The city center of Martinsville, Virginia offers many photo opportunities to me, regardless of its small size. I think it’s representative of how much architectural history still remains in small town America.
Small City Architecture
Category: Architecture
Wide View of Architecture
I really enjoy making photos with my Fujifilm 16mm lens. That was especially true on a recent photo walk in downtown Martinsville, Virginia where we live.
This Old House
Unexpected discoveries like this old house always make my day. The surprising thing was its location. It was less than five miles from where I live and right behind a grocery market I frequently drive by.
Classic Design
We can see throughout small town America today many examples of classic design utilized in structures built early in the 20th Century. Here are two examples.
Small Town Pride
I enjoy making photos of small towns located in rural areas. I’m always on the lookout for compositions which show evidence of “pride” in living there.
A Small Country Church
As I was driving along a rural highway close to home, I happened to glance behind a popular local food market I pass frequently and saw a small church I’d never spotted before. I stopped and found this nice photo opportunity.
What made it special to me was the brightly painted mailbox out front. I’m not sure if church services are still held inside, but the building itself is reasonably well maintained to make that possible. This proves my belief that we photographers always need to keep an open eye to our surroundings, there is much to be discovered.
Contrast
You got to love Black and White. Many of us began that way on film. Much easier today with digital.
From Fields to Church
There is an Episcopal Church in Eden, NC near where we live that was built in 1926, with the help of members of the congregation who tirelessly gathered thousands of rocks from nearby farmers field’s to serve as the foundation for exterior and interior walls. That’s amazing dedication toward a spiritual purpose.
The architectural style brings back memories of my travels during several visits to the United Kingdom during the 1980’s. I’ve said it before, there is no doubt I’d have been a happy resident living there permanently, had my life turned out that way. The Eden Rock Church so close to home makes me realize that even more.
Strange Houses
I did a double-take as I drove by this house in Eden, NC recently. There was no question I needed some photos. Why was an apparent long vacant house painted bright red? Perhaps only to attract attention, which in my case worked.
Later on I saw another “interesting” house, also vacant. This time in blue complete with an American Flag on display, with an over-stuffed sofa sitting on the front porch. Another strange photo opportunity.
