Thursday, May 8, 2014

BEHIND OLD STOREFRONTS

Vintage backsides 
 Linn County, Oregon


28 comments:

  1. Very nice - exactly the kind of interesting photos I like to see. I must say, this "store backside" looks a lot more tidy and neat than those you would see in the south. Though of course I love the south wholeheartedly :-)

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    1. There is something meaningful about a vernacular built structure. Maybe the sweat that went into erecting it? It was a neat and tidy place. thanks -- barbara

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  2. Know every street and alley here. Is this an alley? Surprisingly every one is passable and ya there's good stuff back in these places. That and away too many dogs!

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    1. One Fly -- You must live in a small town. The backside structures in my photo looks like it might be an alley but really is not. Just a parking space and a yard and not a through way. This was taken in a very small town. thanks -- barbara

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  3. You have barely been in Oregon long enough to find so much good stuff!

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    1. Joanne -- I do have one leg up on finding photos in Oregon as I used to live there and know some of the areas rather well and what they have to offer as far as photos go. I panicked when I first moved to Vancouver as I could hardly find a thing here that I wanted to take photos of -- only when I decided to travel outside of Vancouver could I begin to find subjects. I really enjoy all the photos that you take of your area. thanks -- barbara

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  4. You've captured the multi-use of those "storefronts" backsides...including that dish for TV...so maybe someone was using some of the space to live in...much as people often live upstairs from stores in cities. I love that there's grass growing in the parking lot too - and I just noticed the Adirondack chair. How quaint!

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    1. Barbara -- I wasn't sure if someone was living in these backsides -- but perhaps they were as the dish seemed to indicate possible tenancy. Actually there was not a parking lot in the back just a small drive where the white car is parked. The rest was grass where the Adirondack chair is sitting. Although the area was commercial this particular site had the feeling of country -- it was located at the end of the small town's commercial main street. thanks for your comment -- barbara

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  5. One of those places where I feel like I've been there. For one reason or another.

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    1. Rubye -- perhaps you have something like this floating in your childhood memory. This setting reminded me of a small store from my childhood that I often visited. Attached to the back of the store was where the owner lived in a one level home with a nice side porch where she would sit in the evenings. For some reason that left a lasting impression that folks could live attached to their stores. I took this photo as it somewhat reminded me of that store long ago. thanks -- barbara

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  6. Good picture. Are those wooden shingles on the side walls? I like the hidden aspect of your picture.

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    1. claggle -- the structure with the Adirondack chair sitting in front of it has wooden shingles -- the one with the car has old asbestos siding. I would guess that the structures are probably at least 50 years or more in age. thanks for the nice comment -- barbara

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  7. Linda -- thanks for stopping by and thanks also for leaving a nice comment -- barbara

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  8. You see what many people would not notice...It looks a bit like Kentucky to me...Good Spring! ~R

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    2. Rita -- Perhaps it does look a bit like KY but I find similar places in all the states that I have visited. It's part of our heritage as well as the ultra-swank of our culture. I admire the work of the FSA depression photographers -- they have influenced me as well as my studies of cultural anthropology and historic preservation. I look for the un-obvious yet "real" pieces of life in photography.Do have a great spring season. You sure endured a long
      cold winter! Thanks -- barbara

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  9. Things are not always as they seem, and that's perfectly fine with me.

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  10. Birdman -- thanks for stopping by -- barbara

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  11. Love the vintage backsides. (I have one of a different ilk.)

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    1. Vicki -- you made me laugh. I needed that today -- thanks -- barbara

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  13. You have such good ideas for photos and an excellent eye. I would say in our community our fronts and backs look pretty much the same!

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  14. Are comments acting funny, or is it me? Anyway, I wanted to say that you have a good eye and are an inspiration to me to go out and take more photos. In my town, the front and the back look the same, pretty much!

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    1. Hattie -- Interesting that the back and fronts in your town look the same. Many times the older building's backs hold tiny apartments usually reached by stairs. I have seen plenty like this in many states. However, if these are apt's they are conveniently on ground level. Glad you are becoming interested in photography. I believe you will love it. thanks -- barbara

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  15. Enjoy coming to your site after many comments that reveal even more aspects of what we might see in your photos. This one made me think of the set for an August Wilson play I saw here in Portland last year. That one meant to evoke poor African American family.

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    1. naomi -- This house could be used in so many plays and movies. One would be, "To Kill A Mockingbird," where Boo's home (down the street from Scout's home) would probably fill the bill like the set of the August Wilson play you mention. thanks for your comment -- barbara

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  16. Somewhere I have a picture of an elaborate storefront with hanging plants and the whole gentrified thing, with a backside that looks just like those places. I'm reminded of fancy restaurants with grotty kitchens.

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    1. Hattie -- When I was very young my aunt and uncle had a contracting business. Their home was a small wooden three room house barely able to stand up by itself. My uncle put all his money back into his business. But that didn't stop my aunt from laughing easily and my cousin being exceptionally nice and my uncle always wearing a smile.Their home was warm and inviting. Why I paint this picture is even though a home can be rather primitive it does not necessarily mean it lacks heart. I photograph primitive places because they can be homes of good folks like my aunt and uncle. Maybe some of those memories influence me more than I realize. thanks for your comment -- barbara

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