MAGICAL

Philadelphia's Magical Gardens. Another location for some of the shots for the Volcom shoot. The most amazing thing happened during this shoot. I saw the cutest man and his dog walking down the alley. He had the hugest smile on his face. One of those smiles so natural and meaningful, you know that it comes deep deep down from within. I took his picture because the scene was too perfect. Then I asked him if I could take his picture in front of one of the cool painted garage doors in the alley. He turned to me with that same smile and twinkle in his eye, and said "I would, but it's not my work." That is when it all clicked in my head and I was in disbelief. All I could do was laugh. It's freaking Isaiah Zagar . . . the man . . . the artist . . . behind the beautiful, hand-crafted collages that is is known as the Magical Gardens. I said back to him, "Well then, I'll have to photograph you in front of your work." His artistic collages can be found all over the city, in random jewels of places, such as a storefront or someone's personal home front. Every time I come across the work of Zagar, I can't help but stop in my tracks and lean in to inspect it a little closer. Come up and touch it. It really does look and feels magical.