Friday, December 08, 2006

They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot


Parked [Click to embiggen]

Considering the fact that the world around me is suddenly buried under a few feet of snow, I find myself sifting through pictures taken barely a few weeks ago that depict a massively different reality. The world changes so quickly that it's sometimes difficult to keep up: taking pictures of the overlooked surfaces of our world helps me keep track of it all.

This image, taken in the parking lot of one of the local big box stores, is little more than a simple exercise in composition. But anyone who knows me knows that I like these kinds of studies. Painted lines shouldn't be interesting in and of themselves. Yet when viewed through a camera lens from an unusual perspective, I suspect they are never perceived the same way again.

Your turn: The camera can make the boring seem unboring. Please discuss.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this photo, so interesting. Just proving your theory about the boring!

Came via Michele's today!

kenju said...

It reminds me of math, Carmi. An almost neverending plus sign, which can be a good thing I suppose. It is certainly better than a minus sign. I also could be representative of division, seeing as how there are divided areas in the photo. I guess that is the literal way to take it.

Michele sent me. How are you holding up in the snow and cold?

Anonymous said...

Funny coincidence. Not only have I got a self portrait to post, but also a couple of other shots that are everyday things viewed from a different angle. They will be on my main blog in mere moments...

Anonymous said...

For good or bad, the camera has changed the way we see. It holds it all in a frame, gives us a chance to see things we may not have, but will never capture what we see.

Don't get me wrong--I love photography. My way of seeing has changed like everyone else's.

Thanks for your thoughts earlier.

Snaggle Tooth said...

Good Comp of subject!

I like how cutting or including elements from the frame can change the whole feel of the space, n what's percieved to be there around it. (ie: seems like an empty lot)

BTW- my recent parking lot pic (far) is being saved for a near-future post before the up-coming holiday. It seems like you're cueing what the next choice from my files will be, even tho I've decided before I saw your post! Hmm, strange-

Catherine said...

Well, the other day I was taking close up photos of wire fences, so I'm inclined to agree with you. I don't think I managed a composition as striking as yours, though

scrappintwinmom said...

"The camera can make the boring seem unboring. Please discuss."

You, and your wonderful blog, are proof of that. Oh, stop by my place and check out my early Christmas gift! :)

Jean-Luc Picard said...

It's a matter of interpretation.

Michele sent me here.

The Mistress of the Dark said...

I will now have that Joni Mitchell song stuck in my head all day :P

Saying hi via Michele's today.

kenju said...

Yesterday, I got inspired to take a photo of some leaves, mostly because of you, Carmi. The sun was shining through them, highlighting the color and I knew YOU would have taken a photo of them, so I did!

Michele sent me.

Foster Dogs said...

Nice photographs! We are so jealous that you have snow, we would love some!

Anonymous said...

YOUR camera makes the boring unboring. I love this shot!

Here from Michele's!

craziequeen said...

I prefer the word mundane to boring, and the composition of a photograph can make the mundane so....er.....intriguing.....

I mean, looking at your photo - all I see is the yellow line disappearing off into infinity, and it makes me wonder where it goes. Perhaps it is the modern version of the yellow brick road..?

Hey sweetheart, Michele sent me today to discuss mundanity and infinity.....

Bobkat said...

I think a photograph urges the person viewing it to reconsider the subject. It makes you focus on what has been captured so that you see so much more as it filters out the noise of every day life and things that distract us. Also the angle of the shot means that you get to consider something mundane from another perspective.

That's just what I think anyway. :-)

Bobkat said...

Forgot to say that Michele sent me! oops!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Looks like you got skipped over at Michele's my dear Carmi...
I love your take on the "usual" making it unusual and special...! Very interesting photograph and provocative, too...At first quick glance it looksd like an aireal shot of a landscape...but of course one quickly sees it is something else entirely...Love That!

BTW: I have a photo up I'd love you to take a look at....!

srp said...

Here from Michele.
The texture of the pavement can almost be felt and the stripes on the pavement, along with the angle make this look almost like a flag.
I don't think you have ever taken a "boring" picture.
Is there really such a thing as a boring picture?

David Edward said...

Yellow there!
here from michele