Images that no longer exist

(Click on photos to enlarge)

I’ll sometimes return to a location I’ve previously photographed and discover it has irrevocably changed. What I mean is that what I had shot is no longer there. That sometimes makes me a little sad. Something I thought was worth photographing - something others should have had a chance to see or photograph - is now no more. What makes me happy, on the other hand, is knowing that at least I have pictures of what was once there and that others, hopefully, will get to see them.

This brings back memories of the flying monkeys from the film, The Wizard of Oz. The sign, now gone, was located on Main Street in Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA. It was positioned between the sidewalk's end and the beginning of a wooded area. It advertised the Flying Monkey Farm in Glastonbury. I suspect that those familiar with the film and who saw the sign for the first time must have done a serious double take.

Since this museum gallery was being refurbished, all its paintings had been removed and placed into temporary storage. Viewing the room this way puts the emphasis on it rather than the artwork that normally hangs on its walls. To me, this image shows that even an empty space can have its own beauty. I found myself wishing the room would remain as it is, bereft of any paintings. I truly enjoyed seeing this portion of the museum in its raw state. Note: This picture was shot with a wide-angle lens and an intentional slight blur.

This was taken inside a theater that had been abandoned for decades. It seemed that wonderful shot possibilities popped up no matter where I pointed my camera. I spent hours happily wandering and photographing, though carefully avoiding falling ceilings, sizable gaps in the floor that could drop you down twenty feet or more, and exposed wiring that wasn't supposed to be live but sure didn't look it. To my disappointment, but to the new owner's delight, the theater was finally renovated. I do have to admit that it now looks glorious.

I was photographing in a skate park that also included walls of beautiful graffiti paintings (I think the city actually encouraged the graffiti). Seeing these Art Deco-type numbers on the colored squares made me want to photograph them. I also thought that adding a human element might add more interest, so I made sure my legs and feet would be visible in the shot. Returning to the skate park some months later, I was dismayed to discover that this entire section had been completely painted over.

I suspect few people are wanting to see this sight again. Normally, the sign indicates to walking pedestrians where to cross the street. However, after days of relentless rain, the entire area flooded, creating this glum but amusing scene. I felt a bit guilty taking the photo, but the weirdness of the sign/water combination made me want to capture it. Returning a few weeks later, I was relieved to find that all was as it was, with no indication of what had recently happened.

Unlike the previous images, what you see in this photograph (at least as of this writing) still exists. What does not exist is the era that this picture hopefully represents - the 1930s or 1940s. With a bit of Photoshop finagling, I think I gave the image the appearance of a long-gone America.

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