First off, I hope everyone is well and has some relaxing quality time planned for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!
We have been lucky here in California to have a mild Fall, and I had been itching to get out, take a drive somewhere new, and start working on some new images. A few weeks back, I cut out early on a Friday afternoon and drove north on Hwy 70 with no particular destination in mind. I ended up in a rural, unmarked town named Trowbridge, CA.
My first significant stop put me alongside the frontage road contemplating ten empty grain silos in a circular formation. My first thought was that I was wasting time here, and this location was too dull of a scene to capture. I almost pulled away in my truck and, at the last minute, decided to turn off the ignition, hop out, and give the scene a quick look. After crossing the street and framing up some mock shots, I returned to the truck and grabbed my camera. I figured that worst-case scenario; I might as well get warmed up out here even if nothing good comes of it.
I spent the better part of two hours working the scene, and as the late afternoon shadows expanded, so did the photographic opportunities. The worn corrugated metal and heavy contrasty shadows offered a nice challenge. It was the perfect time to lean into new artistic framing and interesting angles I usually wouldn't have pursued.
As I finished shooting the interior of the ten empty Silos, I made my way 360 degrees around the outer portion to collect a few more angles. Before I left, I grabbed some of the coexisting nature on the property as well.
This location stop was one of those times where I could have just pulled away in my truck and never looked back, and needless to say, I'm sure glad I didn’t. I wanted to share a few of my favorite frames from this outing and remind everyone to get out there and explore. Why? Because when you least expect it, you may find exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Remember - "There are no uninteresting things, only uninterested people." (G.K. Chesterton)
Cheers,
Benjamin Fargen
Gear used on location:
Camera: Leica SL2-S + 50mm Summicron
Lightroom: B+W conversion and editing
Great to find beauty in the mundane and find inspiration in unexpected places. Lots of great images, I love the sun shining through the silo image.