Inessential Stuff

Since I had spent time in Salamanca in the summer of 2006 (and took a ton of pictures), during my 2006 visit, I made an effort to see buildings that I hadn’t seen before. One such building, just off the plaza next to the cathedral, was the Hospederia de Anaya.

Built in 1715, the Hospederia was originally a dormitory for graduate students preparing to take finals in civil service or the church. Now it part of the University of Salamanca, housing the Faculty of Modern Languages, and featuring a quiet little courtyard.

There are also a few pictures from a courtyard from a faculty building right next door, which I visited at the same time.

The project to photograph train stations (see below) took place on a train that ended in Avila. And since we hadn’t spent a lot of time in Avila before, we spent a few hours looking around. Of particular interest (as always) was the cathedral.

Unfortunately, as made clear by many, many signs, photography was not allowed inside. This means that all the pictures you see here didn’t really happen. And if they seem a little sideways or crooked, that’s because the pictures were taken at waist-level without the benefit of a viewfinder. Sort of proves what I’ve always said about travel photography: even a blind monkey with a disposable camera can get some good pictures of a cathedral.

Actually, this is about the train stations in Spain. It’s the first of a handful of posts of pictures from my time in Spain in August.

I went over with this idea: to travel on some regional trains (that make lots of stops) jump off at each stop, take a quick picture, jump back on and continue traveling.

The stations in Spain are small and often in sad states of decay. Forty years ago, trains were the primary method of transportation in Spain. After Franco, the roads vastly improved, the price of cars came down, and now people drive from town to town. So the train stations have fallen into neglect.

I had planned to do a big loop, but I discovered that the regional trains basically run only twice a day–once in one direction in the morning, and the return trip in the afternoon. I studied the train maps for quite some time, but determined that I would have to be content with just one line.

That line was the Salamanca to Avila, which would have at least 7 stops between the two stations, and potentially 9: there were two stations that were “by request” only. Ends up we stopped at the first optional station and skipped the second.
Going into the project, I had no idea how much time I would have to get a shot. I didn’t know if the train would stop for a minute at each station, or only 30 seconds.

At the first stop, I had a terrible angle and thought about running up the train platform for a better picture, but no sooner had the thought crossed my mind that the train hooted its departure. I jumped back on the train. Thirty seconds would have been a luxury. I had about four.

This increased the photographic challenges. I had time to jump off the train, shoot, and jump back on. Or else I would be stranded, with no other trains scheduled to go through. It added to the intensity of the shoot.

So then, here are the stations, with commentary.

Marcus and I spent several days in Seattle, visiting Cousin Akian, Aunt Laura and Uncle MacLeod. I thought he might really enjoy the Space Needle (he was ready to go down after two minutes on top); I also thought the highlight would be going to an Angels game at Safeco Field, perhaps the first baseball game Marcus will remember (he has been to at least 6 others, all in his first year, starting at three months, but I don’t think he’ll remember those). Ends up that for Marcus, the highlight of Seattle–and I think this makes him unique among almost all people who have ever visited the Emerald City–was the Monorail. At any rate, we had loads of fun.

Two things I love about downtown Spokane: the freight railroad that plows straight through downtown, and the old brick buildings. Some are grand, some small, some renovated, some in need. In any case, something about the buildings appeals to me: the symmetry and solidity, perhaps. Or the transoms windows and steel fire escapes. Or the arcade facades and the neglected back walls in alleys. Or the way the bricks vary in color, or show their wear, or wear the fading paint of signs past. In any case, I like brick buildings.

(I apologize for not posting for so long. I’ve had a cold. I’ve had taxes. I’ve had poor eating habits. I’ve had many other excuses, as well. Enough then. More galleries will be on the way soon, I promise.)

Partitioned from a Victorian mansion, an apartment, in pale green and greys, some minor quirks, make-shift plumbing, a clawfoot tub, odd angels, mostly empty, minimalist. Intimately photographed in cloudy, natural light.