Monthly Archives: February 2013
Nice place; needs work
Unfortunately, houses in this state of disrepair are not an uncommon sight in West Texas. At some point, it’s just cheaper, I guess, to abandon the old place and move into a mobile home.
near Fort Stockton, Texas
photographed 1.21.2013
Marfa: the men’s cafe
Of course this place is really called Carmen’s Cafe. But the shot was more interesting with the c-a-r gone.
It also was less interesting in black and white, more interesting in color, and most interesting in this sort of faded look.
Do you worry that I am losing my edge with the non-stop black and white? After all it was only one week ago that I posted another color shot. Both of them were taken in Marfa – maybe Marfa is making me do it….
Marfa, Texas
photographed 1.18.2013
White on white 2
Second in the series of white/white.
This is the door to the hotel room, which was actually an apartment in a building that used to be a hospital. If you ever find yourself needing overnight accommodations in Alpine, go to the Holland Hotel and ask for room 103 of the Wright Building. Then you can see this for yourself.
Alpine, Texas
photographed 1.18.2013
Rooflines
I guess that we all knew it was just a matter of time before I posted another shot taken in an alley.
This alley is just off the main street in Marfa; I took the photograph at the request of my traveling companion. I add that to try to show that I am NOT the only one walking around alleys. But my companion would probably not have been in the alley unless I’d turned down it first, so my position re. alleys remains a little weak.
Marfa, Texas
photographed 1.18.2013
Important Update/Rebuttal
The previously-mentioned traveling companion offers the following rebuttal re. alleys and my allegations regarding her use – or lack – of them. Also, her daughter’s name is Allison, which will make sense in a minute:
As a New Orleans native, I absolutely and without reservation argue that I discovered and appreciated alleys long before you, despite both your greater number of trips around the sun and your upbringing in the ever fascinating country of West Texas.
To wit: every space between the shotgun houses of my youth is an alley; I personally explored most of the ones between St. Charles and Magazine, Audubon Park and jJefferson Avenue in my first ten years and haven’t stopped loving that alley feeling since.
Alleys were for forts, hiding, eating candy from Mr. Landry’s so your mother wouldn’t take it away (and eat it herself!), games of little boys and girls, playing our own home grown version of tag called “infintrationality,” hiding, walking through to look for discarded stuff.
Alleys are literally cooler and I remember that physical sense of relief in getting out of the sun.
Also: I named my second child what?
I think she rests her case!
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
One Day | One Image 