The Green Malibu
A wrecked and damaged Malibu takes on new life in this metaphorical double exposure by Scott Edwards.
l’m an artist at heart and a tad obsessive. My latest obsession is a choice between two film cameras. The Mamiya C330 and the Mamiya RB67. I just love the images that some photographers (not all) achieve with those cameras. (My choice is still pending. The obsession unresolved.)
After six years as a “professional photographer,” (quotation marks used to mark hesitancy and suggest humility) I’ve reached the point that I better understand that the writer or artist should and must do the things that inspire him or her. If buying a 40-to-50-year-old camera helps inspire, then by all means, act!
This principle should apply to your field or fields of choice. There, you are free to act!
Despair and repair
I’ve found a location in southwest Houston where cars go to die or be reborn. It’s a rough place.
I’ve shot there now twice. Once briefly at night. Once briefly by day.
While I was shooting, a man in a nearby truck literally asked me if I knew how dangerous this place was. I know it reads well but I’m not making it up. He literally said, “Sir, this is not a safe place. There are killings and drugs.” Under such circumstances, it’s hard to tell yourself to relax and focus.
Anyway, there are lots of fences, interesting buildings, some barbed wire, some guard dogs, some stray dogs, a bunch of stray cars, lonely streets, and fences of all kinds (some that hide, some that share). There are questioning looks by passers by. Some shops look well managed and others are in disarray or full ruin. There’s double the fun when all you see is squalor and decay.
The reason I began this post noting subject matter obsession and freedom to act is because some of the images I’ve taken there are pretty good while others are just ok. The ones at night really required a tripod but the vibe I was getting just didn’t encourage me to park and set up a tripod.
So anyway, I was working on these images and then felt the freedom to see if I could combine them and make them better. In my view, perhaps better but definitely more interesting.
What’s the story? How’d it happen? You can only wonder. The images were taken with a Fujifilm GFX 100s, which offers spectacular details. Here’s a closer look.
I think this image can tell many stories. I hope you like it!
An offer
If interested in securing a print or piece of art, I’m offering a limited edition run of 20 copies, regardless of what medium (fine art print, canvas, metal, acrylic) is selected. Or you can pick up a cool t-shirt or tank top with the same art and customize it to your liking. To take a look, here's the link!
You'll find the link to Green Malibu here.
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