For today's photo, I opted for some street photography on historic Federal Hill in Providence. I was a bit too early to capture the bustle of the neighborhood, but there were still a few locals out enjoying a coffee or tea in the outdoor seating areas. As the name of this cafe suggests, Federal Hill is associated with the strong Italian influence that dominated Providence through most of the twentieth century. Today, however, while the local businesses still thrive on the strong ethnic tradition, the true demographics of the community are much more diverse. Following the Vietnam War, large numbers of Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Hmong refugees settled on The Hill. In recent years, Hispanic immigrants have moved in as well, displacing the both the Southeast Asian populations and the Italian populations. That, in fact, is the true demographic history of Federal Hill. Since colonial times, this district has ever been home to the latest immigration wave entering Rhode Island. The Italians displaced the Irish. The Southeast Asians displaced the Italians, and now the Hispanic have displaced the Southeast Asians. For a true barometer of the state's immigration waves, look no further than Federal Hill.
Post processing started with a classic filter in Topaz B&W FX. I adjusted color sensitivity sliders, adaptive exposure, regions, protect highlights, contrast, boost black, and boost white. A levels adjustment and a sepia photo filter were added in PSE.
