Valley Service Station
I've driven by this dilapidated service station many times and always dismissed it as an unworthy subject, until a few days ago. Even then I had driven past it but something about the evening light made me turn around and give it a go.
Photographing these kinds of subjects always makes me wonder about the lives that were lived there. Undoubtedly a family business, it may have supported several generations and brought much needed income to everyone involved. But as modern life progresses, eventually the kids may not have wanted to be gas station attendants and, combined with modern environmental regulations, it became unsustainable to run mom and pop service stations and the place was closed. There it now sits, slowly decaying.
But I imagine its heyday, with shiny old fashioned gas pumps complete with illuminated medallions on top and a '57 Chevy pulling up, getting gas for 20 cents a gallon. Of course the driver didn't have to pump it, the attendant would've done it for him or her and cleaned the windshield while he was at it in addition to checking the oil.
Oh, and don't forget the adjacent Liquor store, so you could fill up yourself too! As things were, there was nobody to check your lubrication afterwards...
Valley Service Station
I've driven by this dilapidated service station many times and always dismissed it as an unworthy subject, until a few days ago. Even then I had driven past it but something about the evening light made me turn around and give it a go.
Photographing these kinds of subjects always makes me wonder about the lives that were lived there. Undoubtedly a family business, it may have supported several generations and brought much needed income to everyone involved. But as modern life progresses, eventually the kids may not have wanted to be gas station attendants and, combined with modern environmental regulations, it became unsustainable to run mom and pop service stations and the place was closed. There it now sits, slowly decaying.
But I imagine its heyday, with shiny old fashioned gas pumps complete with illuminated medallions on top and a '57 Chevy pulling up, getting gas for 20 cents a gallon. Of course the driver didn't have to pump it, the attendant would've done it for him or her and cleaned the windshield while he was at it in addition to checking the oil.
Oh, and don't forget the adjacent Liquor store, so you could fill up yourself too! As things were, there was nobody to check your lubrication afterwards...