Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Thematic Photographic 25 - Broken


Dead end cart
London, ON, November 2008 [Click to embiggen]
About this photo: This entry introduces the new Thematic Photographic theme for the coming week. For the next seven days, we're exploring "broken" scenes. Please read on for more background on this evolving photographic project.
Way back when I was a wee teenager, I started taking pictures because I wanted to capture the beauty around me. I assumed that beautiful scenes were always perfect, dare I say flawless.

I was wrong. Beauty takes many forms, not all of them perfectly formed. That's because people, essentially, suck. They treat their environment with disrespect, they break stuff and they generally leave things worse off than when they arrived. I'm not sure why this is so - this isn't what I learned as a child, for one - but it saddens me when I come face-to-face with the aftermath.

But sad doesn't mean blind. And as much as many of us would rather turn away from scenes like this, I find them curiously lovely. I wonder how this place ended up like this, whether it was ever the kind of neighborhood that didn't give me the shivers, whether the people who live here feel as I do. Or whether they feel anything at all.

As I slowly walk through this dead silent corner of town on a bone chilling Sunday afternoon, I realize I can't answer any of these questions. But it doesn't mean I can't try to tell the story anyway.

Your turn: We're exploring "broken" as part of this week's Thematic Photographic, and I hope you'll take the opportunity to share your own visions of broken. Here's how TP works:
  • Every Wednesday evening, at precisely 7 o'clock Eastern, I post a new Thematic Photographic entry.
  • Each entry has a unique theme. This week's is...broken.
  • You post a similarly themed image over on your blog.
  • You paste a link to your entry in a comment here.
  • If you've already posted something that fits (on a blog, Facebook, MySpace, wherever) simply post the link to the existing entry.
  • You may post as many photos or links as you wish. For the next week, I'll be supporting this theme with a related picture/posting each day. I encourage you to do the same. This is all about sharing, so feel free to share to your heart's content!
  • Please share this link with friends, too, and encourage them to join in. The more, the merrier.
  • And please accept my thanks for your enthusiasm. Your participation has made TP a true highlight for me each and every week.

37 comments:

All This Trouble... said...

I once tried to ride down a hill in a parking lot in a cart like that.

I broke it.

http://allthistroublejusttoleaveacomment.blogspot.com/2008/11/oops-did-i-do-that.html

marcia@joyismygoal said...

My new to the Thematic posts 'broken' below my Thursday thirteen post

http://joyismygoal.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for coming by the Back Porch and your wonderful comment.
I am going to give Thematic Photographic a try. I already have an idea, dancing around in my head.

Martha said...

I'm playing along this week!
http://meandering-martha.blogspot.com/2008/11/broken.html

Anonymous said...

"Beauty takes many forms", sounds like something out of a book I just got on "Living Wabi Sabi".

cw2smom said...

Hi Carmi! Thanks for stopping and commenting on my quirks! I am off to find a photo to add to my blog for this theme! How fun! Lisa

swilek said...

Great theme for the week and thank you for your thoughts on beauty...a fresh perspective. Here is one of my contributions for this week's theme: http://swile67.blogspot.com/2008/11/broken.html

kenju said...

Thanks for the early heads up about the theme, Carmi. I got mine up on time!

Anonymous said...

Carmi, I'm hung up on one line in this post. Do you really believe that people, essentially, suck?

I very much hope not.

I know you also moderate these one way or another, and will not be surprised if this comment doesn't show up.

I truly enjoy reading your blog, Carmi. Your photos are fantastic and a pleasure to look at. That line though is very disturbing to me, since I'm a person and I don't think I suck.

cw2smom said...

Here's mine Carmi! It's going to be great to see what everyone comes up with for this theme! I really like your take on it! Lisa
http://cw2smom-wearinmyheartonmysleeve.blogspot.com/2008/11/broken-thematic-photography.html

Mojo said...

That's a fabulous angle for that shot Carmi. Almost like you went down with the cart. (Or did you?)

I'm a little behind, but I did find a suitable shot in the archives. If I'd only known... my Monochrome Monday for this week was titled "Broken" and featured a different building not far from this one:
Thematic Photographic 25: "Broken" v.1.0 - Renewable Resource

torontopearl said...

i just came across your blog via Neil Kramer's, and have to say it's a wonderful one with its many plays on words and lovely and captivating photos.

The photo of your father is a beautiful one; the post affiliated with it is a beautiful one.

That pic should clearly be named PENSIVE. But upon seeing the photo, I was also reminded of the words by Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon." (Note your dad's towel. I do wish him much happiness.)

Greetings from Toronto....

Anonymous said...

Hello Carmi

I've just published my first attempt at Thematic Photographic. You can find it here:

http://snapshotsfromthebackporch.blogspot.com/2008/11/broken.html

Leora said...

I like this theme of broken. I keep thinking of broken hearts.

I photographed my broken pottery here. I try not to be heart-broken about it!

Anonymous said...

While I didn't really do anything for Thematic Photographic - I do have a whole lot of "broken" pics from our little visit with Hurricane Ike...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guppystormdotcom/sets/72157607556814574/

And by the way - How ya doin Carmi?

Anonymous said...

I have seen so many disregard the environment and some of these people I am certain are the very same who complain the loudest about the state it is in.

Nicely composed shot here.

sealaura said...

Hola Carmi,
This theme gave me a lot to think about. You are right it seems like we often just capture the perfect moments and there is so much raw beauty from things that are broken. You have opened my eyes yet again. My contribution this week is from a place where I healed when I was most broken.

G. Harrison said...

everything is broken, sang Bob Dylan back in the day when people, myself included, could wear the same pair of polyester pants for over 40 years.

not that i did.

something else broke, however, and i could use your help.

cheers

gord h.

http://itstrikesmefunny.blogspot.com/2008/11/everything-is-broken.html

Ben and Bennie said...

Carmi, you definitely have grasp onto the true form of art (whatever that is). This week'll push the envelope so to speak. I look forward to the challenge. Be back soon for the link up...

janie said...

I love your work, it always says so much about people with nary a being in sight! I think I've said before how like movie stills they are, very atmospheric and this one is quite chilling.

mine is an old one I thought fitted well enough, broken angels.

Beth@Pages of Our Life said...

Getting sick has "broken" me ...Hopefully I can post on this later in the week.

Great theme!

Karen said...

I love the idea of themed photographs... check out my entry at http://ohboykarencooks.blogspot.com/2008/11/carmi-at-written-inc.html

Jama said...

Here's my 'broken egg'.....

http://mummyjam.blogspot.com/2008/11/thematic-photographic-25-broken.html

Not Afraid to Use It said...

I posted this photo for Veterans Day. I think the first photo, which fits the broken theme this week, is very powerful.

http://notafraidtouseit.blogspot.com/2008/11/somebodys-grampa-somebodys-son.html

Mystic Thistle said...

Lost shopping carts seem to speak volumes, at least this one does in this photograph.

Here's mine. A real gift, your blog is. I know I keep saying that or something like that over and over! I can't help it.

http://paulnewmanshirtdays.blogspot.com/2008/11/broken-self-portrait.html

oneblessedmamma said...

Wow. I'm new to this challenge, and not sure I'm worthy, but it's fun to be inspired.
My post is at
http://oneblessedmamma.blogspot.com
/2008/11/thematic-photography-broken.html

Anonymous said...

Looks like the zombies have been here.
Brains ! Zombies love brains !

( However,anyone named Brian feels quite uncomfortable around dyslexic zombies.)

George Romero

Anonymous said...

I took an almost identical picture yesterday. The cart was red.

Anonymous said...

my "broken post" is up.

Barbara said...

I'm a bit late with a post this week and this will probably be the only one for this theme (gasp!). But I haven't missed a theme yet, and I'm not about to! So,here is what I found broken.

PastormacsAnn said...

Here's my contribution for the "broken" theme this week.

OUCH!

Come see if you agree.

Mojo said...

I was poking around an apparently abandoned rail siding last Saturday and got a few shots. (I'd have taken more, but all those "No Trespassing" signs were making me a little paranoid.)

I thought this one fit the theme pretty well.
Thematic Photographic 25: "Broken" v.2.0 - Beyond The Help of Lube

Barbara said...

I thought that I was going to have only one post for the theme this week, but then my brother Rick sent some beautiful photos overlooking the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Fitting the theme is a poignant photo and the story of a broken heart. Since Rick is without his own internet at this time, I am posting these breathtaking pics for him here.

docemdy said...

How come religious art have missing parts? Do people keep them for luck?

Thanks for hosting.

DNLee said...

here's my submission for the week, not WW, but a regular post.

happy Thanksgiving.
Broken Urban Landscape

tea88 said...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tkbrauer/2256727580/in/set-72157602364014681/ Mine is simply a photograph. I really enjoyed your post on the glass glued back together & the strength in the fragility. This one never got glued.

theMuddledMarketPlace said...

here