Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
I was irrationally excited about this week’s theme. I love exploring the patterns and grains in wood. It’s so easy to get lost in the details—the curls, swoops, knots, and colors have so much character.
It’s an understatement to say there were a lot of wood candidates to choose from in my library. It was a tough decision given my self-imposed restriction to choose only one image per week.
In the end this shot from Virginia City, Nevada won out. Not because it’s the most fuck-all amazing wood shot I’ve ever taken but because it represents how I perceive the town—old, rugged, worn, and “woody”. It transports me back there.
Wild West Mining Towns
When I lived just a few miles away, I would spend time trying to capture the intricacies of Virginia City. It’s ripe with details and textures that are a feast for a macro-loving photographer like me.
And when I think of Virginia City, one of the senses that comes to mind quickly—aside from my brief stint as a camel jockey there—is wood.
There’s certainly no shortage of brick and steel, but the wood stands out to me. There are creaking wooden signs and gates, massive wooden retaining walls, and wooden barrels lining the weathered wooden boardwalks.
In going through the image selection exercise this week, I realized I moved from that small Wild West mining town scenario to another one. But they are so utterly different that I don’t think of them in the same way at all.
Silver City isn’t “wooden”. It’s brick, concrete, and adobe. And often dazzlingly colorful. It doesn’t evoke the same sense of “Wild West mining town” that Virginia City does. The aesthetic is entirely different even though you can file them both under the same broad category.
It just goes to show that the beauty and nuances of our world don’t fit into a one-size-fits-all stereotype. And I get to love my two western mining towns for different reasons.
Cheers, friends!
Bluesky Art Show
This post is inspired by the Bluesky Art Show, a challenge to share artwork surrounding a weekly theme each Saturday.
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