For this installment of my Meanwhile Back In Peoria contribution, I chose to define some of the “basics” of some of my photography. Recently, I have had a few people mention in comments on some of the places I post my photos, that it’s makes them “feel sad”. Whereas, the remains of the once active things or places may cause that emotion, I tend to look at them with more of a curious mind.
As I mentioned on some of my early posts here, and as some of you here who know me, I have found a new “addiction” the past two years in photography. I find a great deal of peace behind the lens, and try to get out as often as I can to capture some images. My photos are “less conventional”, as a lot of them feature old abandoned cars and buildings that I have stumbled across, and often wondered about the history of each of them. Be it the rusted out hulk of a 50's family sedan, to abandoned buildings and houses, each has their own story and “beauty in decay” as I have come to call them.
I have adopted a theme of “What Once Was” among them. The vehicles featured all rolled off of an assembly line at some point in time, were ordered, delivered, and served their individual purposes, from the work they performed, to family vacations, grocery getting and perhaps serving as the means for someone learning to drive. The factories and buildings housed manufacturing, a gathering place of employees and the stories they all shared. The homes, housed families, Holidays, watching relationships come and go, and children going to school and growing up, only to leave that nest and begin lives of their own, all the while making memories along the way.
While seeking out “new” places and locations, I have noticed other debris along the way, some on the sides of roads and some strewn about the countryside. Thinking about it, and using the old adage, “every picture tells a story”, I realized that even the most insignificant bit of “trash” indeed has a history, whether it was a long forgotten toy, a bottle, can or cup thrown out of a moving car window, a broken cell phone, tools or other hardware, they all came to rest somewhere. I'm not an advocate of littering, but I have become somewhat fascinated by some of what I have seen, and began to take photos, when I notice them, documenting it. To my amazement, they began to take on an “artsy” feel to them, their contrasting colors, the broken shapes and weathered appearances all a part of their story.
I'm certainly not being overly philosophical here, but in all reality, all things begin and end somewhere. I considered calling this column “Roadside Distractions”, as they have become one of my favorite “unconventional” types of subject matter, and have since, all fallen victim to my Canon. Some of these photos are taken purely due to the ”unlikely setting” they are found in and I have never moved any of them. Nothing is ever staged when I shoot photos (I wouldn't touch some of this stuff with a stick, while wearing a HazMat suit). Keeping my sense of humor throughout, others I would take just for the sake of “naming” them something amusing just to humor myself.
In closing, it can be summed up as the history, the memories made and carried within them all. A slice of life, death and Americana, when these shells are gone, all that will remain are those stories and memories they held.
Some of these are included here, I will leave to your own imagination. Hopefully, they will create some of that wonderment and curiosity among all of you.
Related Posts: Artwork By "Boris", Auto Row and The Boy Who Cried, “Woof!”
Don’t forget to check out, the "Secret Weapon,” “Boris'” radio show on Woody Radio where “Boris” plays some great tunes some of which you’ve probably never heard. Listen to it right here: "Secret Weapon" on Woody Radio.
Bonus Jaws the Cabbie Tinkering!
Jaws the Cabbie tinkered with a couple of "Boris's" photos to go with his comment. Ha, nice work, Jaws!
