Pattie's

Tavern in an elevator town.

There's something I really like about this photograph, something to do with the pastel sky and the pastel dusky colors on the grain elevator or cement facility, whatever it is. It's really, literally a travel picture, like something I'd see at a blink while driving across the country. Completely unpretentious. You've captured the beauty of this scene without trying to force the scene to be any more or less beautiful than it already is. Good work.

I would rather say that the photo is beautiful, but the scene is not. I like the vast flat plains and the railway crossing transmitting the message of a possible escape from the toil of daily life and scruffy buildings. Well done Mike.

Thanks for making thoughtful comments on this picture. You're right. It is what it is. A small tavern in an elevator town. [Those big cement cylinders are part of the elevator facility, a place to store grain. mostly corn.

 

There are probably less than 500 people living in Martinton, but there is a Post Office, has it's own zip code. & I'm a little jealous of the people that live there because they can do pretty much as they please. Just before I stopped in front of Pattie's I saw some young guys driving around town in a golf cart downing some beers & promising another guy they'd be over to help shingle his roof,

 

You may be able to see the bike on the sidewalk. I just missed shooting a kid dump his bike there & head on into the tavern. Can't do THAT in the city. Probably a family place.

 

Actually the reason I stopped here was to see if I could get a decent exposure with the sun still barely up on the silos & the buildings below still in the shade. I got 2 shots off & this was the better of the 2. It's right on the edge of town as you can see & the RR gates indicate that's how they ship the seeds.

 

Thanks again ytou guys for stopping.

in the midle of a kind of desolation and spot with a wonderfull light, a stop by at the bar and a beautifull urban/industrial atmosphere..this is a human landscape! great work Mike.

Another one of your classic images. The golden light brings with it a newness and hope. The ancient buildings remind us of the history that might not be such cause for optimism. It's a nitty picky thing, but I kind of wish that car had been an old beat up pickup truck. A truly wondrous image taken at just the right moment to highlight the illuminated bar signs and the sun's glow.

I agree, the car's too new. My son took a look at this picture & said the same thing. "Too bad about the car." Maybe 35 years from now someone will see this & say. "Look at that old station wagon." Thanks for stopping Dave

New Car...references our continued dependence (connection) to the old standby's. Love the dish.

You can hardly see it but there's a bike on the sidewalk. I just missed the kid jumping off of it & running inside the bar. His Mom may work inside. This is sort of a dumpy little town, but I like to photograph it. More opportunities here than I realize. It's called Martinton & it's about 25 Miles NE of Gilman. Take a ride through there some day if you have the time.