analog kansas
Faultless Linen Service
Posted by grant (kansas city, United States) on 9 October 2008 in Business & Industry and Portfolio.
Kansas City, Missouri
Fuji GS645
Tmax 100
RHYS from United Kingdom
another great shot, and no darn people, I cant stand people either, just get in the way and complicate matters. Do you know the work of painter Richard Estes? This reminds me a little of his work.
9 Oct 2008 5:34am
@RHYS: yes, his paintings are amazing.
it's odd, to me at least, the thing about people and photos. i never deliberately decided to keep them out of photos. but i'm probably overly sensitive to the possibility that i'm intruding on someone's privacy. so, it just started to come naturally.
Nill@ from County Östergötland, Sweden
I think I have been there, at this street....It looks so familiar.....
Is this a laundry?
Like the slanting sidewalk and the pole. great again!
9 Oct 2008 8:08am
@Nill@: it's a commercial laundry, i think. i'm also thinking a trip like that would be pretty clear in your mind... :-)
Reiner from Brensbach, Germany
Love the contrast between the advertising sign and the structure of the brick wall. Well spotted, Grant.
9 Oct 2008 9:13am
Rachael from Heber Springs, United States
Is this where they manufacture the spray starch by that name? Nice photo.
9 Oct 2008 1:49pm
@Rachael: i didn't know there was such a thing, but i don't think so. thanks rachael.
daina from New York, United States
You must have an alternate reality available to which you go to for your photos. These photos come from a place that only you have access to - it is similar to our world except time has stopped and there are no people, birds, dogs, cats and it never rains... Great shot...
9 Oct 2008 2:11pm
@daina: i've been told i live in an alternate reality before, but never as a compliment. thanks daina!
Alejandro Caballero from Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Como ya habia comentado anteriormente, haces un magnifico trabajo...aciertas con el tono blanco&negro...un saludo y gracias por tus comentarios.
9 Oct 2008 2:12pm
@Alejandro Caballero: i've been shooting in b&w so long now i think i unconsciously convert the world to grayscale - thanks alex.
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
I really like this image. The subtle detail and tone in the white brick really gives this punch. A simple composition that hold lots of interest.
9 Oct 2008 2:43pm
don from spokane, United States
An interesting name for a linen business. I like your street scene. Fine B&W work, as usual!
9 Oct 2008 3:18pm
@don: it almost sounds a bit defensive, don't you think?
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
A linen service since 1896? Wow! Great name too. My city was est. in 1888 and that was because of an ostrich farm... Love your shots Grants, like Daina says, you have on deman alternate reality :)
9 Oct 2008 4:12pm
@Howard F.: well, you inspired me to do a little (very little) research. kc was founded in 1838 - absolutely ancient! but nothing as interesting about the origin as an ostrich farm.
Marcie from United States
Funny name for a linen sevice. Love how you've framed this!
9 Oct 2008 5:18pm
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
a sweet shot Grant -- and it looks as if people are really noticing -- your shots certainly do and have always had an 'alternate reality' feeling about them: as if they belong to a future uninhabited earth... or if time stopped in the 50's & 60's... and all the people were zapped by UFO's! ;) wonderful tones as always -- is there such a term as 'photo-surrealism'? you could definitely be the founding member! :D
9 Oct 2008 5:59pm
@dj.tigersprout: thanks dj. when i was trying to think up a name for this blog, i toyed with the idea of 'neutron bomb photography.' do you remember that hideous thing - would kill all the people, but leave cities intact? the name seemed a bit harsh though.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Super shot with excellent detail of the brickwall, and I can agree with Diana, it does seem that way. How do you get there......?
9 Oct 2008 7:53pm
@Observing: there's a secret chant mike. for a small tax free donation...
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
This is quite a piece of history you've captured. I read through your comments and it looks like it may well be the Faultless brand company that manufactures spray starch. I have use Niagra spray starch myself for John's shirts, but at any rate, this place was founded in Kansas City, Missouri i 1887 and then became Bon Ami and them 3M took over. I never knew all that until just now. Love it in greyscale. It's like traveling back to the days when it would have been a household name for everyone because everyone used to iron like I have to...lol
10 Oct 2008 2:55am
@sherri: you got me googling sherri. it seems almost impossible that two such similar companies could be in the same city for so long and not be related, but i can't find a connection. this is definitely a commercial laundry service. it's about ten blocks from the starch place.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
So retro! I love the lines from the buildings and the curve from the "Faultless" logo. I agree with Sherri, it's a piece of history!
10 Oct 2008 12:46pm
@bluechameleon: thanks bc
Vink from Grasse - French riviera, France
Excellent texture of the wall ! Superb tones in b&w
10 Oct 2008 2:03pm
@Vink: thank you vink
Lucca from Cologne, Germany
Another lonely place – in the street this time. I like what daina wrote. So true!
10 Oct 2008 4:09pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
On the subject of people: this shot would not be anywhere near as good with even one person in it. Or, looked at another way, this shot says one thing, a shot with people in it would say something completely different. For one thing, most shots with people in them become to some degree about the people.
I think that perhaps the best thing about your photos is that they tweak something emotional that can't quite be put into words. Not by me anyway, and I think I can disgorge quite a load of the old artistic bs. Here the whole image works this way, but also, there is something about those big windows on the right that I can only feel --and not explain.
12 Oct 2008 4:18pm
@Twelvebit: i really appreciate the comment. i like to think that my photos are still about people, just in an indirect way.
