Old things often hold a special fascination for us for reasons that I can’t honestly say I understand. There is a certain romanticism associated with history, of history as we like to imagine it. There is also a certain starkness and tension associated with images of dilapidated buildings, whether in an urban or rural context.Perhaps they speak to a certain primal fear, reminding us not only of how fleeting human creations are, but even of our own mortality. I believe they also give us a certain sense of connectedness with the people who created them.
I lived and worked in San Francisco, CA for some ten years, and most of my photography from that time is black and white, and my subjects were often street scenes, old buildings, trains and more. I’m not sure I fully understand the appeal of black and white: there is the Ansel Adams factor, of course. But the medium conveys a certain starkness, or even somber mood. It also seems a good match to urban environment.
There are times when black and white (or, in this case, sepia) seem to work best for old structures in a rural environment. One obvious factor here is that old photographs were black and white, because that was the technology available at the time, and so the medium adds to the feel of age. But I don’t think that’s all. The building above is old and in a state of disrepair. So a stark mood I entirely appropriate.
There are times, though, when color is essential. This image is a construction crane as seen from a thirteenth story window in Oakland, CA.
Here, the color contrast, in addition to the point of view, of course, is the whole point. I felt very fortunate to be able to watch this building coming up from my cubicle window, and could hardly pass up taking this photograph. Yes, color can be essential in urban photography.
Sagebrush and Cedar 