TRAILER PARK PARADISE: I came across some very intriguing photos, all part of a set taken in Florida. The images of the ‘sunshine set’ were all quite a bit more left-field than I could have anticipated. 

This one may not be particularly quirky, but does create a kind of manufactured idyll, which I really admire. A metal trailer in Orlando, Florida is surrounded by an array of palms, ferns and stalks of grass, not to mention some fantastic plastic flamingo props, in David Walter Banks’ photograph entitled, ‘Yard Art’. Set against a green fence, the whole environment feels like one man’s self-conceived paradise.

Yes, there is something rather inauthentic about the melange of elements in this photograph, but that’s where it’s appeal lies. It just goes to show that even in less naturally green areas, a bit of shrubbery can always be found!

This image was sourced from Time.com.

TIPPIN’: An image that is both instilled with strong elements of terror and humour is the startling one you see in front of you at the moment. Depicting a ‘beached’ cargo ship tipped to a side, it has an epic, overly dramatic edge to it. Yet, as with most photography, it depicts a very real snapshot in time.

Whilst people, some of them probably ‘passengers’ or workers on the ship, crowd around the huge seafaring vessel tipped onto its side like a fallen creature, two youngsters play football in the foreground. Just because, it’s completely the most appropriate time to do so, you know.

The contrast between the relief and carefree nature of the two youngsters and the tension and panic of the adults further in the background bring an unconventional twist to this haunting, cinematic image.

I’m not sure when and where this happened, but if you know, please feel free to beep me 911, as per usual!

CHERRY RED CHEVROLET: The amount of car model imagery on my page might belie my consistent claim that I’m no automobile fanatic. Well, what I can say is that I really, really appreciate models from a purely aesthetic point of view.

What better way to enjoy this stellar shot of a restored cherry red 1958 El Camino Chevrolet though? The photograph taken by Pete Davis features the car caught in a perfect light. With that gradient of colour and the sheen on the glass of the windshield make it appear too good to drive. To me at least.

I can only imagine the amount of heads that this nostalgic, sleek car would turn if someone did set about driving it around town and beyond. I would certainly stop and stare if I were a pedestrian, catching a glimpse of this from the corner of my eye.

This image was sourced from Pete Davis’ Flick R account.

CANAL ORANGE: I came across this image on a blog run by two photographers known as the ‘Mexican Mofos’, aka Juan Rodriguez and Poncho Eduardo Gonzales, who capture local scenery for their website.

I wouldn’t naturally associate this orange-hued photograph of a canal and bridge surrounded by beautiful palm trees with Mexico, if only for the reason that it reminds me of a location that I’ve seen in several films (where the main location was Los Angeles).

I like the slightly grainy quality to the photograph and the contrast between the lightness of the sky during the period of sunset and the darkness of the water’s reflective surface and the shrubbery on the banks of the canal. 

You feel as if you are seeing that rare time of day when the sky’s light takes on a strange colour and makes you wonder for snap second if you are even Earth bound.

This image was sourced from Mexicanmofo.com.

IMMINENT COLLAPSE: This photograph by Tomma Solanza is taken from a photography project of sorts entitled ‘Industrial Fragility’. I have already posted another photograph from the set, involving a defunct fan.

I prefer this image of what Solanza himself describes as ‘a coffee mug on the verge of collapse’. When I first looked at the seemingly simple image, I thought that the base of the cup had been indented in order to allow it to sit on the edge of the table. Then logic kicked in, and I realized that that would be pretty impractical and increase the risk of it breaking.

So evidently the mug’s base has been cut off so to speak, aside from what we can see most immediately. I imagine that Solanza wanted to say something about tension created in every day life through putting a simple every day object like a coffee mug in ‘risk’. 

It’s a simple gesture but one that sits quite well with me, once I have reflected a bit on it all. This image was sourced from Tomma Solanaz’s official website.

SCRAM FOR SUNDAE: Oh sometimes we need to see a bit of food imagery, for better or for worse. I don’t post that many food images on here, but perhaps will try and do more often, especially now that it’s summer.

Andrew Whitis’ simple, colourful, beautiful depiction of a melted sundae, complete with Smarties and a triangular wafer on the side reignites simple child-like desires for sweet treats on a hot summer’s afternoon, and ultimately serves as a reminder of when life was easy.

This dish would have been the perfect accompaniment to the 30C+ weather that I’ve been enjoying today. There’s still time to enjoy a colourful dollop of ice cream though, perhaps even this weekend.

A sweet and simple reminder of how the little things in life can often bring the most joy. This image was sourced from Andrew Whitis’ Flick R account. 

NIGHT SPIRALS: This nocturnal image that I just came across is fascinating, no doubt. Entitled ‘Sparks In Night’, it’s taken by an anonymous photographer (well for the moment). It’s rather difficult to pin down exactly what is happening in this photo, and as you can imagine that does irk me a little. Despite my very small gripe, I actually believe that a dose of mystery makes a picture all the more enticing and exciting.

From where I’m sat, there appears to be a man or woman standing on top of a small industrial hut of sorts, performing some stunt involving fire works, or perhaps put more precisely, pyrotechnics. 

The lack of any living presence in the photograph, outside of the ‘performer’ allows you to direct your attention to whatever amazing light display is being produced here.

Even if you can’t describe what’s going on here exactly you can still take the moment all in with awe. This image was sourced from One Big Photo.com.

MILLENNIAL SPLENDOR: Back to the UK now. I must admit that, being from London and having spent a large amount of my childhood in the South of England, I’m not the most knowledgeable, or even complimentary of the North. Whenever I have gone up there, my impressions have been mixed.

I’ve never been to Newcastle, as far as I can recall though. This photograph of the Gateshead Millenium Bridge in the city does serve as a pretty effective tourist ad though. The outer structure of the bridge is illuminated and set against the faded blue, marking the transition from day to night.

A ferris wheel in the backdrop and a calming array of nocturnal colours counteract the bridge’s modernity and bring a nostalgic sense of urban beauty to the photograph. 

Well let’s see then. Perhaps I will be heading up North sooner or later after having seen and analysed this closely.

THE ROW: An image that shows suburbia in a bright light, even though not much has been added to this photograph, is certainly this one, taken in Pittsburgh.

19th century era terraced houses (although I believe that the term ‘terraced house’ isn’t really used in the States), in boldly saturated hues of colour, from cherry red to sunrise orange and bark brown all stand alongside each other in solemn beauty. The foliage of the trees on the street in front of the houses adds a purity to the surroundings, although they are already ideal enough.

Houses with this type of architecture also exist in other countries, but they stand out in my mind as being strongly linked to America. Whenever I see them in films or photographs I think they they fit right into the landscape. As they do, very very well here.

STROLL THE HARBOUR: This photograph by Joel Ford was taken close to one of the modern wonders of the world; although you wouldn’t know it on first glance. The charm of Ford’s photograph is also not dependent on knowledge of the location either, perhaps rendering the aforementioned structure void.

This depiction of people enjoying an evening walk along Sydney Harbour, and therefore in close proximity to the Opera House is hardly obvious. The dim light of lamp posts and the last reflections of light on the waves of the water add a moody, yet warm ambiance that bring summer evenings spent abroad in new places, whilst on holiday to mind.

 A familiarity concealed behind an enticing layer of darkness is part of the appeal of Ford’s photograph. It’s anything but your typical holiday snap.

This image was sourced from National Georgraphic’s official website. It was featured on the ‘Photo of the Day’ portion of the site on June the 14th.