Some Things Don't Much Change

"Cigarettes" (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T4; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 18mm; 1/80th sec. @ f/16; ISO 160

I've driven past this old red barn with the "CIGARETTES" advertisement painted on its side literally hundreds of times over the past 48 years.  I'm sure something about it has changed but it looks exactly the same year after year.  The old barn sits alone, about 20 ft. off the roadway, so the advertisement is very prominent.  When driving by, it is impossible to miss seeing it.  I don't think the barn has ever been painted in all those years.  It still stands strong.

Near this old structure is a store.  I believe the store is on the same parcel of property.  I'm sure the original store sold cigarettes and, as the store and barn are located on a main north/south secondary road, U.S. Route 17, in a relatively rural county with low taxes, purchasing cigarettes here was less expensive than in nearby cities with higher tax rates.  But times change.

Over the years several different stores have occupied the building.  The building's current establishment doesn't sell cigarettes, gasoline, food or any other of those types of articles.  Yet the barn and advertisement stands.

As I was driving by the other day, it hit me that I've never photographed the old red barn even though I think about doing so each time I pass.  So, I stopped and made a variety of images with a variety of compositions.  After looking at my images, I don't think I've captured it in a way that represents it properly.  I think I'll go back on a nice day with blue sky and cumulus clouds and make some images from across the divided highway using a relatively slow shutter speed to reflect the fact that the advertisement is on a main thoroughfare.  I'll make some images with cars or trucks blurred as they speed by as well as some without vehicular traffic.

I've repeatedly said in this blog that if you see something that interests you stop and photograph it right then as it always seems to have changed if you go back.  Going back at a later date will not have the same light as well as other physical changes can occur.  Well, I think this particular scene may be the exception to that rule.

Will I keep an eye on it and re-photograph it if something interesting about it changes?   Absolutely.  I'll probably photograph it several times in the future even if nothing about it changes.  It is a unique sight and worthy of a photo now and then.  I always have my eyes open to interesting compositions whenever I'm out and about.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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