The house is a flat, saturated blue, board siding running vertical instead of horizontal, which is less common here and probably why I noticed the structure itself before I noticed anything else about it.
I live in a city where a 600 square foot apartment with two bedrooms can cost $800-$1,000….true boxes. And the richest people in town are real estate agents. I’d take that house tomorrow.
I had to read this twice. On the first reading I really disliked your description of all the details in the photograph. On the second reading I realised that this was a description of why you had photographed the house in the first place and the essay flowed on from that. Curiously, my neighbours two doors up had a tree house, and we all had bush (woods as you would say) behind our houses - and here we both are, photographing houses like the ones we knew growing up. I walk to make my pictures and have been asked about what I was doing only twice, both times ended up in pleasant conversations, one of them with a portrait of the owner of a highly manicured house and yard! Thanks again for the essay. Love your writing.
Are you familiar with John Divola's black and white work accomplished in the early 1970s in the San Fernando Valley? Homes , 'Valley Homes,' that were set in a genre of the 1950s and 1960s---and many of the people associated with those homes. John was on to something when he did this work. We were then, and are now friends.
I think I have a book of his here, is that possible? I’ve been taking photos of homes here in Vancouver off and on for several years. I’ll be showing more of them, but some are also on my website at jimroche dot ca (can’t put attachments in the comments) If you have any comments on them I’d appreciate it.
Interesting read, Jim. It is interesting what a house says about the person….sometimes. A house can be all put together on the outside but in turmoil within. Sort of like social media. Other times the place could be a wreck and it makes you wonder what might be going on. Lack of time, lack of funds, poor health, someone barely hanging on. Or maybe somebody thinks their fence made out of old pallets looks good while the rest of the neighborhood quietly text each other about the hideous nature of it. And then there’s the house where all is well. There’s a story to every house, both inside and out. Appreciate your article.
Thanks for the comments. I think there is both the individual information we get from looking at a house and the more social geography stuff- how houses reflect society itself. I feel like an entire generation of housing has come and is going that's not documented well at all.
Good point. It’s interesting how housing styles come and go, as well. For instance, log homes were popular in our area back in the 80’s. My neighborhood is rather eclectic. I live in a cape cod with vinyl siding and on either side of side of me are log homes and behind me are brick ranchers.
I like these houses. Esp the blue house with its two greens sloping below it. I’m sorry you got such grief for imagining its backstory.
I live in a city where a 600 square foot apartment with two bedrooms can cost $800-$1,000….true boxes. And the richest people in town are real estate agents. I’d take that house tomorrow.
Well, we run into people like that all the time these days.
Once again, I'm grateful for your writing, Jim.
I had to read this twice. On the first reading I really disliked your description of all the details in the photograph. On the second reading I realised that this was a description of why you had photographed the house in the first place and the essay flowed on from that. Curiously, my neighbours two doors up had a tree house, and we all had bush (woods as you would say) behind our houses - and here we both are, photographing houses like the ones we knew growing up. I walk to make my pictures and have been asked about what I was doing only twice, both times ended up in pleasant conversations, one of them with a portrait of the owner of a highly manicured house and yard! Thanks again for the essay. Love your writing.
Are you familiar with John Divola's black and white work accomplished in the early 1970s in the San Fernando Valley? Homes , 'Valley Homes,' that were set in a genre of the 1950s and 1960s---and many of the people associated with those homes. John was on to something when he did this work. We were then, and are now friends.
I think I have a book of his here, is that possible? I’ve been taking photos of homes here in Vancouver off and on for several years. I’ll be showing more of them, but some are also on my website at jimroche dot ca (can’t put attachments in the comments) If you have any comments on them I’d appreciate it.
Interesting read, Jim. It is interesting what a house says about the person….sometimes. A house can be all put together on the outside but in turmoil within. Sort of like social media. Other times the place could be a wreck and it makes you wonder what might be going on. Lack of time, lack of funds, poor health, someone barely hanging on. Or maybe somebody thinks their fence made out of old pallets looks good while the rest of the neighborhood quietly text each other about the hideous nature of it. And then there’s the house where all is well. There’s a story to every house, both inside and out. Appreciate your article.
Thanks for the comments. I think there is both the individual information we get from looking at a house and the more social geography stuff- how houses reflect society itself. I feel like an entire generation of housing has come and is going that's not documented well at all.
Absolutely, not glamorous enough, the average working family.
Good point. It’s interesting how housing styles come and go, as well. For instance, log homes were popular in our area back in the 80’s. My neighborhood is rather eclectic. I live in a cape cod with vinyl siding and on either side of side of me are log homes and behind me are brick ranchers.