Small Town Photo Noirs: Neon and Night
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It's another world at night.
I took these photos on a small town Friday night--which actually can be a little scary in this neck of the woods. Cities might seem crazier, and in parts of town they undoubtedly are--but hey, this is the only place I've lived where two men in a fit of road rage tumbled out of their double cab pick ups, one with a pick axe, one with a rifle, and proceded to duel-Old West style. True story. Few months back.
The one guy was shot dead while he prepared to brandish the axe. Don't think the other guy was charged. "Self defense," after all. That's respected in these here parts.
Still, I've never been scared to walk around at night, so I don't let this place scare me either. I actually like the block-or-two-long downtown of the hamlet where we live. It very much, actually, reminds me of Brooklyn. Maybe because there is the coolest 99 cent store with all the weird kosher and import foods I got used to seeing in the dollar stores in my Brooklyn neighborhood. Maybe because there are also just enough decent ethnic restaurants and cute shops to make it interesting. (Of course, then there is the Country 'N' Feed store, and the Drive Thru Liquor & Archery store--where --what, you can get your six pack and all your archery needs taken care of by convenient drive thru window? Lotsa need for that, I'll bet. The mind boggles at the utilitarian concept.)
Be that as it may, visually, any town with lights is a different place at night. Any glow becomes something you are visually drawn to. Everything takes on a mysterious, if not 'noir' quality, with shapes exagerated. I've always loved neon signs, for some reason--maybe for the same reason I like fireplaces at night or white Christmas lights. There is something warm about them, that draws you in.
On taking photos in the dark:
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Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques
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The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography
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Night and Low-Light Photography: Professional Techniques from Experts for Artistic and Commercial Success
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The Complete Guide to Digital Night and Low-Light Photography
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Night Photography
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Digital Night and Low-Light Photography
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Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration
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![The Complete Guide to Night & Lowlight Digital Photography [COMP GT NIGHT & LOWLIGHT D]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JpqLzlD4L._SL75_.jpg)
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The Complete Guide to Night & Lowlight Digital Photography [COMP GT NIGHT & LOWLIGHT D]
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Comments
Thanks, Russ. Yes, the story I told is true!
AZ can be cool at the right moments
Hey Lita! These totally remind me of a tour we took in Albuquerque at night! I dig the dinner shot, I've got to wonder at the Open neon, it looks everything but! Very cool photos!
I loved how the Shell station looked totally encapsulated by the night, an oasis; and the coin laundry had a visitor. . .
GT--You've got that right. Some times you have to look hard, though. I'm sure you know!
Elena--You've changed! You are no longer blue. (Nice change.) I'm afraid our hamlet nowhere near compares to Albuquerque, or God forbid, Santa Fe, my partner's favorite place. But, yes, they are trying with the white lights here. Gotta give them credit. Thanks for liking the photos.
Teresa--Yes, one visitor. Reminding me of "Night Hawks" there. And if I could think of this other artist's name who does the truck stops and things on the highway. ! Really excellent stuff. But yes, that is what I saw with the Shell station, too. Thanks!
Hello, again, Lita -- Image change is today only, Sunday special! Back to Ms Blue tomorrow morning! :-) There is this little bit of Route 66 in Albuquerque full of neons, but still kinda darkish. Was very much reminded of it. And yes, I loved the photos. By now I think it's common knowledge 'round here that I am partial to photography :-)
Well, I officially have not been there, :) (to Albuquerque), so I will take your word for it. I need a few days off, lol! Soon! You must be fond of that blue screen, huh?
Lita, love your photos! The Shell station and the laundromat especially. What a great eye you have!
Elena, how's the view from your terrace at night?
Thanks, Jama, for coming by to look. I'm working on the eye & the photo editing. :)
Hey there, Lita: I am quite fond of my Ms Clue image indeed. I can't figure out where I put it, so I'm still featuring this silly look! Laugh!
Jama, the view at night is spectacular -- You've seen some moon shorts, I don't have many others because panoramics at night really require special exposition, a tripod and what not, but trust me when I say the views are.... AHHHHH, fabulous! :-)
Oh, Elena... You are also a photographer--I did see, but rather quickly. Will visit longer soon, :)
nighttime can really be enslaving in a sense. there's no escaping the dark. The images speak of loneliness which you cannot totally relate to as they seem detached, almost without feelings. Thanks for sharing your art Lita :D
I'm suprise you haven't caught a ghost yet!?
Those pictures remind me of a scary empty ghost town. You did good on adding the suspense and hidden clues.
Your nightime photos are really fun to look at.
The lantern photo could easily become a UFO had it no frills.
The Inn photo is my favorite. Looks as if one could get cozyily inned.
Thanks, Newsworthy. Yeah, UFO or jellyfish. The whole night scene was reminding me of astronomy, truly.. Yes, that inn is cute night or day. Mexican restaurant, Casa Antigua, on the bottom.
Chris A.--Yeah! Nighttime is weird. In some ways, I feel like night in a natural place is more intimate, but in a town/city--especially vacant, definitely the feeling of loneliness. Hey, 'Noirishness' is a natural for some of us. :)
May! Lots of ghost towns in AZ. Lots and lots. What a great idea to do for a hub. Thanks.
Number four is really excellent. Doesn't feel like a photograph. I like it very much.
Would you mind if I copy it and ad it to my photos folder?
CWB-- No, go ahead. You mean the jellyfish, :)
No, the arches. Thanks very much.
Russ Baleson said it best. Stephen King all the way! Mighty fine Lita, mighty fine hub.
Lol, RK... You must mean my little story. Well, it's true. There are a few more. Never seen some things anywhere before I could relate. It so weird, sometimes! The politicking--NYC has nothing on them, I'll say that. Thanks for visiting!
Lita, great come back. You cracked me up.
"The one guy was shot dead while he prepared to brandish the axe. Don't think the other guy was charged. "Self defense," after all. That's respected in these here parts."
Yep, sounds like responsible gun ownership on his part. If only he hadn't have had to use it.
This was cool, wish I had someone like this that routinely brought this kinda thing when I ran my art group..but alas, I too live in a small town.
What kind of camera?
Digital Canon--medium expensive. It's my boyfriend's. It's OK. I want a REAL one that isn't so point and click... But I do most of my editing in Photoshop, so not that big a travesty.
I think I read you are in your early 20's. You could go to L.A. or San Francisco...or go to school. OR! Try the internet, :). lol Thanks for stopping here, GM.
You mean like a Digital Rebel? I sold digital cameras for three years...it was fun, and I've still got waaaay too much of that crap floating around my general conscious.
Thanks for the push to edumacation. I'm trying to make it here on HubPages, actually..but I'll go to a higher institution of learning at some point, I'm sure.
Once this "little" economy issue is straightened out. If its not..well, I won't have a job to get with my new Degree in Knowing Stuff.
No. For real. Edumacation is good--I'd never discourage it and am happy I did what I did, despite owing sooooo much in student loans. But if you have the chops for it, you could do it on your own--LA or where ever. One thing I've figured out is that sometimes people who do it on their own have much less fear of failure--they just beleive in themselves and don't compare. One shocking thing that I've found is that some of the stuff I wrote at 18 that was just killed in higher education writer's workshops is NOW being published. True story. So....all I'm saying is think about what is best for you.
I sincerely thank you for your comments and will consider them.
You're right about things that were "picked apart" by higher education being published; teachers are often blind to the "status quo" and don't understand the difference between "novel" and "done poorly."
Fantastic photos. Cozy lights but so desolate, abandoned, eerie. Like there should be someone there but there isn't. I think the laundrymat is the only one with anything alive, and that's just one bent over person. Enjoyed the intro very much as well. Thanks for putting this together and sharing!
Thanks, Frieda--yeah, small towns are eerie at night. I had to get used to it. Seriously--I've never seen a place so dark (they have this dark skies ordinance...not to mention a serious lack of sidewalks in some places.) Thanks for coming by to take a look. :)
Russ Baleson says:
8 months ago
Hi Lita, Thank you, it reminds me of the way Stephen King describes a small town. Pictures tell a great story. Russ