Gas Stations

This series grew out of my Cover of Darkness series. Gas stations were not the kind of scene I was initially looking to capture, but I liked the first couple that I shot, and when conditions were right I continued to shoot them. Now they are a series in their own right. What draws me to these empty stations is their brightness amidst all the darkness, like islands in a sea of black, their simple architecture, functional and cold, yet strong and alluring. I like the way their light pools on the broken and stained concrete pads surrounding the pumps. I find that the hard lines, shiny metal, and harsh lighting create a fascinating subject that is perfect for black and white interpretation. So I now hunt them out, late at night to avoid having to shoot around cars coming in for fuel. Late at night, where the only sound might be the hum of the overhead lights, or the dull whine of a random car passing on a distant street. There is a bit of a dystopian feeling or undercurrent around them too, isolated like this in the pitch black, that I find intriguing. So, I invite you to ride along with me and take a look.