Ever feel as though you've run smack dab into a brick wall? Receiving a rejection for the third time, bam. Coming home from a full-time job to numerous loads of laundry, a sink full of dirty dishes, and a 30 minute dinner challenge, bam. Asking the kiddos to do the same task over and over and over again, bam. Stepping on the scales, bam.
I was having one of those weeks recently and really, was doing a most fabulous job of wallowing. I can be a very good wallower. But the longer I thought about the brick wall analogy, the more I started thinking about all the amazing brick walls in the little town that is now my home. I drive by them every day on my route to work. I think about all they've seen in the numerous years they've been standing. Many have been around since the 1850s.
Nick's General Merchandise was one of the first. Even though these vintage walls are still standing and most house some sort of business, only one structure remains that still serves its original purpose, the courthouse. Through the years, these brick walls have seen businesses come and go, people come and go, and ideas change and grow.
Amongst my wallowing, I decided to head out and spend some time doing one of my favorite things - taking some photos. And what more appropriate subject than my town's brick walls.
This particular brick wall setting instantly stood out to me because of the crumbling stucco and the white flowered weed growing out of what seems like nothing. It's almost as if someone hot glued the plant to the wall. This brick wall is the side of building that seems to have been numerous types of offices or small businesses throughout the years.
Our little town is built in what is considered a square formation. The courthouse sits in the center with the road encircling it. On each side of the courthouse - north, south, east, and west - a road branches away from the circle. The outer buildings form the center square of the town. The shot above is from one of the staple corner buildings on that square. I can't even count the number of times I've driven by it. But this picture day was the first time I actually noticed the word hotel perched toward the roof line. I guess I'm always focused on the sweet little soda shop down below that now inhabits this old hotel building. As I snapped away, I imagined hotel guests gazing out the high windows watching the activity below.
Yes, this looks like a boring brick wall, but I love, love, love the texture here. I'll admit this photo day wasn't the first time that I'd used this textured backdrop. It made the perfect pair to my skater son during a shoot I did with him about a year ago.
Among all the brick walls I photographed in my little town, the next shot was my favorite. I think is was the pairing of the 150 year old brick with the electricity boxes. Pairing the two together just created a little vignette of new and old, modern and vintage. Maybe it's because that's my style; I like the eclectic mix.
After completing my tour de brick, I must say that I felt much better. Not sure what it is about being behind the lens that often changes my perspective. Maybe it's just that it gives me solitary time to think - to think about just how much those earlier bams are really blessings.
This last shot pretty much sums it up for me. When I saw this portion of a brick wall in my town, it seemed like someone had painted it specifically to hold some type of information or quote. I found one that I thought fit perfectly. Bam!
