Thursday, November 6, 2014

Afternoon Light

As a custom, my camera usually doesn't accompany me when I travel to a restroom, but on this day it did. I was alone, waiting to pick up Elenka, and found myself in Coffee By Design on Congress Street. Now usually, java and I don't have a clandestine meeting mid-afternoon these days, but there was time to kill and daily and some weekly papers to get caught up on. It's a grievous sin I enjoy taking in when I'm able. After about 30 minutes or so, a glance at my timepiece indicated I must be on my way. I needed to use the facilities though, so I threw my backpack over my shoulder, got the key from the barista and headed in. I must be perfectly honest at this point. This was not the first time I have photographed a bathroom and posted images of them. I have caught pictures of the Press Herald on a rusted restroom floor, flashed urinals and have even documented the smallest mens' room in the city. However, this morning is the first time I'm coming clean. That was a bad pun, but I digress. So here we see some 3 PM sun waning its way through a oblong, frosted window. Believe it or not, the dappled rays were wonderfully lighting the small room. Photographs are where you find them. Sometimes, it's a dirty job.
My images most often are not triggered by setups or meticulous timing.
I see it.
There it is.
It's my world.
Bang!

23 comments:

  1. With those locks it looks like a pretty secure window and facility. But a key to get into the restroom?

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    1. I think it deters the riff raff? That's my theory.

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  2. I love those old latches on the window. Well, you never know where or when you need to take a photo.

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  3. ha, i've taken photos in restrooms too ;) one that comes to mind as a favorite is a downtown pizza joint in an OLD brick building...i remember taking pictures in the restroom...i'll have to go back and check what i have...maybe that will be my post for tomorrow...i know you'll be losing sleep over this one! enjoy that ice cream...shhhh

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  4. okay, forgive me, but as i read this... "I have caught pictures of the Press Herald on a rusted restroom floor, flashed urinals and have even documented the smallest mens' "

    and the line ended right there, i thought you were going to say a part of anatomy. :)

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  5. I hope you washed your hands before you took that picture! :-) About 12 years ago when I took my dad on a trip to London, we were having lunch in a restaurant/pub located on the ground floor of an office building. Dad went to use the facilities and when he returned he said "give me your camera, I've got to take a picture of that restroom". He was fascinated by the vast array of exposed pipes that were arranged along one wall. It was an interesting shot.

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  6. I like it! I'm afraid to take my camera in the bathroom because I might accidentally drop it somewhere and not be able to retrieve it if you know what I mean.

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  7. This is a thing I have never done, but I may follow your example...

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  8. Lovely, misty light & color can be anywhere, right? Glad you shoot your photos so intuitively. As far as the key: I know some people use the Starbucks restroom on Congress & in the Old Port for their morning cleansing rituals...So, the key makes them more visible...

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  9. Beauty is wherever you find it. :-)

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  10. Now there's going to be a bunch of CDP bloggers taking photos of loos.

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  11. You know, I've never done that myself!

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  12. Enjoyed seeing it. I've done the same, and not made the attribution of washroom either, LOL



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

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  13. That's it! I think you've stumbled upon the next Theme Day: restrooms. I think it would be a fascinating endeavor.

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  14. I v. much enjoy what you choose to document . . .

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  15. My favorite public restroom photo was in Seattle's main public library. They make the walls and lighting an intense, sickly green. I was told it was to keep homeless people from lengthy stays.

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  16. I typically don't photograph bathrooms, but I don't think it's a bad thing if you do!

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  17. Had to check this out after Tanya (Around Roanoke) admitted to photographing restrooms via your post about "coming clean" - You both crack me up. Hey it's a part of life, going to the bathroom that is and I do think the lighting here is very nice.

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  18. I've taken photos of restroom windows too!

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  19. This window shot really caught my attention. Lovely!

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