For one Winstonian, exploring the city is a way of life. City Editor Kellina spoke to the person behind Winston360, a photography account that features the history and culture of the Twin City.
The Winston-Salem native (who asked to remain anonymous) said he moved away to Louisiana in 2012 and returned home to a different atmosphere.
“When I came back, I noticed that so much had changed,” he said. “I had picked up on photography while I was in Louisiana and I told myself ‘I guess I can go around town and take photos and tell the story behind it.’”
Winston360 started in 2016, exploring breweries, galleries, murals, and other interesting gems in the city.
“I always have a camera,” he told City Editor Kellina.
The intersection of West 4th Street and Burke Street is a another walkable area full of businesses.
Photo by @winston360
The Instagram account features unique views, new businesses, and arts throughout the city (some Greensboro locations are included too). He says seeing the evolution in Winston-Salem is something he is proud of.
“I remember when Bailey Pant was a power plant. To see it now transformed the way it is is just amazing because it used to be this old rusty industrial area,” he said. “Now, there are businesses, research, and offices. It’s a lively place, a place you want to go to.”
The account owner says he felt inspired by the changes he’s seen in the city.
“When I was growing up, downtown was a place you never went to, especially in the late 1990s and 2000s,” he said. “Starting in 2010, they [city officials] started a push to revitalize downtown. Trade Street was one of the first projects.”
Now looking to the future, he hopes the City of Arts and Innovation can expand the downtown area and make it a place where people can not only socialize, but also work and live.
