ROY'S

A well known Route 66 spot that one cannot pass without taking a pic

or two.

I saw it from a distance...and knew it was yours! This is just absolutely classic... Perfect composition...wonderful sky...can't beat the subject matter in my opinion. One of my first thoughts...I HAVE TO go there and see this for myself. I envy the fact that you have a very distinctive style, while I keep on shooting ...whatever, however. thanks for sharing this one...

Thanks so much. I haven't heard from you in ages. That style thing really made me feel good. I have tried so hard to develop a recognizable style, but I've never felt like I achieved it. This one is pretty much the usual image. Even though I've uploaded a ton of images since this one was taken, I held back because I felt there wasn't much new or unique in this.

The great American motel!

On the great American road!

I like it David, but... I feel you failed to make a real choice here. If you tilted the camera down to show more concrete and less sky there would be a story about mankind paving the world. I you tilted the camera up there would be a story about mankinds tinyness under those big skies.

I know I will sound ungrateful and defensive, so please try to NOT take it that way. I do appreciate your comment, and even agree with it. But the attempt here is to show just a bit of both. Being documentary, and with the emphasis on the motel structure and its sign, it seemed the appropriate thing to do would be to show the surroundings as much as possible. Lots of emptiness. That's the way I saw it. Route 66 is mile after mile of emptiness (at least in this part), and the sky is vast and pretty much unpolluted. I thought they were kind of equal partners, so I placed the key elements right between them. We both know there is no right or wrong here, just different interpretations. And I thank you for offering yours. It made me think a bit more about what I'm trying to do and say.

this looks good. The motel looks neat and the vastness and emptiness of the surroundings is well communicated. I just slightly adjusted the photo so it would be more expressive (see the attached). Hey, what can I do, dude - I ran out of V8. Cheers, Micheal

 

Ah yes, you've hit the nail on the head. I like your version best. Thanks

David, you don't sound ungrateful and defensive at all! Of course you intended it this way otherwise you wouldn't have taken it and posted it like this and you shouldn't change a thing on my account. I'm just glad you post pictures and give us a change to view them and share our thoughts on them. So thanks again!

It makes me want to hit the road! I hope I'm still alive when I retire for my day job.

Don't wait until it's too late. I mean that. I've been seeing too many people dropping dead lately. And an inexhaustible supply of photos out there. Thanks for stopping by.

Wonderful capture of a wonderful scene. A pretty well preserved relic of a simpler era. I agree that it is very recognizable as yours and that your approach/style/visualization has a personality itself. I think to a great extent you have accomplished what you've hoped to in developing that stamp. I often open your stuff and smile because, even though I don't know you, I feel as if I'm very much seeing you in all of these "documentary" shots. I put "documentary" in quotes because I do think your photos have an element of your personal political and social views beyond that of simply recording things. Of course, they are documentary but I also think they are imbued with your own sensibility.

 

I read with interest the comments about composition. Before having read them, my thought was that the composition felt keenly and appropriately stark and also that the vertical spacial relationship of ground, sky, and structure felt static rather than dynamic. I still see it that way, in strictly visual terms. The narrative interpretations don't persuade me either way in this case.

Thanks. It is a scene replete with memories, history, romance, and the vastness that is our land. In a way, I'm sorry to hear you say that it seems static, because I'm not sure an image of the great American Highway should be static. After all, wasn't it a huge force in mobilizing America? But you seem willing to keep your mind open on this issue, so I'll not complain too much. Take care.

Strange contrast between heavy sky and bright soil with a very interesting transition from one to the other. Very elegant image. Ciao, Alx

Thanks for the comments and lovely rendition.

A typical David Meyer-image, if you'd ask me. It's not bad, but I think there are a few things that might be done differently when shooting the motel and sign next time.

 

For starters, I would (if you have the equipment) get in much, much closer and use a very wide angle lens such as the Sigma 10-20. Using this and getting really low, the wide angle lens would accentuate the diagonal line of the building's roof and also dramatize the sign. If you'd use a small aperture (f/11 or f/16), the texture of the road would add to the drama as well; I'm thinking how the dust and the little stones would symbolize the demise of a place like this.

 

The sky is a tad over-polarized, and I think I would also have shown a little more of the building on the left, perhaps using a different angle. this all isn't to say you've done a bad job, on the contrary. I think it comes down to different taste. I wish I had the chance to go over there and photograph the building and its surroundings.

 

The sign itself and the small white buildings behind the motel are worth having a go at, too, if you'd ask me.

 

Best regards,

Frank

Thanks. I think you may have some very valid points there. I have to tell you that I'm kind of an intuitive shooter. I usually decide very early on what I want to shoot and how I want to shoot it. This is good sometimes, and not so good others. There are those who analyze a scene to death, and there are those who flit from one thing to the next. On that spectrum I fall a bit too close to the latter.

 

Thanks for taking a look and for the good comments.

I always dread coming to your portfolio because when I see what you have accomplished I always see how poor my stuff is in comparison. And then there's that other factor, too - I can't just get by with "nice shot" or some such meager comment. No, they always force me to launch into these long-winded reviews that seemingly continue on their own volition with ol' Jack tagging along for the ride and spending much too much time at the keyboard. Not your fault, David, it's just that the work's too good to pass by without paying due respect. This is a great shot and should be part of the book you're sure to publish on our Western heritage.

First off, welcome back. Hope you had an enjoyable and productive sojourn.

 

Secondly, thanks. Anyone would need a larger hat after getting such a nice compliment. But that's bullshit, comparing my art to yours. You get twice as many visits on your site than I do, and deservedly. Our one point of commonality is we both take great pleasure in making something out of nothing. And you are the master at that, and I the mere apprentice.

 

As for this one, I'm sure you've often heard my lament that anyone can make a picture of an obvious picture, and that is what this one is. Yes, I'm happy with it, but anyone with a lens could have spotted this and taken it (and many have). I have to go now, because it appears Merlin is back and I need to go see what magic tricks he's doing upon his return. See you at your place.

Very balanced composition and clinical image,David. The vastness of the sky and the road is well-captured. Though Jack does not approve terse comments, what can an ordinary mortal like me do, except save the words and admire your shots in the silence of mind.

Not to worry, I'm grateful for any and all comments, long or short. Thanks for your generous praise.

Here, I see a great compositional success because you have managed a very balanced scene with many mirrored elements. I see the vast, empty parking lot suddenly interrupted by a string of little bungalows, recreating the scene in the background where the flatland is suddenly interrupted by hills. The triangular constructions of the sign and roof seem to mirror each other, as do the sign and the two palms to the left.

 

 

You always manage to capture scenes that exist deep in my subconscious. Twenty years in the Midwest, ten years in the south, and then ten in Texas--you happen to capture all the scenes that flicker in my memory. Like Jack, I'm waiting for the appearance of your book, which I expect would be emotionally akin to a family album for me.

Thank you for the kind words. Regarding a book, I always scoffed at such a concept, but recently I have seen some pretty interesting Internet possibilities for self publishing a book at quite reasonable cost. It has to be partly ego, but I can't help but think it would be fun to pass on some of my words and images to the grandkids in a book form. Somehow just handing them a DVD is not the same. That may be just because some of us are so old we still hold books in such high regard. It's a thought. But a book with any hope of commercial success? Nah. There are far more talented folks out there.

David, wasn't there another shot of Roy's motel with a silver trailor pulled out next to it? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I toured your portfolio several times and couldn't find it back. This one with its cold steel colors is another winner. One of my very favs by you. I'll join Jack and Jeff, there's a good book coming round the bend. I hope you complete your project of putting it together.