Not
For someone like me, this building represented a Major Find: it was falling down, it was adobe, it was reasonably accessible, it was photogenic, and the sky was that shade of blue that looks particularly dramatic in black and white.
The sign above the doorway offers little in the way of coherent explanation of what might have gone on here, although it appears that Bishop & Jordan took over someone’s Coal Yard. Wood and/or briquettes may have been available. Unless they weren’t.
And that last line – does it say “not” or does it say “No. 1”? I am sure I can’t tell.
Marfa, Texas
photographed 1.18.2013
Posted on February 14, 2013, in architecture, Photography and tagged 365 photo project, abandoned buildings, architecture, black and white photography, industrial architecture, marfa, marfa texas, melinda green harvey, one day one image, photo a day, photography, texas. Bookmark the permalink. 17 Comments.
One Day | One Image 
Really cool shot
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Thanks, Derrick. Finding this building really did make me very happy.
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Melinda,
This is stellar work–great layers, nice production values, moving content. I used it in my upper-division photo class as an example for my students in a lecture about voice and layers.
This one deserves a place in a show….
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Thanks, Brett. As far as I am aware, this is the first time that one of my shots has been used as a *good* example!
Now that I have a fantastic new printer (thanks, again, for all your help with that) I can print it up for next year’s High and Dry, maybe!
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Looks like Bishop merged with Jordan. It might have said Jordan Coal Yard previously.
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I have some shots from the other side of the building, and in addition to Bishop and Jordan and Coal Yard, it also says Wool. Maybe Bishop and Jordan et al were a little conflicted?
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Either a really successful business that kept buying and merging with competitors…or completely the opposite, the worst business owners ever! 🙂
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Judging from the building’s state of (dis)repair, I’d say the latter….
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There is a treasure in this image for those who spend time looking for it! Fabulous, my friend, absolutely top drawer!!
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Thank you kindly! I was happy to find this old place – I was looking for non-cliched things to shoot in Marfa (which is heavily-photographed).
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Hmm – wood storage *and* charcoal briquets? I think some wood storing customers might have been deeply angry when they came for some of their wood. Perhaps one of them was sign painter and added the ‘not’.
In any case, it’s a terrific image – talk about containing a bit of everything that your photos so often feature.
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Thanks – I am glad you like this one. I am pretty sure I’ll stop by this building every time I am in Marfa, just to see what else has fallen down. And one day, I will turn down the street and the place will be gone….
Maybe one of those wood-storing customers was so angry he (or she!) destroyed the building!
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I think maybe it says No.1. I could be wrong. 🙂
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The more I look at it, the more it looks like No. 1. But I still like to think it says “not.”
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