Blog Archives
waylon’s town
Oh, Littlefield. Poor Littlefield. The town just can’t seem to catch a break.
This is last image (for now) from the incredible trip that Don Toothaker, Chuck Doughty, and I made across a little part of Texas. It is hard to describe how much joy the three of us got from just wandering around. Sure, it was like a million degrees outside. Sure, there were some long-ass days. Sure, we probably missed as many shots as we took. But still: so many good things happened; most of them aren’t quantifiable by any traditional metric. But if you’ve ever been on a trip that was totally new adventure every hour, a trip that you were sad to see end, a trip where your group was stronger friends at the end of it all, a trip where visions of the Next Place To Go was a constant visitor, then you’ll know what I mean.
My greatest thanks to Don and to Chuck, who were great traveling companions and who were willing to make as many u-turns as we needed.
in-camera double exposure
Littlefield, Texas
photographed 8.3.2024
room with a (bad) view
For some reason this particular abandoned farmhouse had a concrete foundation and floors, unlike many that have crawl spaces below rotted wood floors.
And for that very reason, I went ahead and stepped in for a look around. I can’t explain why, but this scene has a certain weirdness about it – the view, the angles of the window and mattress, the mattress itself, the dead tree…or maybe all of it.
Additionally, there were quite a few single shoes lying about. I don’t want to know why.
Lubbock County, Texas
photographed 8.3.2024
earth’s reflections
We spent about twenty minutes lying in various road puddles trying to get the Most Awesome Photo Ever.
That was enough time for the entire population of Earth (898 people) to drive by to look at us. And I know for sure that one person (I’m looking at you, woman in a black Bronco) went by more than once.
Earth, Texas
photographed 8.4.2024
a bird’s nest in the mailbox
There were some subtle signs to tell us that this farmhouse was unoccupied. The holes in the roof. The broken windows. The height of the weeds. A couple of kitchen appliances in the yard. The bird’s nest in the mailbox.
(Although the flag was up, as though someone intended to mail the nest?)
(Also, we scared up a pair of barn owls and saw a snake. For a place with nothing going on, there was a lot happening.)
Hockley County, Texas
photographed 8.3.2024
not exactly news
Yes. Littlefield IS a dying town. It’s a shame, too, because I know for sure it used to have a vibrant (and award-winning!) downtown. My grandpa lived north of town and a big deal for us was to go see him and sometimes meet up with my Aunt Elizabeth and my cousins – who drove in from Earth, as one does – to go shopping in downtown.
But don’t planning your own shopping trip: practically all the buildings along Phelps Avenue are occupied by only debris and pigeons.
Littlefield, Texas
photographed 7.26.2023
One Day | One Image 