When driving my car on the rural roads of western NC I often come across scenes that make me want to grab my camera. A lot of times I can't find a place to pull over or I talk myself out of stopping. There have been numerous occasions that I have driven down the same road and sadly discovered that the landscape has changed forever. Maybe it's an old house that has fallen down or a new road that has been built.
One day last summer I was driving work and the sun was rising over a cow pasture. What caught my attention was the warm monotone color and the configuration of the trees. I also liked the old fence and the few cows grazing. I stopped and took a few pictures. My wife loves the picture and we have it hanging in our home.
When I drive by there now I feel sick to my stomach. A new road for a Target distribution center and a housing development is replacing the cow pasture. Oddly, the beautiful trees remain. The fence has been replaced with a new fence and the cows are gone.
If I wouldn't have stopped that one morning I wouldn't have any proof that it ever existed.
4 comments:
The centimental side of Joe Young.
That first shot is great Joe, one of my favorites of yours, its a shame what our country does in the name of progress. My railroad closing is the same to me as your cowpasture is to you.
I rarely talk myself into stopping to take a picture. I usually try to subdue my fixation by telling myself that I will take pictures on the way back, but almost never get the chance. A photographer in modern times is somewhat unfortunate due to the fact that there are fewer and fewer places that remain natural and untouched. Most places that hold their natural beauty have become well-worn with the increasing footsteps of tourists.
Both of these was what I was looking for in the posts. Maybe we photographers will take more chances and photograph something when we see it. Most of my best images are from coming across something when driving. You have to keep your camera with you. Like the saying goes, all you need is f/8 and being there.
I don't know when us, as humans are going to be happy with our developing. Maybe not until everything is under concrete and skyscrapers. We however have an awsome advantage as we can take our cameras and capture the cows in the morning mist and have it to save and share forever. It is sad that maybe next month Target or Walmart is going to tear it down to build another empire but Joe you now have that beauty in your home forever becasue you took that moment. That really makes me think, when I see that pretty sunset, that I should slow down for a minute or 2 and capture that beauty because it will not be thier forever.
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