Look often, shoot often

Take a long hard look at the old building at Fresno, Arkansas. (For those not familiar, Fresno is the junction of Arkansas highways 11 and 114 in Lincoln County). The old building is no longer there. I first noticed it in the early sixties. It is as if an old friend has departed. I have burned a lot of film and pixels here.

While the title of this post may sound somewhat combative, I can assure you the content is just the opposite. The targets are visual — things that won’t last forever — and the ammunition is a camera card. We are perusing some old stuff that is, for all intents and purposes, in the fourth quarter. The game is over for the old landmark above. Little evidence of its existence remains.

Click the pic to see the fully restored Du Bocage home in Pine Bluff AR

Being one of those people who notices things impulsively, (some call it being easily distracted) as opposed to those who notice little other than what is in front of them (some call that being focused), I believe it is incumbent on me to make revelations of the stuff that I notice (some call this egotistical).

Now you know the inner secret that drives this weekly intrusion to your privacy. That said, may I direct you to the Photo of the Week page at Corncancer dot-com, where you will see a finely restored “Greek Revival” home and some other interesting stuff. We’ll be here when you get back.

Moving out of the pool-table levelness of the Delta to roads west of Hot Springs, Arkansas, we see similar sights in an environment fraught with hills and valleys. The message is the same: notice often and if you are so inclined, shoot often.

This old wind mill, too young have the appeal of the old Aeromotor and too old to have the glitz of the new wind machines, sits in a fruit orchard on a highway west of Hot Springs. It appears to be inoperative, but then what do I know about windmills but to look and shoot.

The old barn will soon bite the dust if it hasn’t already. I photographed it in January of 2009 — so it could currently be a pile of tin roofing and sticks. It was once someone’s pride and joy and now is a curiosity for wandering photographers. Since it is a mid-winter shot, we see more of it.

The real estate ad for this domicile might say, “Charming country fixer-upper. Lots of trees. Security fence installed on premises.” And so on. Every time I see an abandoned home, I wonder what went on there the last day of occupancy.

Look now. It may be too late the next time. Shoot if you are so moved.

Thanks for dropping by,

Joe Dempsey
Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind

http://www.joedempseyphoto.com/
http://www.joedempseycommunications.com/
http://www.corndancer.com/joephoto/photohome.html

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