Lights out
Williamsburg, KY, January 2009 [Click to enlarge]
The abandoned gas station in this small town by the highway is still embedded in my imagination almost two months after I wandered through its crumbling concreteness with my camera. It'll never appear on a tourist map and I'm certain no one else who comes through this town deliberately sets out to capture the essence of a long-forgotten relic of life on the road.
Which is, I guess, why it appeals to me. I didn't expect to find this scene, which made it a pleasant surprise in the middle of a long drive. I sort of stumbled into it, and thanks to my wife's patience got a few minutes to explore it and try to tell its story.
Your turn: Your photographic life at the edge of the bell curve. Please discuss.
Oops almost forgot: This photo supports "busted", the theme from last week's Thematic Photographic. It's not too late to share your own link. Please click here if you wish to do just that. I'll be posting the launch entry for next week's Thematic Photographic at precisely 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday (hey, that's tomorrow!) To give your brain a chance to churn it, here's the upcoming theme...
Winter
Can't wait to see what y'all come up with. In the meantime, if you're hankering for something else to do, head over here to share your witty contribution to the latest Caption This.
do busted chops count ( though I regrettably do not have a picture)
ReplyDeletei just like hanging around here.
i wonder where is this small town...
ReplyDeletehappy wednesday! :D
Williamsburg, Kentucky, just off the Interstate 75 (I-75).
ReplyDeleteI dateline all of my photos to make 'em easier to locate on a map.
Winter huh? Well you picked a good year for that theme for me. We got our quadrennial snowstorm this year on Inauguration Day. (I know, I'm breaking hearts all over the Northern Tier and Canada, huh?)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'll have plenty of offerings for that one I think.
For some reason I thought it was a hatchet when I first looked! I guess it's the red. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love old, forgotten places, too. I especially like chimneys that are still standing.
Everyday? Carmi, you post EVERYDAY? You're killing me here! I'm still in Paris, therefor, I was never here leaving a comment! Shhh!
ReplyDeleteI will try to play along soon. I just wanted you to know I'm still hanging around and reading :)
Enjoyable image-stories, Carmi;
ReplyDeleteI too love architectural detritus!
I'd fly over to see these sights, but I'm "bu$ted." LOL Aloha-
Hi, Carmi - I've got another "busted" shot up.
ReplyDeletewww.doves2day.blogspot.com.
Awaiting tomorrow's idea.
I liked this one! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think 'busted' was an excellent choice for a theme, Carmi. Your pictures were just great.
Interesting capture! You have such a great eye.
ReplyDeleteHappy WW: Sweet Surprise http://tinyurl.com/dfgrrq
Me too! I thought it was a bloody hatchet! Hahahha!
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of busted lights in our city. Sad that there are people who intentionally break these lights just for the heck of it.
Happy WW! Check out my entry at http://mommyontop.com/2009/02/wordless-wednesday-11-a-smile-and-a-walker/
Happy Wednesday Carmi!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I enjoy the words just as much as the photos you share - even if it IS Wordless Wednesday. :)
I'm a bit late jumping in this week, come on over and have a guess at my mystery object
ReplyDelete(yes, it's busted)
Winter? Seems a long way away, although I am beginning to spot yellow foliage on one or two trees. I guess I will have to dig into my archives for this one
I think I can relate to the sentiment here - to me abandoned places are very enigmatic; anything from architectural ruins to recently deserted houses. I think mostly as I often wonder who used to once live or work there and what was their story.
ReplyDeleteBuildings in the process of demolition likewise draw me in; it is a combination of curiosity, fascination, uneasiness and sadness.
Often busted and old make the most interesting photos...this one did!
ReplyDeleteYou can tell you're a writer because you see the story in your photo (yes, that is a compliment!!). Really nice capture here.
ReplyDeleteMine is up at:
http://beingchronicallyillisapill.blogspot.com/2009/02/wordless-wednesday-baby-its-cold.html
So glad you chose winter as the new theme, now I can use this post for both!!! :-)
My first thought was "pretty red" then I focused in on the damage. The contrast is striking.
ReplyDeleteAh ... this photo has such texture.. contrast .. most excellent.. and winter is a theme I can play to ... tomorrow I shall link back if I can figure out how to ...
ReplyDeletethat is such a nice contrast of color..yet complementary texture and feel! great composition, in other words:)
ReplyDeletethat is a good example of light bleeding
ReplyDeleteI am drawn to images like this as well, ruins of a sort. I do take photos like that here in the city quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this.
It is so fascinating only to focus on details... I found myself lost in that picture just looking at it for awhile.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your talent!
Busted and beautiful. I love the cracked paint showing white through the red.
ReplyDeleteHappy WW!
Your wife is wonderfully understanding. My husband just about goes crazy when I repeatedly stop to take pictures while on a hike.
ReplyDeleteI posted a second busted:
http://kcinnova.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/busted/
Doesn't matter how old trees get or what state they are in, they always have an aspect of beauty about them.
ReplyDeleteNot so for man made things, they might remain interesting, but don't always keep their initial beauty in the aesthetic sense. Happy WW! :)
it's really busted, nice shot! my ww entry is up also at http://racelyn.com/2009/02/ww-relaxing-water-falls.html and at http://my-crossroad.com/2009/02/ww-native-fans.html
ReplyDelete