One of my inspirations, or perhaps motivations, for this photo series and project is that Coney Island is changing and much of its physical history is disappearing. In fact, from what I have read, much of it is already gone. There is substantial controversy about the area’s redevelopment, and to the extent there might be shady dealings, cronyism or political favoritisim, I’m certainly against that. Frankly it was hard to tell from the research I did. I saw lots of allegations with little detail. They might be true but I just cannot tell based on what I have read so far.
But apart from that, I am not inherently opposed to change. I can live with redevelopment even if it destroys something old and cherished. Some of our favorite photographs are of things that are gone, and people who are out of our lives, sometimes because of death, or maybe they just got older and the child they were in the photograph is but a memory. We cannot landmark and preserve everything, or even most things. Life is to be lived now and in the future.
This photograph of the Coney Island boardwalk was taken with a Contax G2 camera on Kodak Gold Max 400 film.
Andrew - The Unframed World
13 Feb 2012This photo has a great feeling to it and I like that you shot the building straight on. There’s a bit of magenta and noise in the sky, but it sort of fits the style.
~Andrew
Andrew – The Unframed World recently posted..Photo Find: Italy’s Best Abandoned Buildings
Jim Denham
13 Feb 2012Really like the colors in the image Mark. It really is interesting to see all of the business of the background elements surrounding the closed up building and the silent boardwalk. Good stuff!
Jim Denham recently posted..Leaning Tower of Decatur
Mark Neal
13 Feb 2012Like how your foreground elements lead to middle and background. Nice shot, Mark.
Mark Neal recently posted..The Grills of Great Britain
Sabinna
13 Feb 2012Awesome shot! This is the best I have seen…
Chris Robins
13 Feb 2012i really like the austerity of this shot. a fine winter’s day, great job.
Chris Robins recently posted..Koln: Krazy Tracks & Wires
Mike Criswell
14 Feb 2012Great shot Mark, very nostalgic feel, looking forward to the rest of the series
Mike Criswell recently posted..Clear for Takeoff
Viveca Koh
14 Feb 2012I like the chilly, out-of-season-ness feeling about this photograph, so different from when I was there in September 2009. Please tell me that this is Paul’s Daughter’s Winter incarnation, and that they haven’t closed down for good? Paul was lovely to me, gave me a free hotdog on my birthday – here he is with it 🙂
http://vivecakohphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Portraits-Black-White/G0000yI91w.lH3eU/I0000qavWYy.MkYQ
Mark
14 Feb 2012Hi Viveca. That’s a great portrait. And your comment provides a great launch point for my next post, which should be up in the next hour. Bottom line, I don’t think this facility is closed, but I’m not sure.
Rene Schweigert
21 Nov 2012I really like the composition, you can really feel how busy it was. The colours are also great.