Well, I had one of those today. Let me start off by saying I love Pintrest. It's an addiction. This morning I noticed that my friend and fellow writer, Jenn, has a whole Pintrest board of abandoned/decaying buildings, so I was having a fab time looking through them when I had a brilliant idea: I should send her some of the pictures I've shot of abandoned buildings because I think I have a few.
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| Buffalo New York, Central Train Terminal |
That's the choice word: A few.
Once I started to look in my Etsy shop, and on my computer, and once I started to think back about the things and places I've photographed, I realized that almost 2/3 (if not 3/4!) of my photography is of abandoned buildings.
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| Central Train Terminal, Buffalo NY |
Once I started to look through my portfolio I kept saying to myself: "I should show her this picture, and THIS ONE, AND THIS ONE TOO!!" Because there were just so many. Rochester. Buffalo. Tucson. Rural Upstate NY. The list goes on and on.
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| Midtown Plaza, Rochester NY |
And I did a whole photography project while living in Tucson where I photographed an old, abandoned school. (They were restoring it and I convinced the construction crew to let me into the old parts and wander around. It was awesome.) I've always loved old, abandoned, decaying buildings -- and I've known this. It was just interesting to be faced with just how much of my work has really revolved around photographing the old, abandoned, and decaying.
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| Platform at Buffalo's Central Terminal |
But what kind of weirdo likes to wander around decrepit, old buildings? The answer is me. But I don't think that makes me weird. I think there is something wonderfully historic, old, forgotten, sad, nostalgic, and beautiful in old buildings. They can be little time capsules (like the building I photographed in Buffalo that was literally still filled with items from the 60s.) Or they can remind us of how fleeting and expendable our own lives our. (Look at me getting all deep and sentimental over here.)
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| Yes, Monroe Theater, you did become a porn shop. But in your glory days you were a haven for kids, teens & adults looking to escape reality (and the heat, as you were air conditioned). |
And lastly, I think it's important not to forget about old buildings. As we building up and new and fancy we need to remember our past. At one point these places held spots in our history and hearts. Old buildings are relics and connections to our past.
So am I creepy? I decided that the answer is no. Sentimental, that's my final answer.
PS: Even if I do somber/dark photography, at least I do cheerful, happy embroidery!
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| Don't mind the fact that it's upside down. |
Not creepy at all - they're beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin!
ReplyDelete"And lastly, I think it's important not to forget about old buildings. As we building up and new and fancy we need to remember our past. At one point these places held spots in our history and hearts. Old buildings are relics and connections to our past." This is so eloquently written, and exactly how I feel about my thrift store forays...and I've felt a little strange for feeling that way, but I think that there are a lot of people that this resonates with. and I love the Buffalo Train station, used to be there 3 am to catch the train home to NYC during college...it was breathtaking still then. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula! It's so ironic that I love to capture the old because my younger sister is an architect (building the new stuff!). I just think old stuff is so great, whether it's a building or old vintage stuff. I love that America Pickers show on the History Chanel. I totally wish I could be them.
ReplyDelete