Romantics of the Common Place

WalkerEvans
To perceive one's place within the context of historical evolution, within the constant flux of time is to stand still and see the true nature of our civilization. To be able to slow down and see the effects of time and man's progress in the inanimate is a true virtue of the artist.

Stephen Shore
There is a beauty that exists in the common placed objects that surround us. This essence is only perceived by those of us that can truly see, as though the objects are merely shadow's of great idea's which reflect the human condition.

Bernd and Hilla Becher
Encyclopedia's of image's have been created to document the essence of the inanimate reflections of culture and man's ingenuity. Not merely historical documents but the evidence of man's spirit coming through in his creations, relic's of value and merit.

Edward Hopper
Art throughout the 21st century has striven to collect the essence of the human condition through its manifestations in form. From the moment one is born there is a current of influence and history that impress's upon the mind the basic paradigm of modern life. To be able to percieve the currents of the past within the present and the various manifestations of the mind within form is to begin to understand one's place in time.

Brian Ulrich

Outdoor Malls

So, empty parking lots and closed strip malls at night have always seemed foreboding and ominous to me, but the experience I had the other night takes the cake. It was about midnight and I was out photographing around the outlet's, near dutch wonderland. It was extremely windy and cold and to make matters worse I was listening to Phillip Glass's sound track to Dracula. I stopped at a strip mall to take these photograph's.

Copyright- Christopher Moss
After I had stopped and photographed the first set of mannequin's at the entrance of the outdoor mall I drove through the massive parking lot till I found this well lit scene. When I got out of my car I realized that the music was still blasting from the P.A. speakers and that the coin operated kids ride in front of one of the shop's was randomly turning on and making noise's of children laughing. To be honest I was quite freaked out! After a nervous 15 minutes of photography I got back into my car. As I was putting away my camera all the lights in the parking lot went out.

Sunday's

I love sundays, they have the quality of relaxation, self reflection and a general do nothingness about them. What I mean about nothingness is a bit over stated, I like doing what i want regardless of any agenda! Im getting into the habit of going out with my camera on sundays because over the years of photographing I find that the camera combined with active curiosity is the perfect drifters tool.

Copyright- Christopher Moss
This past sunday I ended up driving around and exploring place's in York, PA aimlessly going down any random road just to see where it would take me. Im sure Ill be back to photograph there soon!

Carl Gunhouse: Excerpts from "America"

"American society indulged its desires, the economy imploded, leaving us with empty homes in half-finished subdivisions near malls with the stores that are coming soon to sell merchandise affordable to fewer and fewer of us. The country is caught in suspended animation, littered with enticing ads, large car dealerships and lavish Las Vegas fountains, all the more desperate to attract whatever disposable income is still out there."

"Consumption has destroyed the American dream and the earnest assumption that an ideal life is guaranteed by hard work, a college degree and playing by the rules. Instead we are left with entry-level jobs, no opportunity for advancement, no benefits, inescapable debt, and the cold comfort that we avoided a Depression."