Thursday, August 11, 2011

Photo Shootout - Rusty

Yes, I agree with myself as I walk into the B&B studio for the weekly shoot, my photography skills are becoming a little bit rusty.

BUTLER:  "Of course you agree with yourself.  How can you not agree with yourself?"

"I do it all the time," I protest.  "I argue with myself constantly."

BUTLER:  "Sure.  But you agree with yourself that you don't know something and are debating about it.  So it may seem like you are disagreeing with yourself but you are really agreeing that you are confused."

And I thought this was going to be easy.   Rust, rust, beautiful rust....



I was even thinking of dressing up like the Tin Woodsman of Oz who was immobile with rust until Dorothy came along.  And I figured that Bagman and Butler could dress up like the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow.

BUTLER:  "My colleague, Bagman would make a good Scarecrow.  After all, he does lack a brain."

BAGMAN:  "I got a brain!  I just use it on more interesting stuff than you!"

Nobody responds.  I look around and decide that all three of us are probably tired.   The economy and the hot weather seem to be doing that to us.   Maybe my sense of humor is getting rusty as well.  I guess I'll just post some pictures.  


Fixture in a jail cell at Alcatraz

BAGMAN:  "I'll be a lot guys got rusty in there back before it became a tourist attraction."



BUTLER:  "Is that rust or paint?"

"I don't know.  I can't agree with myself on the answer.  I just shot it and posted it."

BUTLER:  "This shoot is making me very uncomfortable.  I'm going to go and get my cleaning supplies and see if I can get rid of some of that rust.   Rust is indicative of very sloppy maintenance practices."

The old steel factory in nearby Georgetown

A rusty water bird


A rusty crane that I found abandonned in Myrtle Beach


And here is a sign inside the cabin of the crane.  Apparently someone at the Bucyrus Heavy Equipment manufacturing company had precognition.  

BAGMAN (beginning to sing):  "Rust on, Bucyrus, rust on!  Abandonned in the rain.  You've got nothing more to gain.  So rust on, Bucyrus, rust on!"

Is that all there is, I think morosely.  I'm not really very satisfied with this week's shoot.  As I shuffle out of the B&B studio, I pass Butler coming back in with cleaning supplies. 

BUTLER: "Have you seen my Brillo pads?"

I ignore him.










 

24 comments:

  1. the decay, the details, the funk.........you take the prize, Mark.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hehe you got me laugh again. And I think who ever put this name has a premonition that somehow this crane will appear on the whole wide world. ^_^ Great post!!

    Rust,rusty,rustic

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful job as usual. I never remember to get close up and focus on the best part.
    QMM

    ReplyDelete
  4. A great selection. I'm glad the Alcatraz shot was from the tourist era and not the old days!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What is that second thing? It looks almost alive! Love the crusty, rusty Alcatraz shot. Sometimes I think I am too busy being amused and entertained to appreciate your photography.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You certainly found so much rust in your town!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pauline, my guess is that the second "thing" is a spec of rust on a car, just above a wheel.

    I found rust always somewhat scary. When I was a kid, I remember how hard it was to get it off my skin when I had picked up some interesting-looking bit of rusty metal, and my mum warned me not to pick up such stuff again because I could cut myself and get blood poisoning from the dirt and rust.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That first photo, if you were in New Zealand , i will say it is no rust but some SPLIAT!!!!! from our giant wood pigeon on your windscreen. There was a great mystery that houses were bombed by a flying plane. Then people came out and said they had been SPLIAT on.

    ReplyDelete
  9. bring on the brillo pads, you have lots of rusty here. i like the rusty bird and i am sure Alcatraz has mucho rusty

    ReplyDelete
  10. It is fun to guess some of your photos, what actually they are...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really like that first photo a lot however, the ones from alcatraz are great too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm with Ann on that second image. Looks like gull dung with an artsy flare.

    Awesome shots of rusty crap. Really loved that Ruston Bucyrus shot. Sweet capture.

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOVE!! As always you do not disappoint. The shots, the poetry..the..ok I agree with everyone else...you rock!!! Or should I say you guys rock? Loved the last one:)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hahaha! Love the macro shots. they make me think I should go out and take some...

    ReplyDelete
  15. I lurrrvve rusty, abandoned things. And hey- Bucyrus is in my neck of the woods. Kinda. Love your stuff, as always. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think you have a GREAT post this week! Only YOU would include rust from Alcatraz. ;))

    ReplyDelete
  17. Niiiice: "Rust on Bucyrus" How perfect was that? And "Dead End" is super cool. What an eye you have.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Really like your displays of rust, Mark! The second one looks like a splatter of bird poo, I wonder what made that spot such as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love it when you can polish all that rust away. I think I did it. Keep your fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Some very telling images here. And if I thought the first one was a broken egg, what the hell? It's a superb picture, as they all are. Thanks for this particular collection.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I want to go on a rust-shooting photo tour with you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love your rust collection! Nice to see things that are old and oxidized can still be beautiful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. The fascinating thing about rust is that it can look either awful or artful depending on the context.

    ReplyDelete
  24. great choices Mark! Alcatraz, I bet that was a little scary to go through.

    ReplyDelete