Essence is defined as “the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something,
esp. something abstract, that determines its character.”
While at the Miksang contemplative photography workshop last summer, we spent a day exploring the “essence” of concrete, which I wrote about here.
It was a fun, interesting and difficult exercise because we are not used to spending our time looking at concrete. Boredom can easily set in, yet if we continue to look, we gain a new appreciation for the ground beneath our feet. Let’s face it, we spend a lot of time walking on concrete.
I have always had a fascination with the intricate nature of weathered walls, as well as doors and windows. Now, roads (of whatever materials) catch my eye too.
Here are some examples of roads and walls in the context of urban decay. See the intricacy, the texture, the beauty of aging.
Walls
Roads
Take a closer look at the roads beneath you and the walls beside you this week.
For more urban decay, see part two on Wabi-sabi and Wood and part one on Rust.
This is so funny as I spent a whole day last week taking pictures of abandoned buildings. I even took a cool picture of an abandoned station where I think cars/trucks had to go through some kind of inspection. There was the word Stop written on the cement 🙂 Besides getting the picture, I loved trying to figure out what the places used to look like.
There are quite a few of us who love urban decay, aren’t there, Kathy?
I “felt” the description of your response when you were asked to photograph concrete. But, you did a marvelous job. You perked up my perceptual being as I viewed your images.
An exercise I love to do often is head out the door for “anonymous places”. With no idea where I’m going, I just go. But, my awareness level is set at very high and my camera is at my side. No specific assignment. Just going wherever the day leads me and capturing images only when my perceptual senses tell me there is a connection. I have my summers free so I usually do this all summer long. This year, I’ll be all over the Western USA simply letting my perceptual senses define where I’m going and what I’m doing. This is my idea of contemplative freedom. I’ve called it “shunpiking”.
Kim – I am really enjoying this series on urban decay – such a rich subject. And your image examples are so very beautiful, capturing that often unseen beauty in the decaying world around us.