Lens Artists Challenge #168: Seen better days!

This week Tina invited me to share images of places and things that have, “seen better days”. Evidence of our past is easily found here in Northern California. When I go out with my camera in hand, I am on the lookout for these abandoned items, settings, and buildings.

I came across this abandoned bee hive in our local nature preserve, Effie Yeaw.

These passengers have seen better days! This Thunderbird set the stage for Halloween parked in Old Fair Oaks

Greeting travelers in Strawberry, California

What’s the story behind this Buick? Could this be a subject for a crime novel?

Some cars make it into an auto museum and some cars are just abandoned.

I wonder what was the price of gas when this gas station closed?

How many times have you misplaced an article of clothing? I’m surprised at where these lonely ones were found.

A scarecrow could still make use of this straw hat!

Flip flops flop after a grueling hike in Kauai

Gold and silver mining had much to do with the creation and downfall of many towns in Northern California. Bodie is one such example. In 1962 Bodie became Bodie State Historic Park, and an official gold rush ghost town. It is an example of “arrested decay”.

From barns to sugar mills, from government buildings to stores these places have a story to tell.

Two boats cast aside. One found near Martinez Ca. and one found in Esparto Ca.

This pier off of Berkeley Marina needs a little work! But some wildlife finds it useful.

This may have worked for Superman, but forget about making a call.

When my friend Anne and I went out with a fellow photographer Greg we often ended up exploring forgotten place such as Knight’s Landing.

Knight’s Landing railroad trestle crossing the Sacramento River.

Knight’s Landing water tower along the Sacramento River.

Found in Marysville, Ca. this safe is no longer secure.

I took this photo the day after Valentine’s Day in New York City. I hope the flowers were appreciated.

Taking photographs of items with history behind them makes me think about the back story.

10 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #168: Seen better days!”

Amazing to see all these objects that otherwise wouldn’t get a second look.

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Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Now I see a reason for your photographing abandoned/lost items. Great post!

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marlene frankel says:

October 4, 2021 at 9:57 pm

Thanks Anne.

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This is wonderful, Marlene! What a great collection–the phone booth, the discarded flowers, the auto graveyard “victims”….wonderfully evocative of other times and better days. I especially love that lost mitten!

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marlene frankel says:

October 4, 2021 at 9:56 pm

Thank you Patti. This was a fun challenge.

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Kind of looks like the flowers were NOT appreciated Marlene! You had so many wonderful images this one it’s difficult to single any of them out. I did love the pier and the old and damaged cars. Great job!

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What a marvelous collection of the old and abandoned you have. They all look good, and I had great fun looking at your photos of “preserved decay” from Brodie.

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