Phone Box

[Bill Brown]

They took the phone away and left the box, so it's now officially just a box!

You're sticking with it all the way to the end. Whenever that is and whatever that looks like. I hope you can document the final removal. That would complete the circle.


10 shot panoramic shot with Canon F1-n & 35mm T&S on Fuji Velvia 50

I documented the demolition of a local sports arena, Reunion Arena, over a sixteen month time frame back in 2009-2010. I had photographed the arena when it was new in 1981 so I just kept the story going by photographing the demo. As the final ending approached I set a day to go by and take my final images. Something came up and I had to postpone. When I did get there a small crew of four with a Bobcat, a small loader, was picking up the final bits. I hung around documenting the final moments. They loaded the Bobcat in a dumpster and loaded the dumpster on a trailer. They started to pull away and at that moment the dumpster truck blew a hydraulic line. As I stood there waiting in the 100 degree heat to get my final shots the delay gave me the opportunity to chat with and photograph the workers.

An hour and a half later they reloaded the Bobcat in the dumpster and drove away. If I had gone when originally planned none of this would have happened. If you ever have about twenty minutes to spare here is the link to my photo story of that experience: https://emulsive.org/articles/proje...t-thoughts-and-other-musings-by-william-brown

I'm anxious to see what happens.
The last photo with the two arenas is the biggest surprise that came from this project. I didn't know the top image even existed. I had a contact sheet printed back in 1981 and had never looked at the negs in the sleeve. This image was never part of the contact sheet! To think that I would shoot almost the exact same shot 28 years apart. One from ground level and one from the elevated Houston St. Bridge.

 

[Chris Bennett]

You're sticking with it all the way to the end. Whenever that is and whatever that looks like. I hope you can document the final removal. That would complete the circle.

View attachment 23102
10 shot panoramic shot with Canon F1-n & 35mm T&S on Fuji Velvia 50

I documented the demolition of a local sports arena, Reunion Arena, over a sixteen month time frame back in 2009-2010. I had photographed the arena when it was new in 1981 so I just kept the story going by photographing the demo. As the final ending approached I set a day to go by and take my final images. Something came up and I had to postpone. When I did get there a small crew of four with a Bobcat, a small loader, was picking up the final bits. I hung around documenting the final moments. They loaded the Bobcat in a dumpster and loaded the dumpster on a trailer. They started to pull away and at that moment the dumpster truck blew a hydraulic line. As I stood there waiting in the 100 degree heat to get my final shots the delay gave me the opportunity to chat with and photograph the workers.

An hour and a half later they reloaded the Bobcat in the dumpster and drove away. If I had gone when originally planned none of this would have happened. If you ever have about twenty minutes to spare here is the link to my photo story of that experience: https://emulsive.org/articles/proje...t-thoughts-and-other-musings-by-william-brown

I'm anxious to see what happens.
View attachment 23103 View attachment 23104 The last photo with the two arenas is the biggest surprise that came from this project. I didn't know the top image even existed. I had a contact sheet printed back in 1981 and had never looked at the negs in the sleeve. This image was never part of the contact sheet! To think that I would shoot almost the exact same shot 28 years apart. One from ground level and one from the elevated Houston St. Bridge.

Thanks Bill. That's a really inspiring read and I have shared it with several friends, because you have captured the words that I have been failing to convey to them about projects! Really interesting and what a great subject!!

 

[Bill Brown]

Really interesting and what a great subject!!

Thanks Chris! That means a lot to me to hear you say that. Thanks for sharing it also. On a more recent note this property is about to begin a new multi-use development so I went by and shot a pano from the same location as 2010. This will start a new chapter in this unfolding story.

As 2028 approaches, marking the 50 year anniversary since I began my Dallas project, I'm hoping to have an exhibition and book of some kind. There's nothing in the works yet but I've already completed an initial edit of my images and printed about 500 5x7 proofs. Man is it ever going to be hard to narrow down to 25-30 images for an exhibition! I'm also hoping to connect with the Dallas Historical Society. My archive is broad and eclectic but about 99% film based. Not that it matters but film is definitely an extension of who I am as an analog person.

Here's one of the b&w images from 1978 marking the beginning of this project. The boys name was Michael and he was visiting his grandparents over summer vacation. His grandfather designed, built and painted the signage. I lived just a street over from here. This area is Oak Cliff, Texas which is a south Dallas suburb. A photo from this series was printed in a local newspaper, The Oak Cliff Tribune, and marks my first time to have work published. Thanks again for your kind words. The Canon FTb that I used to shoot this photo is still part of my kit.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

You're sticking with it all the way to the end. Whenever that is and whatever that looks like. I hope you can document the final removal. That would complete the circle.

View attachment 23102
10 shot panoramic shot with Canon F1-n & 35mm T&S on Fuji Velvia 50

I documented the demolition of a local sports arena, Reunion Arena, over a sixteen month time frame back in 2009-2010. I had photographed the arena when it was new in 1981 so I just kept the story going by photographing the demo. As the final ending approached I set a day to go by and take my final images. Something came up and I had to postpone. When I did get there a small crew of four with a Bobcat, a small loader, was picking up the final bits. I hung around documenting the final moments. They loaded the Bobcat in a dumpster and loaded the dumpster on a trailer. They started to pull away and at that moment the dumpster truck blew a hydraulic line. As I stood there waiting in the 100 degree heat to get my final shots the delay gave me the opportunity to chat with and photograph the workers.

An hour and a half later they reloaded the Bobcat in the dumpster and drove away. If I had gone when originally planned none of this would have happened. If you ever have about twenty minutes to spare here is the link to my photo story of that experience: https://emulsive.org/articles/proje...t-thoughts-and-other-musings-by-william-brown

I'm anxious to see what happens.
View attachment 23103 View attachment 23104 The last photo with the two arenas is the biggest surprise that came from this project. I didn't know the top image even existed. I had a contact sheet printed back in 1981 and had never looked at the negs in the sleeve. This image was never part of the contact sheet! To think that I would shoot almost the exact same shot 28 years apart. One from ground level and one from the elevated Houston St. Bridge.

I still have to finish reading the article, @Bill Brown, but the photos alone are absolutely stunning - each one more beautiful than the last. I’m sure your thoughts on managing a personal project will be just as inspiring.

 

[Bill Brown]

I still have to finish reading the article, @Bill Brown, but the photos alone are absolutely stunning - each one more beautiful than the last. I’m sure your thoughts on managing a personal project will be just as inspiring.

Gianluca, I really appreciate your kind words. I spent months writing that story. The final photo edit was difficult because I had so many others that I loved. I shot numerous photos of the skyline from that location, south of downtown, and they are now historical documents. A new hotel, the Omni Dallas Hotel, was built and now blocks that view of the city. This shooting location, shown here in this two shot composite, is gone because the highway interchange was completely redone over the following years.