take a tour of Mr. T in DC’s via this Flickr link;. Below is our on-line interview for you to know more about Ted.

Michon Boston
ITVS Regional Outreach Coordinator
Washington, DC

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It’s hard to find photos of DC that don’t look tourist post cards. What catches your eye in the city besides the Capitol and the mall?
Photos of DC that don’t look like tourist post cards are easy to find, you just have to get out into the neighborhoods and look around. What catches my eye in general are the row houses of Washington DC, in all their variety. They can be brick, stone, painted or unpainted, tall, short, wide, narrow, and from various historical time periods. The cornices and rooflines often catch my eye while exploring the city. Don’t forget about the alleys as well; some of them are pretty interesting and photogenic.

DC is described as a transient city? How long have you been in Washington, DC? Why do you stay?
I think that studies have shown Washington, DC, to be no more transient, or only slightly more transient in nature compared to other large American cities.

I’ve lived in the DC area since 1991, and DC proper since 1996, so I’m certainly not an example of a transient DC population. Besides my job, what keeps me from leaving are the areas wonderful cultural attractions, relatively fast and clean transit options, and the people and places I’ve grown attached to over the years.

How did you get interested in photography?

When I was a child, I had a Kodak Instamatic and fondly remember dropping film off to be developed at the local Fotomat kiosk. Later, I purchased my first SLR, a Minolta X-370, back in the early 1980s. After awhile, I began to lose interest in photography, as film gave way to digital, and the entire world of photography seemed in flux. The APS format came and went, and as digital technology advanced, I became drawn in again. The combination of affordable, capable modern DSLRs, combined with the ease of posting photos online on Flickr and other social networking sites, proved irresistible, so I plunged back into photography in 2007.

What is your favorite DC spot(s)?
My favorite DC spots all seem to have to do with water. I love Hain’s Point, the SW waterfront promenade, walking over any of our Potomac bridges, the Boulder Bridge over Rock Creek, the plaza in Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, and the fountain in the National Gallery’s Sculpture Garden.

What makes DC the place to be?

DC is definitely the place to be! The population is growing, crime is declining, formerly underdeveloped neighborhoods are on the rise, and the area’s economy is hanging in there, going against national trends. We’re on the move with new bike-sharing and streetcars on the way, new community libraries under construction, and there always seems to be interesting new cafes and restaurants opening – not to mention the fact that we have a cool President and First Lady who enjoy getting out and exploring the city!