This recently discovered color print shows an early preference for abandoned buildings that fully emerged in my work decades later
Lately I’ve been thinking about my career as a photographer.
While I’ve been making photographs since high school (1978-1981), the year 2025 marks 20 years since I became a “serious” devotee of photography. In 2005, I had an epiphany that helped me change the course of my artistic life, forever switching my creativity from painting and drawing to photography. The impacts of that decision on my life have been momentous.
I’m currently working on a book and other materials to help me take stock of the two decades hence.
A photo I had forgotten
In researching the book, I uncovered this color drugstore print of a photograph I don’t remember taking. I don’t have a record of the date it was taken, nor do I know the location of this building, although it most certainly would have been located in Texas, where I grew up and lived until 2007.
What strikes me about this photo is that it illuminates an early personal preference for abandoned places that only really came to fruition decades later.
As a small drugstore print, the colors remind me very much of the similar small drugstore prints of architecture by William Christenberry made in Alabama in the 1970s.
Trying to date the photo
While I don’t have the exact date of this photo, it certainly predates my decision to pursue photography seriously as my primary art form. Still, I decided to see if I could narrow the date range, based on the paper type.
According to this resource, Kodak paper with this imprint was used from 1991 – 1995, and it was branded under the name Ektacolor Edge, a version of which is still manufactured by Kodak Alaris today.
Ektacolor Edge paper is an F smooth glossy resin coated paper for making color prints from color negatives. It was formulated for bolder, brighter colors and longer lasting prints under normal home use. It was also designed to function well in photo lab processing machines.
20 year anniversary
Look for further announcements regarding my 20 year anniversary as a photographer later in 2025.
