Jeff Ball

Failed State?

Posted by Jeff
Copyright Jeff Ball 2010

Yesterday my brother and I shot our first day in Detroit. Although I knew that times were bad in Detroit, I really had no idea how bad it really was. We found our selves saying “Oh my God” over and over. It looks like a war zone in so many places. There isn’t going to be any shortage of failed business, buildings and family homes to shoot.

This shot shows an industrial building with my brother, Joshua on the right hand side of the image. We’ll be returning to Detroit later this week and weekend to look for more imagery. Although it’s very sad to see so much failure, I look forward to taking the photos.

High-Level Bridge

Posted by Jeff
Copyright Jeff Ball 2010

The Anthony Wayne Bridge, a 3,215-foot suspension bridge crossing the Maumee River, has been a staple of Toledo’s skyline for more than 70 years. It is locally known as the “High-Level Bridge.” This bridge is an iconic image in Toledo.

This shot was taken today at sunset with my brother Joshua. We’ve been shooting together all weekend and plan to do the same next weekend.

warehouse#1

Posted by Jeff
Copyright Jeff Ball 2010

Buildings like this are scattered throughout the Toledo, Oh area. Once a great industrial city filled with manufacturers of glass, autos, bearings and other objects is now filled with abandoned shells slowly decaying. In other parts of the country, buildings like this one are coveted as urban Loft projects, but in Toledo they are just a reminder of better times.

Drill Baby Drill

Posted by Jeff
Copyright Jeff Ball

As I traveled along I-25 north of Denver, I realized the landscape was spattered with these oil drills. I’m always looking for situations where there’s a juxtaposition of nature and man.  Although we’re currently completely dependent on oil for transportation, energy and plastics. I hope that one day these oil drills are replaced with renewable technologies. Until then, they make for a great composition.

Industry of Religion

Posted by Jeff
Copyright Jeff Ball 2010

I passed this scene the other day in Denver and I was drawn to the juxtaposition of the religious and industrial icons. Both have been worshiped at different times of history by different groups of people. As I start to shoot the fall of our once great industrial sector, I will continue to look for these type of symbolic images.

Makes Cents

Posted by Jeff
Copyright Jeff Ball 2010

A few years back, I bought some vintage Russian bellows for my my DSLR. I also found a beautiful 2.8/50mm  Carl Zeiss lens that combined with the bellows,  makes these beautiful macro shots. This image is from a simple 1970 (the year I was born)  U.S. Penny.  I love the clarity of the scratches , the depth of the shadows and the vibrancy of the color.

I wonder how many people have held this penny? Where has it been? What has it seen? What has it purchased?

We rarely get to see this much detail on a penny. Who really looks at pennies any more. They’re almost useless. I remember buying  penny candy when I was a kid at Christies Candies in South Toledo. Personally, I hope they’re here to stay. There’s just something so symbolic and nostalgic about a penny. Besides most of them are made right here in Denver and I always try to support the local economy.