Blog Archives
Somewhat less than it was
I’ve been pretty busy at my real job and was starting to get a little twitchy because I hadn’t been out with my camera. Only one thing to do in a situation like that: the work stuff can wait (and indeed. it was still there when I got back on Monday), but that twitchy feeling’s only going to get worse unless I get out and shoot.
I got out my big atlas (The Roads of Texas) and selected a destination, then cross-checked it with a quick Google street-view look, and off I went.
This wasn’t my actual destination*, but it was a nice thing to spot along the way, a clear reminder that Wilson, Texas, used to be able to support a block-long business district.
Wilson, Texas
photographed 7.28.2018
*A swing set at a tiny crossroads town in Crosby County. That’s what I saw on street-view. Stick around – that photo will post in a few more days…
The joke is on The Joker
This seemed to be the only building in Penwell that wasn’t rusted. But that’s mostly (or, completely) because concrete blocks don’t rust.
But in any case, The Joker didn’t make it. It was the theme of the day, in Penwell.
Penwell, Texas
photographed 7.15.2018
Tank army
There’s a particular exit on Interstate 20 a few miles west of Odessa that has always interested me, because from the road (and at highway speeds) it looks like every single thing there is abandoned and/or rusted. I’ve been driving past it for ages, and finally last month managed to remember to pull off the road and have a look around.
My highway-speed impression of the place was not wrong.
So you can just imagine how much I liked it there. (For a short time, until the body language of a shirtless, heavily-tattooed, shaved-headed man* watching me made it seem like it was time to get back on the road. Quickly.)
Penwell, Texas
photographed 7.15.2018
*No judgement with any of those things – just reporting what I saw.
Flight Path
I am almost positive that this town has more pigeons than it does people. The official population (of people) was 384 (in 2016); there were at least that many birds living inside this single building.
Grandfalls, Texas
photographed 7.13.2018
Messages
I’ve been to Marathon a lot, but this was the first time I spotted this abandoned cattle pen. It was built from heavy timbers, and clearly intended to last. Which it did: it evidently outlasted the cattle industry out here.
Apparently the clandestine-message industry is still going strong, which I guess is good to know.
Marathon, Texas
photographed 7.14.2018
One Day | One Image 