From time to time I like to go out for a walk with a camera and create a small challenge for myself. This morning it was walking a few blocks up one side of a city street, then down the opposite side, while capturing a few images along the way. Unlike many photographers I never take images of people when I am out on a street walk as I am much more fascinated by what people create…and tend to leave behind as a legacy.
Initially I am usually draw to signs of all different types. The plague above was imbedded in the sidewalk. It is something I’ve been asking myself every morning for well over five decades. As I get older I’m likely asking the question for a different reason.
I love to find things that make me think, like a bit of philosophy.
Which, of course, covers all kinds of approaches to life.
And, some that remind us that life is a relative experience.
Many make me smile and remind me of hobby pastimes.
Style can be found in the most unusual of places.
Artwork on buildings always intrigues me and I enjoy finding murals of all types.
It is refreshing to know that the creativity of the human spirit is alive and vibrant.
I often will capture images through store windows, looking for dramatic lighting…
or splashes of colour.
Eventually I am drawn to buildings…
and their beautiful details.
The artistry of stained glass always draws my attention…
as do the angles and symmetry of structures.
Geometric shapes are particularly appealing to me and I often find myself lost in the shapes and angles I find around me.
I also love high contrast things…
or everyday items that are rich in detail.
Repeating patterns act as a magnet and draw me near.
The stronger the repeating lines or patterns…the more dramatic and compelling they are to me.
Sometimes I will play with common things like a steel bench, shooting at different angles to create a somewhat abstract image.
I enjoy creating simple compositions that extend lines from one element to another.
One of my great joys is working with angles and shapes to create the illusion of something that is not there in reality, except in my mind’s eye.
Nostalgia can often be found during a walk…like a brand from my teenage years…
or a reminder of what used to adorn the top of my head…before most of them jumped ship!
A street walk reveals character that is demonstrated by rust and age…
or by mismatched human attempts at repairs.
Character is found in artistic bricklaying – a skill that is sadly dying away in many cities.
I often wonder what happened inside the buildings I pass.
The truth always seems to have a way of revealing itself – peeling back attempts at disguise.
Invariably towards the end of one of my walks something will leap out at me and compel an image, causing me to think. Was the hubcap discarded and of no more use…or is it simply waiting for the next journey to begin? If there is a new journey – where will it lead?
Article and all images are Copyright 2016 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, adaptation or reproduction of any kind is allowed without written consent. Photography Life is the only approved user of this article. If you see it reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use.