Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Tin and Wood


Tin and wood, Seagraves, Texas

There's something lonely and forlorn about this shot to me. When I took it, I thought how it would make a nice abstract. And then, seeing it on screen, it surprised me.

Photography, it seems to me, is like that. Find a little space between two buildings, a hint of light, some contrasting textures, and then something -- something more than the sum of its remaining parts -- happens. A tin building and a little wood window become a human emotion.

10 comments:

lebanesa said...

great shot. And with your favourite blue too. Funnily enough I find the same with digital photography, to the extent that pictures I think haven't worked sometimes look great on screen and others I think are good, turn out to be so disappointing.
That said, I think you have a fantastic eye for an image. Your photographs always look symbolic and almost iconic.
Bet your mother is so glad she gave you that camera.

Bev said...

The window looks a little bit like prison bars, though it's probably just for security. But it's also the only natural material and evidence of life in this picture, with lines on the tin shed pointing to the metallic sky-blue. It makes it feel like somebody lives there, but let's hope not!

It does look lonely, as I think sometimes these industrial landscapes can. Maybe a metaphor for human life v. industry, and how imprisoning that can be for people? But it is still a beautiful and arresting image.

Rima said...

It's amazing how you manage to find the exact shade of blue that makes your pictures sing. You make the ordinary so exotic and fresh - even beat-up old tin looks like a statement, a presence.

dianeclancy said...

Hi Debi,

I like this shot ... it has the sense that there is quite a story to go with it ...

yes, what Frances said - symbolic.

~ Diane Clancy
www.dianeclancy.com/blog

Bobbie said...

I love the old buildings you find out there and the nice way they age. This tin building with the weathered wood is perfect. Love it!

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

Deb, I am sure you and I were born under the same moon or something! I am intriqued by this photo. The window looks high up so I wonder why it needs bars? Then I wonder why they used a wood frame which dosn't seem to belong with the tin.I also wonder who 'they' are. I like the way my eye can't quite work out if it butts up againts the blue building and if it dosn't wants to know what is in between the buildings...then I wonder where this building is and what stories it could tell. I like the contrasting directions and widths of the tin too. All up I just like this photo! Can you tell I was a shocking day dreamer at school? lol.
Have you seen the photography of Bea Price? There is a link to her on my blog, I think you will really enjoy her work :)

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to leave the 'i' of your name!

Irene said...

You do have a photographer's talent, Debi. You know where the good shot is and have an eye for the right details. You could easily do this professionally. I enjoy your photographs very much. They always have something light and joyful about them. No matter what the subject. I hope that is the compliment it was meant to be.

Debi said...

Thank you everyone for the encouraging comments. It does encourage me so.

Frances, I have the same experience a lot too: think you get a good shot and find out its crap, or just horsing around and come home to find it's got virtues. Thank you for the compliments. I'm slowly getting better I think and have much to thank my mom for.

Bev, you are right. It was an two industrial buildings. Funny to make bars out of wood, but I guess they made do with what they had. Probably had a break-in at some point.

Rima, I wasn't even thinking about that blue, but I see my subconscious did. Sharp eye and memory you have.

Diane, funny, the story I suspect is less interesting than the picture. But that's the wonders of having a great imagination, such as you do.

Mom (Bobbie), I never thought much about how things weather out here in the air climate, in contrast to you with the humid one, until you mentioned it some time ago. Everything is a trade-off.

Lisa, I like how you think -- so much curiosity. But I already knew that from your own blogs. Thanks for the tip about Bea. I'll check that out. You've got me wondering what moon I was born under. Might be fun to find out ;) And lots of people call me "Deb."

Irene, I'm completely flattered that you think I could do this professionally. One can dream! And thank you for describing the way my pictures make you feel. It was a high compliment.

Anonymous said...

Love this photo! The depth perception alone is exquisite. Very nice.