Critique this one, please

Came across this old store in the middle of nowhere, Virginia (U.S.) the other day. Lots to see here to see and this is a segment of it. Please post your opinions and comments on this shot. Thanks!

 

Great shot, and the type of ruin theme that also attracts me. I do prefer closer detail shots found at these locations, and hoping we'll get to see more from this 'shoot' here soon!

I like the core of the image (in general, I like ruin porn), but I would do some substantial cropping. The empty sky, wires, and metal canopy don't add much, and they draw the eye away from the interesting detail in the middle. The asphalt shingles also don't really add much. For the same reason, I think there is too much concrete at the bottom. I would crop substantially at the top, more than halfway down the shingles, and I'd crop off 1/3 or 1/2 of the concrete at the bottom.

I actually think the “unnecessary” elements work to the photo’s advantage. They kind of clutter the scene with what are typically thought of as distractions, but here they create a texture, organization, and pointedness all their own, as well as giving more narrative to the photo instead of it being a more simple record shot. The tilt of the pole, the cloudy sky with wires, for me, help orchestrate the scene.

 

Still, I’d be tempted to bring more to this photo either in the original shooting or the post processing. Perhaps the perspective, perhaps the chosen color palette, perhaps light, perhaps ... something else.

 

I was inspired to take a look at two very different visual approaches to gas stations in the work of photographer Joel Meyerowitz and painter Edward Hopper. They, of course, weren’t doing the “ruin” thing. And that may be my issue with the photo ... it comes across as a fairly typical “ruin” thing. I don’t suggest a look at Meyerowitz and Hopper as a direct recipe for how to approach this (though adapting one or two things could be of interest here). It’s more to open the photo up to some unique or personal expressive and visual opportunities that would make it a little less rote.

Good bones! I would crop as paddler24 suggested, and I would like to see it processed in B&W.

There are many small details in this photo (especially in the large version) that I like. I also like the strong blue horizontals (trims) with brown verticals. I suspect that might be some interesting stuff left and right outside this crop. For example what could be a chair/bench on the right. You might have a good reason to crop a 'wide' IPhone photo to a square format. Since the main 'long lines' are IMHO horizontal, the original photo (or the same ratio crop) might better suit the 'long lines'.Other much tighter crops might show specific details better.

 

The message I get from this square composition is "these are 3 old pumps". I'd prefer a series of longer/tighter crops that show me"the old gas station". Both in context and a few interesting details.

 

Mike

Thanks, everybody! I appreciate your time and comments. Here’s the whole thing. Admittedly, the modern pole/wires and stuff behind this tend to put a big fat damper on the vibe, but I really like this old place. As I was shooting a cat came around the left corner and hopped thru a hole in the left-most window!

 

Hey guys, recently got my black and white film developed, so I have a couple more photos from this shoot. I THNK have some more color film shots coming in at some point, probably late next week (1st week, Aug 2020) and will post them as well. In the interim, here army two B&W film photos from this shoot- this is Ferrania P30 film, a "new" film stock that,I believe, is. based on an older movie film. It's gritty and I think lovely, and I really like this pics shot here with it.

 

Its really more of the same, as I tend to shoot the same scenes with all of whatever I have along with me at the time. I really like all the textures and the fact that everything about this place is crooked and out of level.

 

 

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by Ricochetrider

Across the street is a funky old car wash, also with some nicely photogenic elements- here are my phone pix. I love love love driving around the back roads out in the country whenever possible. There's so much to see. This sort of antique-y Americana has endless appeal. Our family is of southern heritage, and we spent much time driving around on small roads down south when I was a kid in the 1960s. So this kind of "country" stuff resonates particularly deeply with me.

 

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by Ricochetrider

I think you may find with these photos that the series you put together, the manner of presentation, the order and juxtapositions you use for expressive emphasis, and the culling of which ones you include will create a significant whole and give each of its parts added significance.

Make them all dark and contrasty, add vignetting. Moriyama stile.