From our trip through Kansas back in 2005. I would have liked to see it in it’s day.
PanoramicWisner 8x20ArchetchureAugust 2020DinersOn the Road8x20
Category: Diners
Another diner image today. This time, it’s still operating as a diner. This is Bob’s Diner in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. This sits right on Ridge Avenue, a busy road that I had to shoot across.
This day reminded me of one of my older brother’s friends. I met him after he retired from working for the State. He was a very good amateur photographer that had been shooting for over forty years. H seemed to enjoy talking to the high school kid who had just bought his first camera for himself, a 40+ year old 4×5 Speed Graphic. He talked to me about working with a Speed Graphic back in his day. Telling me stories about going out shooting for the day with one film holder, two shots.
This day I was working out of my Jeep, but I had to park about a block away. So I had to walk back to the diner carrying the 8×20 camera on the tripod over my shoulder and I was carrying one film holder with me. I was thinking about those stories I was told 20 years prior and going out for the whole day with just one film holder. Thankfully, I had other film holders back in the car for the rest of the day.
When you work with a panoramic format you start to see all of the world’s long and wide subjects. One subject I have always liked are old diners. This one has been given new life as HL’s Bait & Tackle Shop in Morrisville, PA.
I’ll alway remember the owner came out and yelled something from across the street at me. I couldn’t understand what he said, but I don’t think he was happy with me making a photograph of his building. After he yelled at me, he went back inside. He came back out, flipped me off and taped a drawing of a smilie face to his front door.
I had already made my image and packed up the camera by that time. So I did not make another exposure with the smilie face on the door. I only have the story.
Sad thing is this beautiful building has been “upgraded” since this image was made. It now hardly shows its diner heritage.
IMAGE INFORMATION
PanoramicWisner 8x20ArchetchureAugust 2020UrbanscapeDiners8x20