Boarded Restaurant Facade in Zion Illinois Black and White Photography
Covered Windows and an Empty Bench Beneath Faded Lettering
Four boarded window sections form a dark-framed rectangle in the centre of this restaurant facade in Zion, Illinois. Beneath them, a long bench stretches across the pale wall. I photographed the building closely, concentrating on those simple arrangements and the worn surfaces around them rather than its wider surroundings.
The plywood brings visible grain into each window opening. Its irregular patterns sit inside straight vertical frames, creating a contrast between texture and order. Above, faded siding and dark lettering make another horizontal band. A narrow door on the right has its own repeated lines, while the wall between these features remains comparatively plain. I find the space around the windows important: it keeps their darker outline clear without removing the marks and wear that give the facade its character.
Black and white connects the different surfaces through tone. The bench is darker than the wall, the window frames darker than the boards, and the ground carries a few fine cracks. None of those details needs to dominate for the building’s boarded condition to be visible. My interest was in the frontage as it stood before the camera, with the covered openings, empty bench and remaining lettering all present. Its appeal is in those visible traces: everyday architectural shapes changed by wear and disuse.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2009
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About My Fine Art Photography
Every photograph in my collection comes from my own travels, explorations, and years behind the camera.
I create my work as photographic art rather than mass-produced decoration. From street portraits and abandoned places to landscapes, architecture, and the unusual subjects I discover along the way, each image begins with something that made me stop and look.
My photographs are available in multiple sizes so the same image can work in anything from an intimate wall space to a large statement installation.
