Year End review:# 1 A Gift

The above image resulted after a couple of hours wandering about Union City, Indiana/Ohio. Had been moving from location to location, quickly photographing. It was a hot, muggy spring day. Ready to head home, stopped in a bit of shade, to pack up.   Finishing, I looked about. Out came a camera. This image wasn't made or taken. It was given.

Posted as "A View of One Shoe Walking".  A Bauhaus moment - looking up/looking down.  A Minor White moment - inner Zen.  Rushing about, hurrying to arrive, racing from here to there, we reach a goal.  In doing so, we miss seeing.  Stand still.  Move - if you must - carefully.  Be aware and alert. 

A way of working - allow the external to connect with the internal and then respond.  Other times an internal feeling will find representation in an external happening.  There is no one way.  Gifts are given to those that are open and accepting.

Year End Review: #2 Constrast, Compare and Choose

On the left the large white metal cross along the Interstate 70 near Richmond, Indiana. The small weathered wooden cross stands in an back alley in Eaton, Ohio. One is placed in the open for all to witness.  The other is hidden away requiring a journey to seek it out.  One is new, complete and brilliantly white.  The other is old, broken, and stressed.

These two crosses are different and yet they are similar.  They both have meaning and represent an event.   One speaks loudly and the other in a quiet whisper.  One is strong and mighty.  The other exhibits a battered strength of survival.

My journey is to seek out the quiet whisper of the battered strength of survival that I hear.  

Year End Review #3 Communities

                                            

                            Another thread from a year of wandering about the Midwest.

Here in Richmond, Indiana is an established church.  Active in the area with several outreach programs.  Sort of thing that you expect to see in the Midwest.  Would appear that all is well in the "fly over" part of the country.  Maybe yes - perhaps not.

                                         

Over in London, Ohio there was once an alive church. Now, with no congregation, boarded up, and for sale.  What happened here?  Members move away?  Folks elect other options?  Congregation grow old?  Moving thru the Midwest, I have seen this dead church scene in many locations.  Established faiths with standing buildings now unused, shuttered and for sale.

Why/How do some prosper while others don't?

 In Richmond, there are at least three Main Street storefornt churches.  Several more are scattered about the city.  These are not only alive and active, but are growing.  These tend to be physically small allowing the members to feel a closeness.  Members are active - in the action.  Often   able to immediately help one another with personal problems, as well as, daily physical needs.    A personal community in touch with its members.

Once again no answers, just questions.  No solutions, just problems.  Will keep going and photographing.  Will continue looking and perhaps seeing. 

Year End Review #4 Tattoo

                                                    Urbana, Ohio.                                          

This post is more about a theme rather than photography.  I keep looking and seeing tattoo shops as I wandered around the midwest the past year. They appeared to be everywhere. Once the mark of sailor or a biker, they now seem to be the choice of a wide variey of  people from differing backgrounds. 

From our sport hero's to everyday ordinary folks, tats are in.  Tattoos are the trendy thing.  Why is this?  Perhaps one answer could be that a tattoo implies that the person is a member of a group.  An insider - a belonger.  Has joined and is now accepted.   Another response might be - an outsider - not one of us.  Stand apart from the rest - different.

              

                                          London, Ohio 

                                                         

Not all tattoo shops are upscale.  Some are now closed or have moved elsewhere.  As with any service/retail operation, these are hard times.  Failure is more often than not, a reality not an option. 

Questions yet to be answered.  How does one become a" tattoo artist"?  Is there a school, self taught, or just do it?  Are there standard designs or does each individual artist have their unique way of working?  Questions, questions, questions.

Certain that there are additional tattoo locations in my future .

Year End Review: #5 Sale!

Richmond, Indiana.
Downtown retail stores are still having a difficult time.  Hoppe's Mainstreet store has been retired, i.e. closed.  They are still doing business in a strip mall on the east side of Richmond.  These are still hard times-not only here in Richmond-across the Midwest.  Unemployment is remains high.  Factories are cutting back on production and in some cases closing completely.  While the Winter weather remains bright and sunny the work opportunities are rather dark and dim.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Free Air

Urbana, Ohio.
Coming next week -  top 5 choices of 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Main Tattoos Street

Urbana, Ohio.
 Seems as if every crossroads/community/town/ city has a tat shop.  Are there that many folks that wish to have their bodies covered with "artwork"?  Would appear so, as these shops are everywhere.  Often when returning to a location, finding that they have closed or moved elsewhere.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Peace of Nature

Urbana, Ohio.
Returning to Urbana for a few images.  On an early Sunday morning, I found this Art Studio on a main street.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Mug & Brush

London, Ohio.  Interesting recycled building.  (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: White Cross

Richmond, Indiana. 
This stands on the edge of Richmond along Interstate 70.    Can be seen day and night-floodlights in use.  Placed in front of the New Creations Church/School.  The cross is huge - the height of the tree is some 25 ft.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Morning Light

Urbana, Ohio.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Crossroads Community Church

London, Ohio.
An active, alive and open church.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: For Sale

London, Ohio.
A block off a main street is a vacant church that is for sale.  There are at least two storefront churches within a short walking distance of this location.  This London church is not the first encounter with a  building that is unused and up for sale.  In fact there is another London church that has been closed-again within a short walking distance.  Interesting developements that have no easy answers.  Tastes change, people move elswhere and folks die.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: In Memory

London, Ohio.
(click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: New Life Fellowship

London, Ohio.
 Storefront church along a London main street.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: For Rent

 

London, Ohio.
Vacant Tattoo shop now for rent.  So many small town main streets with ever so many empty storefronts. As the year draws to a close, it is apparent that there is a continuing business downturn.  Times are not easy here in the Midwest.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Rock Stars Wanted

London, Ohio.  Rock Star - have a seat and we will be right with you.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Casey's

London, Ohio.
A Drive-Thru is legal in Ohio but not in Indiana.  Another opportunity to not leave your vehicle.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Restoration Worship Center

 London, Ohio.
One of several storefront churches along a main London street.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest; Perpetual Federal

Urbana, Ohio.  (click on image to enlarge)

One Way

Richmond, Indiana. 
Taken on a "walk about" using the Fuji X10.   Using a brick wall to help check out the camera.  Pleased with the color and the sharpness that the camera captures.  (click on image to enlarge)

Fall Light

Richmond, Indiana.

After some four/five days of steady rain - good to recall an early fall day and clear blue sky. Photo info: taken on a "walk about" with the Fuji X10 camera. (click on image to enlarge)

Pays to Advertize.

Union City, Indiana/Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Open

Lynchburg, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)