The Zahir
A few years ago, a Venezuelan friend of mine brought me a book of short stories by the South American author, Jorge Luis Borges. Borges ( bore-haze) is not a quick read and I am no way qualified to give intelligent criticism of his work. But one respected literary critic said of Borges. "He, more than anyone, renovated the language of fiction and thus opened the way to a remarkable generation of Spanish American novelists."
That works for me.
After the first read, Borges' short stories struck me as gothic science fiction. Strange objects, landscapes, and interiors permeate The Zahir, the story of an obsession with a simple coin that slowly isolates the main character from reality. Read The Zahir and draw whatever else you can from it.
After reading some of Borges short stories, I became interested in strange scapes found in seemingly common places.
The above photo was taken on the roof of a power plant during a commercial assignment on Lake Erie, on a crystal clear day, which usually is not conducive to mysterious landscapes. But this place was a theme park of shapes and textures. It was really one of the most visually interesting settings I've ever seen. I could have spent all afternoon shooting on that roof.
Other than the shapes, shadows and textures, I liked the two open doors challenging the viewer to enter one and maybe see if things can get any weirder.
The photo was taken with a 20mm lens on a Nikon F3. Tri-x film. No Photoshop.
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By Mencken - Friday, November 13, 2009
9 Comments:
Very cool. Reminds me of Lee Friedlander.
Fantastic shadows...like they're alive...like in Ghost.
Mencken, do you have any special setting or tricks you use for either capturing or processing your black and whites?
No not really. I just have a good idea of the look I want to achieve. I do take the sharpening to the limit.
But keep in mind, I took this photo before digital existed. The print I made of this in my darkroom doesn't look much different. As I said, this was an interesting location and I was in the right place at the right time as far as the angle of the sun.
This is my favorite image that you've posted, by far.
Thanks Ben, it's one of my all time favorites.
Menck,
I have been on roofs and seen some of the strangest configurations of who-knows - what.
I was at the Center Street Bridge in Youngstown in 1990 as they were tearing down some old steel mill bldgs. The crews would tear and rip parts of the buildings away and then retire for the day.
I would walk amongst the wreckage admiring all the twisted and weirdo sights.
Some of the railroad bridges and crane apparatus were worth seeing. Neato to discover that others see what I see in some strange light
Too bad I did not have a camera or the sense to use one at that time.
There are stories in that old metal.
I love this picture
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