...Except The Local Economy
What does it say about me that -- living here, as I do, within a city that currently has the hottest economy in North America -- I seek out instead these lost centres of the past? I could be taking photos of all the skyscrapers being built, but I'd rather capture that which is falling down. The antithesis of boom, I am drawn to the bust.
Once, coal was king. Once, gold promised everything. Once, railroads criscrossed the land and towns rose and fell around their grain elevators.
Today it is oil. But only for today.
On a not-so-distant tomorrow, someone else will be drawn to the massive ghost towns of the busted oil boom, to stand among and ponder the decaying relics of humankind's relentless yet ultimately futile struggle against the patient embrace of entropy.
Comments and faves
(Gary) [deleted] (70 months ago | reply)
Excellent!
ginnia (70 months ago | reply)
Perhaps there is still the remnants of heart and soul lingering in these places. Perhaps by capturing them with your camera, you're attempting to bring something of that back with you. The boom town can be a pretty empty place, despite the population density. And where is the heart in the oil business? [slight psychologizing and editorializing...please delete if you wish.]
I do love this shot...that sofa out front is great! It looks like it's waiting patiently for the entropy of which you speak! :o)
laracee (70 months ago | reply)
Terrific capture. The people may leave, businesses and houses fallen into disrepair - but the energy, the hopes and dreams of those who once lived there, still speak to us.
"We repair anything."
laracee, Andy van der Raadt (minimum), and jchamp54 added this photo to their favorites.
locamotion (69 months ago | reply)
It's just a matter of time until the "fixer of anything" will be needed again. Wonderful series, B.D.!
locamotion added this photo to her favorites. (69 months ago)
LornaLou (69 months ago | reply)
Ahh... this is breathtaking in it's visual story! I agree with what everyone said..!- The mood here is a quiet desperation, the slight feeling of 'it's just too late'. It makes me want to jump into the frame and save something/someone.
Turniposaurus (62 months ago | reply)
Rowley is a great little character town.
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Drumheller, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
let's call this the quiet city, Thomas Hawk, and bob_52 added this photo to their favorites.