Blog Archives
Sears (what’s left)
Our Sears store closed for good the other day. In the days leading up to the closing, I went three or four times to photograph what a dying store looks like. The first time, the Patient Spouse went along with instructions to “provide cover” while my camera and I prowled around. As it turns out, employees with only four or five days left on their job don’t care one bit about photographers and I was able to document the interior without anyone acting like they noticed.
But this – this sort of sums up the whole situation.
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 1.8.2019
Small offerings: what now my love
This building’s roof was caved in, and the inside of the place was piled with roof rubble and other junk. A series of small offerings had been lined up on the window ledge (that’s a cookbook, open to a recipe for something called Crème Moka.)
And on the ground? Oh, that’s Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’s record “What Now My Love”, a big hit (#1 on the Billboard Album chart for nine weeks!) in 1966. My friend Gerald, a former professional trumpet player, once described Mr. Alpert as a “hack” trumpet player. As far as I know, Gerald was not the person who left that record there on the sidewalk….
Grandfalls, Texas
photographed 12.25.2018
Community Message Board
I found an informal communication system inside this abandoned building. I also found some nice light slanting through the room.
Fort Stockton, Texas
photographed 12.25.2018
Another unnamed building
Here’s something to try for fun: first, let someone drive you around in an unfamiliar town, on a road that’s not really on a map. Then notice a building that you’d like to photograph. Make sure you’re in a situation where you can’t stop to get the shot. And, then, a few days later, try to find it again.There are bonus points if you can give your Patient Spouse (who is in an unfamiliar role as navigator) vague directions like “maybe the cross street is called Industrial?” or “there were some crosses by the railroad crossing.” And lots of bonus points if you get to town so late in the afternoon that it’s too dark anyway (because it’s solstice, after all). And then the regular number of points if you go back again on another day, have a bit of a “discussion” with the Patient Spouse about how to find the place, but since he’s driving and you’re navigating, then you eventually do locate it.
Just think of the fun!
Also, this: my first thought when we actually did locate the damn thing was that it wasn’t even worth the effort. But by then I was committed to getting the shot, whether or not it was worth it. I’m stubborn that way…
Midland, Texas
photographed 12.25.2018
(but attempted 12.17.2018 and 12.21.2018)
The valiant effort, doomed
They tried, the builder of that adobe wall between two abandoned buildings. But it looks like the new wall will soon meet the predicable fate of the other buildings. In fact, the adobes are already starting to erode, returning to the dirt they’re made from.
Shafter, Texas
photographed 11.4.2017
One Day | One Image 