Not All That Wander Are Lost
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring
Musings Along the Journey
I became involved with photography around 1976.
I literally lived across from Farmer Brown’s farm, and as a new photographer seeing the sun rise above that land and barn just fascinated me no end. And when I started using a 4x5 camera and developing my own black and white film and printing I started driving around the countryside looking for subject matter. Honestly it never occurred to me that much of what I would be documenting would eventually become drug stores, strip shopping centers, gas stations and the suburbs. We just couldn’t imagine the two lane road with one blinking light at the intersection would evolve into a major thoroughfare.
This was the view from our front window at sunrise.
This was Mister Brown’s barn. I often would photograph early in the morning or towards dusk for that soft light.
My career became one of commercial photography and then running a wedding and portrait studio. There was very little time for wandering around the countryside. Until that career came to and end. Briefly in 2010 I started traveling around the closest “undeveloped” area left in Virginia Beach - Pungo. There I could still find a country store, some farming, and old homes. The concept of abandonment photography hadn’t entered the lexicon of photography, or the public’s attention as it has now. This project began in 2018, originally as a way to get rid of the stress of the workweek. Now it’s a passion, or obsession - call it what you like.
My name was up in lights. Big expensive ones.
The “session” area was about 1000 SF and was comprised of various sets.
so that I could quickly transition to different backgrounds.
This image was one of several exhibited at the Chrysler Museum in 1983.
Oddly enough I find that I’m enjoying photography more now than when it was my career. Now I shoot for myself, and I so enjoy exploring and finding new places and meeting new people.
And I’ve even sweet talked my kids to coming with me on a journey or two.
My daughter Gabrielle.
My youngest son, Malachi.
My oldest son, Wesley.
I hope you’ll become a part of my “extended family” and join me on my adventures, enjoying the photographs, and the stories we find. Or sometimes make up.
