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David Saylors

Go have some fun!
  • Street & Lowlight Photos
  • Nature Portfolio
  • Thoughts and Projects Blog
  • WK4DS Radio Amateur
  • Books & Prints by David Saylors
  • My Gear Page
  • Downloadable Wallpapers
  • About me
  • Contact me
  • Personal Photos
  • Architectural Photos
  • Downloads
  • WK4DS Remote VFO control for late model Ten Tec Tranceivers
  • WK4DS Blog Table of Contents
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Preserving the Past Through Photography: Documenting Small Town Historic Buildings

David Saylors February 1, 2023

As a photographer, I am constantly on the lookout for new and interesting subjects to photograph. While I love the beauty and grandeur of natural landscapes and cityscapes, I also find a strange allure in the odd and often overlooked subjects that populate our world.

One subject that has particularly captured my attention in recent years is the cityscape of small towns. To some, these areas may seem uninteresting and even dull, but to me, they represent a unique and compelling source of inspiration.

There is something about the charm and character of these small towns that I find deeply appealing. The quaint and often crumbling buildings, the narrow streets and alleyways, the sense of history and community that surrounds them – all of these elements combine to create a visual feast that is unlike anything else.

But beyond the surface level aesthetic appeal, there is also a deeper meaning to be found in these spaces. They represent the resilience and determination of the people who live and work within them, the traditions and values that have sustained them through the years.

Photographing these small town cityscapes is not always easy, as they can often be difficult to access and require a more patient and thoughtful approach. But the challenges only serve to make the process all the more rewarding, as the resulting images capture a world that is often overlooked in the rush of modern life.

Whether it's the beauty of nostalgia or the timelessness of small town life, there is always something new and exciting to discover in these forgotten corners of the world. So if you're ever feeling stuck for inspiration, don't be afraid to venture into the world of the small and overlooked – you never know what you might find.

I have always been drawn to the beauty and mystery of old buildings. There is something about the character and history that these structures hold that captures my imagination and inspires me to create.

But there is a certain magic to be found in shooting these buildings at blue hour or at night. The soft, diffused light of the setting sun casts a warm glow on the architecture, highlighting the intricate details and textures of the building's façade. And when the sun has set and the night has fallen, the artificial lights that illuminate these structures take on a life of their own, creating a sense of atmosphere and drama that is hard to replicate in the daylight.

Shooting old buildings at blue hour or at night also adds an element of surprise and intrigue to the process. These structures are often still in use and powered up, and seeing them in this state – with their windows glowing and their machinery humming – adds a sense of vitality and energy to the image. It's a reminder that these buildings are not just static relics, but living, breathing entities that are integral to the communities they serve.

Whether it's the beauty of the blue hour light or the drama of the night, there is always something new and exciting to discover when shooting old buildings in these unconventional hours. So if you're ever feeling stuck for inspiration, don't be afraid to try something new and experiment with shooting at blue hour or at night – you might just be surprised at what you find.

In street photography Tags ft payne alabama, cityscape, low light, night photography, leica photography, cityscape photography
3 Comments

Chattanooga Street Photography #6

David Saylors October 1, 2022

Well, it has been a while since I have done one of these and for a couple of reasons. I wont run down that rabbit hole right now as the subject is street photography.

Well, maybe a little peek into the rabbit hole is needed. I have been active in my street photography but with an emphasis on video content so the street photos for a long time were mediocre…at best. BUT NOW, video production is not my main priority anymore so the attention on my photos can come to the forefront.

With this also comes my styles and preferences as well and I think they show in the photos I have been capturing.

What I have learned is that I dont want photos of people just walking down the street anymore, I want them doing something more. Anything more than just walking is better than …just people walking down the street…

Well, it seems that getting those photos in Chattanooga, during the windows of time that I have, is pretty tough. This hasn’t stopped me from trying though…it has made the process take longer than I thought it would. I see all the “street” photos of people just walking across intersections and down streets, on side walks, crossing the street and so on.

At least this fellow is multi-tasking…and had no clue I was sitting 5 feet away…

I get it, this is all you have sometimes to get, but what story is it telling the viewer? Now, comes the controversial part, are you shooting for others to view your work or are you shooting photos for your own personal pleasure only? If you do both, you end up letting one or the other down. This is my observation at least, and I base my position simply on social media photo sharing sites. People like a certain photo and literally all the Instagram photogs start shooting those kinds of photos so they will get the engagement on their image as well. This is shooting for the viewer and not yourself. If you choose to shoot what you like, it may never get any traction on social media since it is not the current hotness that everyone seems to like. This is shooting for your self, I mean, if you shoot for yourself, do you even share your photos? If you do, why? You see, shooting for yourself is not to please others, so why share them at all? See my point? This is what Vivian Maier did and is a perfect example of shooting for your own pleasure, as far as I know, she never told anyone about her hobby and it wasn’t even uncovered until after her death and someone bought her photos at a yard sale.

I have a sort of combination of both ideas in what I do. I will share some photos, usually not my personal best either, just something to let people know what I am doing more than anything, but most of my images are kept safe at home on my hard drive and are building into projects over time. I have been building up the courage to see if a gallery will want to host them at some point, but to be honest, this is currently a pipe dream in my eyes as most of my images are simply just snapshots and not gallery material.

Recently I have been looking for specific types of images. There are several types, but in these I am looking for things like large prime color photos (like the ice cream vendor above) , negative space images that drive the eye, some urban decay photos, and even some historical images as I have been shooting in the same area long enough to see buildings come and go and how they are used differently over time. It is interesting to see these changes to be honest about it. Like the building pictured below. I grabbed the first photo of it 5 years ago and even then it was basically the front 40 feet of the old building as the rear portion had already been demolished and removed. Last week they finished the job and now the building looks like the bottom photo…

Old hotel across from Choo Choo circa 2017

This is when I knew I had gotten something historical. They were not going to even attempt to save the building at this point.

This what it looks like as of 5 SEPT 2022… Gone…

I have been doing this as a hobby, as a form of therapy, and I just plain enjoy the interaction with the world around me. Because of these things, I have captured a place in time and saved it from fading into obscurity now. This brings a level of satisfaction that I can not describe. This is why I like finding things other than people walking down the street to photograph when I am out…

What is your favorite thing to photograph when you go out on a walk? Let me know in the comments! Also, like this post if you actually liked it, I am thinking this will help get the word out with google, but I am not sure about that…

Anyway, get your camera out and go take a picture with it.

In street photography Tags street photography, leica, landscape photography, urban photography, cotyscape, cityscape
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