Introduction
Last Sunday I was barbecuing a pork shoulder, and I knew that checking the meat was an hour away. So, I grabbed a camera and a Panama hat and took off in the noon heat of 97º F (36º C). I found these scenes on the sides of my neighborhood streets.
This scene has depth. A tree in front casts a shadow, and the spaces between the slats hint at the garden behind. Just a few of the many noteworthy aspects of the fence: The color, the texture, the knots, and the hammer dings.
I like the overall seediness of this scene from the powdery paint on the metal to the uncared for shrubbery. Further, the greenery on the left is the often despised Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), an invasive species in Utah and throughout much of the world. The juniper on the right is a lovely plant, but the owner has forgotten this specimen in the side yard.
I was struck by the shadow shapes of the tree canopy on the asphalt. Notice that the bright spots are the color of the sun, and the blue of the sky has transformed the natural black asphalt to a rich gray.
What does one take a picture of at high noon on a bright summer day? Luckily, this cottonwood tree was standing here. On this outing I was using a Nikon Z6 with prime Nikkor 35 mm/f 1.8 S lens. Using my feet to frame the scene instead of changing the focal length of a zoom helped me avoid getting lost in the camera.
This photo was the original goal of my walk. I had noticed the colorful flowers contrasting with the neglected parkway during a dawn run. I did have my smartphone and could have captured the scene during that so-called golden hour, but I did not want to interrupt running. The harsh midday light fits this scene better than the tranquil illumination of early morning. I like that the blooms have passed their prime and the scene is actually “seedy.” Further, the flowers are tawdry in the original sense of that word.
Endnote
If you made it this far in the post, I thank you. I realize that The Fence and The Cottonwood Tree are traditional subjects. The other three are ugly at first glance but perhaps redeemable in light, pun intended, of their stories.
Best regards,
Dr. Michael