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Jim Hill: Small Places – LENSCRATCH

There is something about night photography that makes unremarkable spaces a bit more remarkable.  The inky skies have greater depth and the sense of emptiness create an emotional tableaux. The dreary streets that have seen better days, the grayness that sets into places that once had a heartbeat become mysterious stage sets for actors who

Small Places was purposely shot at night. The darkness of the rural midwestern sky provides a backdrop which accentuates the isolation of small towns. At night, the lite up grain storage structures tower over the surrounding towns, providing a visual metaphor for the abundance of the region. The heart of the community in many small places is the local bar. In the evenings, the local taverns are often the only thing open, their lights serve as beacons in the darkness. The lights of a small town against a dark sky highlights the isolation of rural places while the darkness and shadows transform the mundane into the beautiful.