Gone But Not Forgotten

     I made the short drive recently over to one of my favorite photo-op locations. The day looked like a good day for some black and white photography as the sky shined cobalt blue and cloud formations presented themselves with unique and dramatic textures. I did manage to capture a few images before I traveled on around for a couple of miles to find one of my favorite old trees that sat out in an open field. This old tree in the past provided several wonderful photo-ops during similar conditions. The last time I photographed it, I was taken aback by the fact that two houses had been built to either side of it effectively disrupting the scenic value. Even so, with some careful framing and maneuvering, it was possible to capture the tree against the sky and background. However, on this day as I approached, my heart sank as all that remained of the stately old tree was a pile of burned out rubble. Someone had cut it down and burned it as so much debris. 

   I have over the years captured photographically several locations which today no longer exist. All of them tore down for the sake of progress or possibly personal gain. There is another location just a few miles from where I live where I captured perhaps one of my favorite images. There was another tall stately tree situated next to an old fence. By standing at the bottom of a dip in the road, the tree could be isolated against a broad sky. On one occasion I purposely made my way over there and captured this scene that was eventually transformed into a mirror image. The sun had just set, yet the sky retained a wonderful blue hue to it. The moon hovered just above the tree and light wispy clouds drifted across the blue hour sky. The tree nor the fence are still there, once again cut or destroyed by someone for some reason. I love the serenity of this image and its simplicity and as I do from time to time travel over that way let go a sad sigh as I pass by this now empty spot.

Old barns are disappearing by the hundreds off the landscape and with them that sense of nostalgic wonder. Yes they are old, but they are more than that. They serve as a reminder of times past, of someone's dream and of memories of simpler times. I am drawn to their character and love the way to add charm and interest to the landscape. It is sad really to see so many of them destroyed or dismantled their time seasoned wood turned into furniture or fireplace mantles, or simply burned. 

There were two old barns both just down the road from my home in opposite directions. Both are now gone and where one used to be, small apartments are being built. The other one is simply gone, probably sold to someone who used the lumber for other things. I miss seeing both of them as they were iconic symbols of the Kentucky landscape that represented the best of what old Kentucky stood for.

The winter image of that huge old barn still showed the weathered red paint that once adorned it. There was the overhanging part across the front where I'm sure hay and probably other things were lifted via pulley and ropes and stacked in the loft. It was one of the most beautiful old barns I've ever seen, but alas, all that remains of it is a few scraps of debris from around its base and most of that has been plowed under and grown over.

Many years ago, someone took this photo of the old Wister, Oklahoma train station. As a young boy growing up in Wister, that old station was still in operation and I even took a train ride once. I was very young, but I do remember it. The tracks and the station are now long gone and that small community missed an opportunity to turn that old building into a wonderful museum. Hindsight I suppose is always 20/20 they say. Even so, I wish that old train station could have been preserved. I am thankful for whoever snapped this image I'd guess somewhere around 1915 maybe.

There is another photo most likely taken sometime during the 1940's of the train station in Wister. From the looks of it, I'd say the original building had been replaced and this is the station I most likely traveled from when I was young boy. It too is long gone and all that remains of it is the foundation. My dad and I once a long time ago before he passed away, walked over to where it stood and found some old bricks and debris and what looked like the base line of the foundation still there. It brought back many memories for him and a few for me as well. 

In that little community, there were numerous old brick buildings most of which are no longer standing. One of the more iconic of them was the one I know as 'The Dixie Store'. It was a store my grandparents ran for a good many years before they branched out on their own to open their own store. The old Dixie Store stood vacant for many years and eventually was demolished for some reason, most likely because it became a hazard from neglect. But, I do remember that old store and the stories my grand parents told about it. In this photo taken by my grandfather, in the background you can see a couple other buildings. The one toward the very back with the white facing was a grocery store my Aunt May and her husband ran for many years. She was my grandfathers sister and I remember running up the wooden steps out front, through the screen door and hearing it slam behind me and stepping into another world where the wooden floors creaked and overhead fans rattled and swayed as they vainly tried to keep the inside cool. A few years back, probably close to twenty years or more now, my wife and I stopped in and discovered that old place was still standing as an antique store. We stopped and stepped inside and instantly, the sounds of the creaking floor and the rumbling of the old overhead fans and yes even the aroma of the building hit me like I had just stepped into a time machine. I was amazed at the power of those senses as they were the same as the ones I remembered from the years of my youth. I don't know if that old store is still standing or not, but the memories of having lived during those days are as strong and clear as ever.

Grand Opening

    During the early 1950's, before I was born, my grandparents opened their own store. It was called appropriately enough, 'Bridgman's Dry Goods Store'. It was a wonderful place and they provided household goods, clothing, and other assorted types of merchandise. The first few years of my life I probably spent more time in that store than I did at home and it became a place of adventure for me. Way in the back corner, barely visible in the photo there is an old woodened box crank phone. 

We had one just like like it in our home and I do remember using it having to turn the crank. The building where their store stood is still there having been used by numerous other entities. But I remember it so fondly as the place where as a young boy I spent so much time running around inside that building. The store is long gone having faded into the past, but the memories of those times are as strong and meaningful as any I may still retain.

    Gone but not forgotten. Yeah, sometimes events, circumstances, and even time removes from us those things that at the time were most likely taken for granted. Memories are a wonder thing to hold on to for they connect us across time to events, places, people, and wonderful moments that become a living part of who we are. I am pleased to have captured as a photograph some of the things around me that are now gone, and I am thankful for the few images taken by others that capture the moments of my youth and even years before that that evolved toward the future and became intertwined into my life experiences.

Never Underestimate an Old Guy

CG44331 - David Stone Painting

 How many years has it been now...over fifty! That's how long ago it was when I spent a few of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life. I'm talking about the years I spent as a member of the United States Coast Guard. Most of that time I served at the Umpqua River Lifeboat Station located in the picturesque little coastal town of Winchester Bay, Oregon.

Serving at a unit like that one was considered some of the best duty you could have in the Coast Guard back then and probably is still considered so even today. They are unique, challenging, and elite operations requiring skills unlike any others required to be a part of that amazing branch of service.

At the time we operated with two of the most storied surfboats in the Guard; the CG44303 and the CG44331. We also used for a time one of the last remaining 36-footers, an old wooden hulled surfboat originally brought online during the 1920's. Our was the CG36498 which was commissioned I believed during the 1940's. 

Our mission was simple; to provide a measure of protection for the commercial and civilian fleet of boats that operated out of one of the most dangerous bar's on the west coast; The Umpqua River Bar. That bar possessed multiple personalities. At times, it was placid and calm offering pleasure craft's the opportunity to partake of the seasonal productive Salmon fishing opportunities.  But it could turn violent and mean where massive breakers formed across its width.

 These breakers could crush almost any vessel attempting to challenge its domain, and indeed it did several times during my tenure there. Countless other vessels had succumb to it's moods on numerous occasions over the years and a number of lives were lost as a result. There is a plaque in the harbor area listing the names of those lost over the years. Reading it certainly is a humbling moment. 

Our 44's were designed to tackle the conditions on this and other similar bars. They were by far the best surfboats in the world capable of handling heavy surf conditions upwards to twenty-five feet in size...and we often experienced conditions at or above those levels. They were self bailing, self righting, powerful boats with the agility of a quarter horse but with the strength and power of a Clydesdale. The were able to do a 360 degree roll in heavy surf and complete their mission. They were amazing boats and we all took pride, as did every unit, of the ones we were tasked to operate. 

47 Footer

Most if not all of them have been retired and decommissioned now replaced by the newer and equally capable 47- footers. Got to actually ride on one of those a few years back, and what a thrill it was to do so. 

As I have grown older, I have found myself remembering back through the years returning again and again to those most important days of my young adult life. Those were important days for me for many reasons, but it took the maturing of the years to finally understand just how important they were.

On The Umpqua River Bar

 When I spend time reflecting on those days and looking at the few photos I have from back then, I find myself falling into a kind of nostalgic trance almost wishing I could return again to experience the thrill of riding through the surf and feeling the spray of salt air on my face. Most people have no clue really what it was like and even less understanding of the impact of serving at a unit such as the one at Winchester Bay. But, that's okay, because if everyone had served there, then the uniqueness of the challenge just would not be the same.

Having done so...well...I can honestly say...'Never Underestimate an Old Guy who use to ride the surf on those old 44's for $400.00 a month...'

The Object or The Light

 The past couple of months I've taken somewhat of a break from photography only venturing out on short walk arounds taking simple snapshots of this or that. Basically photographing objects without thinking too much about what or how I approached the moment. Yesterday I took an hour or two and made a simple walk around outback eventually heading over to a pond where I knew dragonflies would most likely be swarming...and they were. Dragonflies are interesting subjects and can be difficult to photograph. They do have one tendency; they tend to return to the same resting spot time after time often providing you with good opportunities to capture their unique qualities. The trick is to find them in good light for that is when an ordinary object like a dragonfly can become an extraordinary subject. It's all about the light.

I've preached this concept for many years; It is less about the object and more about the light when it comes to capturing a good photograph. Most times when I am out and about, the light is what I seek first, and when I find it, I begin to look for a subject that will be enhanced because of the light. Most times it is the subtle situations that generate the boldest of opportunities. And, sometimes those bold opportunities only last for a fleeting few seconds before they dry up.

Light can be there and gone before you even get your camera focused. Training your eye to identify extraordinary light comes with practice and trial and error. I over the years have missed more shots than i have ever captured simply because I was too slow to react. The fleeting nature of quality light often produces a lot of frustrations in a nature photographer. Too many times I second guess myself right out of an opportunity. However, on those rare occasions when I guess right, seeing the moment, framing it, and capturing it, well...you just know it when it happens. 

The object does possess a certain importance of course; you have to have something to photograph. But it is light that truly turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Even a simple dragonfly can capture light in extraordinary ways. Having the patience to find it sometimes is what causes the hit or miss opportunity.