ON THE ROAD TO BETTER DREAMS

If you are going to look, look at the larger version.

You're absolutely right, Dave. The larger version is far better -- much greater detail and finer tones. Glad I took your advice. Nice shot and title.

Everything Must go... its our annual fire damage flood damge overstock inventory sale...

 

I love the lone guy walking away to the warehouse. A pure David Meyer capture.

An absolute homage to the modern american decay of commercial enterprise and nail on the chalkboard, punch in the gut salesman ship.

 

I bet you thought this was just a picture. No way David. You know better.

 

As always... excellent.

 

 

...said it all. An excellent David Meyer capture!

and I though they were the newest anti-collision devices. For $100? Did they fell off a train or are they filled with hay? That place doesn't look very cheerful, underlined (actually overlined) by the clouds. Can you take a happy,

feel good photo, dude? Cheers, Micheal

 

Little Buddy, you made my first (and, who knows, maybe my only) laugh of the day. Side anti impact devices! Only you could have come up with that one. But you may be on to something. Man, first you used to bust my balls because I didn't do pretty, and now you want happy? Am I going to have to go out and find a little puppy to photo?

Yes, this is definitely one that needs to be larger to see the details. Thanks, as always for the nice comments.

Thanks to you, once again. I can't help but wonder if there are scenes like this where you live. Probably not.

What can I say? Every time you leave one of your comments, my head starts pushing against the headband. With the larger head size, there is not sufficient hair to keep me from appearing bald. Nevertheless, I'm grateful.

Well David, perhaps there are some pretty strange scenes around here (there must be) but one also has to have the eye for it. But I'll keep my eyes open, perhaps I can show you something similar from where I live - though the weather should improve vastly before I will be able to go out shooting... The rain has been quite bad this week; I've made exactly zero shots over the past week.

Very good capture, David, that tells a lot with no needs for words. The larger version gives the composition its full..."dimension".

Great find, and only $100 for better dreans.. well you have an eye to find them... they ( the B/W diagonal dreams)are better seen large... ;-))

 

Only find a better location for them( the dreans I mean....)

Thanks guys for the comments. I swore I wasn't going to do this, but I'm just having a hell of a time in evaluating some images in terms of whether they are better served in color or black & white. I really don't know why I'm having this mini crisis of decision lately. I've always just had a feeling telling me what I wanted to do. Over the last couple of weeks, I just can't seem to come to a clear resolution on so many images, and this is one. So, dear friends, if you would be so kind, take a look at the color version and tell me which way you would go.

I would not buy it in color or in b&w (the mattress, not your image). I prefer the color version, but this could go either way. Here is what Lou Ann told me about making the decision on which way to go. (I think it was Lou Ann; I think she said this...)

If there is not much color and the shapes and patterns have a wide range from white to black, then try b&w. That would be the way to generally get the feel.

I saw your image this morning but did not have time to comment before going to work. I saw a "box spring" similar to this one on the street, awaiting pickup among the cans on trash day. The bottom cloth was ripped up and I could see that there were no springs inside. It was a wooden box frame with cardboard all across the top, and then a thin layer of foam on top of the cardboard. In my opinion this whole setup would not be worthy of use for sleep, recreation or dreaming. But thank you much for bringing this to my attention or else I might have bee hoodwinked into purchasing such an item, thinking that I was getting a great bargain!

Certainly, you've created an entire genre of photography. Mattresses on wheels, run-down worship centers, juke joints, tumbleweed-clad town centers, and of course, Cooter's garage (still a favorite).

 

 

I like the color version better here because of that strong red stripe that unifies the shot. The B&W gives a down-n-out feel, but I think Fred's bit of irony would also work here (bright colors playing off a rather sad scene).

 

 

Your camera goes places mine won't go.

Thanks for the thoughts. I had a really super conversation going on "Drug Fair" about this very issue, and because everyone contributed such fabulous and interesting comments, I swore I wouldn't do this comparison thing again. But I'll be damned if I have a feeling one way or the other as to which is right for this image. I hope this self doubt passes soon, because it is causing me way too much anguish.

Maybe you just need to change the lens. Just kidding. What happened here is that I posted the b & w, but the more I looked at the color version, the more I decided it had more going for it. So midstream I went and posted the color and asked you guys for help. I'm going to stop doing that, as sooner or later I have to make these decisions without taking a vote from the Pnet universe. Thanks for your thoughts.

What? You don't think art as decided by a committee is a good idea?

 

 

I think posting both is educational for US more than you. It's good to follow your train of thought regarding what you thought was important along the way to your final offering.

Well, this time, David, I'd rather go for color. Nothing here interferes with the message, and aesthetically wise that strong red line adds interest to the composition without hampering our reading of the image. Actually, color can contribute greatly to documentary shots too. I could very well imagine this image on The New York Times website color slideshows.

Fun image; well seen and captured!

Aah yes, in B&W it's more about form, in color it translates more to the world around us, is more recognizable. I like them both I must say. Funny how a good color picture often also works in B&W but not that often the other way around. In my experience color ads a dimension which makes it harder to do well. Anyway, great picture, thanks for sharing!

Laurent: I've come to like the color one better too. Thanks

 

Gunga-Jim: Thanks for having a look and leaving a comment.

 

Nick: Glad to hear from you. Thanks.

I like both, as the B/W is concetrating our look especially on the $ 100 (funny mattress situation... lol) I mean the bizarre find. The colored one is having the sorrounding more accentuated, I would have a hard time if I need to choose, my bias will probably the colored one.

Thanks. I really value your opinion and appreciate your taking the time to pass it on to me.

This is one fine photograph, David. The ability to take an ordinary scene, organize it in your mind's eye and produce a powerful work of art is the mark of a true artist - and that you are.

 

ps: The color version with its grainy, industrial tones is equally as good. Usually I have strong preferences for one or the other but in this case both are superb.