As I've mentioned before, photographer Don Jones has a real eye for the contrasts and contradictions that constitute the real 'Old Florida' that people who stick to the expressways and attractions never see. The reality of Florida is complex, involving strange juxtapositions of old and new, beautiful and derelict. The recognition of this is one reason I'm so drawn to Don Jones' dreamlike photographs of abandoned houses and lost or abandoned objects. I've tried myself to photograph similar scenes, but had little luck with it. I think you have to have a special gift to make those shots transform all that chaos into order.
Here's a well-ordered domestic scene from Bunnell in Flagler County, caught at one of those Florida moments. This photograph struck me because of the sheer over-the-top magnificence of this sunset in contrast to the sheer matter of fact day-to-dayness of the scene it illuminates. It's a perfect example of the power of photography to capture these momentary transformations of reality----those moments when ordinary things seem fraught with some mystical significance. If you look carefully at the photograph, you can see each tin-roofed structure reflecting the apricot tint of the sun. Even the leaves are reflecting it.
'Sunset' by Don Jones | To see his other photographs, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here
I do not own the rights to this photograph. It is subject to a restricted Creative Commons license, permitting certain limited noncommercial uses. Before using or downloading it, consult the terms of the applicable license. You may view it here.
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