The grand marquee, peeling western mural, Coke machine out front and brick street screeeeamed small town Texas. I originally came upon it in the dead of the afternoon, with the light directly overhead and bleaching everything out. I thought if I could get back to it closer to sunset, the light might be just right.
I made it to Muleshoe around 4:30 and took some beautiful shots of the old deco Wallace theater. As I made my way back, checking the time and the sun, I came upon Waylon Jennings’ hometown of Littlefield. Well, that shiny object detour took me through that silent old downtown and surrounding streets. I can’t explain the joy of turning a corner and seeing something for the first time. I kept shooting streetscapes, old buildings and Texas Plains shadows.
Having spent far too much time exploring I realized I needed to book it back to Brownfield for a happy hour rendezvous with the Rialto Theater. Miles Davis’ “In a Silent Way” was my soundtrack to propelling me back. And imagine l my surprise when I got back into town and saw the evening sun cascading down that brick ladened street, kissing the marquee with all of its warmth! It was a holy sh*t, luckiest guy on the planet moment. I sat and bathed in the moment. I waited for the light to hit just right and I only took a couple of shots.
The adrenaline of the moment carried me all the way home that night. The next morning when I downloaded the shots I was blown away. The history, detail, stories of this beautiful structure leapt off the screen. I was so grateful to be able to catch it in all of its beauty.
And today, it is no longer. Since July, the building was purchased and is being renovated into an event venue. While the bones and marquee remain intact, the character has been homogenized. The western facade has been replaced and “restored” with a Van Gogh-ish Starry Nights mural.
This hammers home why I love capturing these moments. I try to find the beauty in the forgotten and abandoned, capture the grace in their flaws and cracks and allow the breadth of this world to shine through.
I hope you find the beauty in wherever this new year takes you. And if you see something that makes you hit the brakes in wonderment, pause, awe, cherish and love the hell outta moment with everything you have.