Sign of Eyes

#abstract #photography #macro #weathered #urbandecay #rust #eyes

I cycled right passed it at first, as most of the sign was just old and a bit tatty without the kind of character I was looking for, but there was something about those Thai letters that made me brake and turn back. Even looking at the full sign, with the rusty edging around those letters telling me about a restaurant with "crab with curry powder" and "shrimps fried with garlic", I almost peddled on as it still was not quite inspiring enough. But I have been playing this particular game long enough to know that these things need a closer look. That's always the key. Get closer.

And bent down, leaning in close, I was glad I had made the effort to stop. There was the rust with its texture and the drip stains it leaves below, but the red letters were also very nicely weathered, slightly peeling with fine cracks that only became apparent from close range. These two surfaces were then nicely set off by the relatively smooth and unblemished white paint.

I am not sure why the rust was hugging the letters so much. Something to do with water being held around the letters for longer giving the rust a chance to form, I guess.

The fun part came next. Searching for compositions at the macro level. Wide views showing the weathering in context are fine but the game I like to play is in extracting the details to highlight the weathering itself together with whatever aesthetic shapes are present. In a way it is an exercise in removing the weathered surface from its context. If it's too clearly a recognisable sign then that's what people will see. Even letters from an unfamiliar language have the effect of detracting from what I want people to look at: the finery of weathering on our urban surfaces and the abstract beauty it holds.

Part of me wishes that more folk would stop and peer at these details, but I do also enjoy the thought I am probably the first person to appreciate the rust and cracking paint on this sign.

I also love the way I felt like the sign was looking back at me!