In the preface to his 1974 book, “Commonplace,” David Plowden writes about the character of America as expressed through it’s buildings, streets and daily scenes. These aren’t the specially restored historic landmarks or postcard/calendar vistas but instead the real places we visit and inhabit everyday.
America is characterized by it’s practically, strive for efficiency and grit and these features are prominent in Plowden’s work. He is especially aware and expresses those elements that are slipping into the past, the old storefronts, grain silos and railroad engines.
For most of us many slightly older things look simply a little rundown. They’ve lost their sparkly newness but haven’t yet become historical and quant. Many of them will raised and forgotten before they reach this stage.
That’s where our photography comes in.
Photographers look a little deeper, see a little more and make the effort to create an image. Sometimes these images are prescient recording something that soon after disappears. Even the everyday views become special when they’ve changed. After they’ve disappeared forever.