robklurfield
eclipse
Maybe two weeks ago, while on bike ride, I came upon this defunct, decaying diner. I had a my Nikon S2 along for the ride loaded with Adox CMS 20 II. I shot a few images, finished the roll then loaded another (same film; still awaiting development). I was disappointed with much of the roll. Careless metering resulted in numerous blown shots, overexposed beyond redemption.
I've always regretted the times that I passed a site for year after year, promising to record it on film before it disappears, plowed under by a bulldozer or knocked down by a wrecking ball. Resigning myself to not allow Tom's Diner to escape without a decent image, I rode back today. 34 miles round trip. ~2,400 feet of climbing. Aching feet. Not such a long ride, but the climbing wasn't fun today. All to capture a few images.
Now, don't let me kid myself into thinking that this is some major feat (it's not). Show us all the lengths (distance or metaphoric lengths) you've gone to capture an image. My accomplishment was a minor one (I could easily have done this by car, but that would have felt like cheating; perhaps I'm nuts), but I'm sure some of you have stood on cliffs, hung upside-down from the wings of biplanes, braved hailstorms or hails of bullets. Show us what you've got.
Words/No words ... if your image speaks for itself, feel free to post it without comment, or if the back story is essential (or even perhaps better than the image itself), share that with us.
Without any more words, here's Tom's Diner....
CMS 20 II
The rest, M8, 28/2.8 Elmarit Asph
I've always regretted the times that I passed a site for year after year, promising to record it on film before it disappears, plowed under by a bulldozer or knocked down by a wrecking ball. Resigning myself to not allow Tom's Diner to escape without a decent image, I rode back today. 34 miles round trip. ~2,400 feet of climbing. Aching feet. Not such a long ride, but the climbing wasn't fun today. All to capture a few images.
Now, don't let me kid myself into thinking that this is some major feat (it's not). Show us all the lengths (distance or metaphoric lengths) you've gone to capture an image. My accomplishment was a minor one (I could easily have done this by car, but that would have felt like cheating; perhaps I'm nuts), but I'm sure some of you have stood on cliffs, hung upside-down from the wings of biplanes, braved hailstorms or hails of bullets. Show us what you've got.
Words/No words ... if your image speaks for itself, feel free to post it without comment, or if the back story is essential (or even perhaps better than the image itself), share that with us.
Without any more words, here's Tom's Diner....
CMS 20 II
The rest, M8, 28/2.8 Elmarit Asph
robklurfield
eclipse
Of course, the story would be incomplete with an image of my trusty ride waiting patiently for the return trip home.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Lovely old building Rob and nicely captured ... lick'o paint and a tidy up and she'd be fine IMO. 
Even as it is I'd rather eat there than under the golden arches.
Even as it is I'd rather eat there than under the golden arches.
FrankS
Registered User
I love stuff like this. For me it suggests the transient nature of man's efforts and the relentlessness of nature.
robklurfield
eclipse
Keith, thanks.
It will probably end up as a drive-thru bank . That seems to be the default (pun intended) choice these days in this neck of the woods (apparently they people who runs banks have reached the conclusion that no one wants to travel any greater distance to use an ATM than to buy a burger). I suppose there are worse things than the golden arches, but I'm with you on the sentiment that I rather eat at the proverbial greasy spoon diner, peeling paint and all. Of course, I would like 'em to tidy up that counter and the grill first. Maybe a little bug killer, too. A dying species the roadside diner I'm afraid.
It will probably end up as a drive-thru bank . That seems to be the default (pun intended) choice these days in this neck of the woods (apparently they people who runs banks have reached the conclusion that no one wants to travel any greater distance to use an ATM than to buy a burger). I suppose there are worse things than the golden arches, but I'm with you on the sentiment that I rather eat at the proverbial greasy spoon diner, peeling paint and all. Of course, I would like 'em to tidy up that counter and the grill first. Maybe a little bug killer, too. A dying species the roadside diner I'm afraid.
robklurfield
eclipse
The weeds and entropy always win, Frank, and we're arrogant to think otherwise. Of course, totally ignoring maintenance does hasten the reclamation process as nature does her thing. But a bright, shiny diner with gleaming chrome wouldn't have been worth a 34-mile ride for a second shot.
Pity that we can't freeze places in time other than with a photo (and our unreliable memories). There are a few places I'd like to encase in amber or lava, arrested midstream in their inevitable cycle of decay, preserved like Pompeii or a dung beetle. Meanwhile, photos will have to suffice for me.
Pity that we can't freeze places in time other than with a photo (and our unreliable memories). There are a few places I'd like to encase in amber or lava, arrested midstream in their inevitable cycle of decay, preserved like Pompeii or a dung beetle. Meanwhile, photos will have to suffice for me.