Abandoned

Canon EOS 40D (Digital Color)

Taking photos in the same area over a long period of time means being aware of your surroundings. Noticing changes. Noticing things that don’t change. This bike is one of those things that hasn’t changed. I automatically turn to look for it around it’s corner every time I pass by and so far it’s always been there.

I want to say that I first noticed it about a year ago–sometime last fall. The first photo I took of it, that I actually posted (I’ll have to check my archive for anything earlier) was in January, 2008. Since then I’ve take a few others and have put two of those on display. Of course, as with other recurring subjects, I like to try and get shots of the bike with all the various camera/lens/film combinations I have available.

Olympus XA2 35mm (Kodak BW400CN)

It’s a nice bike. Looks like it was near to new when it was first locked to that pole. It has a university registration sticker and even after all of this time sitting outside, looks to be in good condition. What’s more, and this may be the strangest part of this mystery, it hasn’t been stripped. Abandoned bikes, especially those off-campus, usually get stripped pretty quickly.

Canon EOS 1N 35mm (Kodak Portra 160NC)

So it’s a mystery and for me each photo asks more questions than it answers. One question, is does anyone else notice it or is it just me? Some have even suggested that I start, slowly, adding things to the bike. Horns, flags, tassles, bells, etc., just to see how long it takes someone to notice.

Anyways…

Perhaps it’s all just a big coincidence and the only time it’s there are the times I see it, but I doubt it. Perhaps, it’ll be gone tomorrow. Perhaps not. Either way, keep your eyes open. You might find something more than just a photo.