Capturing Images Of Things That Are Going Away

The Joyce B (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 lens @ 8mm; 1/750th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

One of the things I enjoy most when wandering around looking for images is to photograph those things in America that are quickly disappearing.  Once gone, they will be gone forever. I feel that I would like to do my small part in recording them for historical reasons.  For example, old truss bridges, old barns, old industries, old ornate and architecturally significant buildings, cars from long ago, old locomotives, highway signs, etc.  You get it; the things that were prevalent many, many years ago but only a few may survive to this day.

While out yesterday wandering around the Northern Neck of Virginia (the Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas that jut into the western side of the Chesapeake Bay), by chance I saw an old and very small marine railway operation.  Even better, there was a fishing boat pulled up on the tracks and crossties being repaired.  This is exactly the kind of thing I love finding.

E-M1, 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens @ 22mm; 1/350th sec. @ f/8; ISO 200 (click to enlarge)

From talking to a man I met next door, the owner is an older gentleman who is getting ready to retire and will probably shut his operation down. I don't think one can make much money working on one boat at a time when compared to modern shipyards and all the automated equipment they use.

This particular marine railway was powered by a hand crank (see top image) and a thick steel cable.  No motors or winches to pull the boats up and out of the water.  Human power and back breaking work!

What a terrific find. Serendipity, as I like to say. Finding this made my day.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis Mook 

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