Birch's Thrifty Tires

Speaking of photographing aspects of our world before they disappear from sight and remembrance (well, if you've been reading me you would know that i had indeed been speaking of such things recently ;->) it wasn't too long ago that Birch's Thrifty Tires, on the outskirts of my neighborhood, slipped into obscurity. Sure, i am certain there were some members of the community who may have looked upon this place as a bit of an eyesore, but to me it was a wonderful and colorful example of vanishing Americana with great photographic potential. I passed it so many times thinking i should do a  study of the place and one late afternoon finally got out to shoot it. Good thing too. Soon after that it was gone forever and now it is just another boring drive-thru convince store and has lost all it's picturesque qualities.

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

I loved the way the analogous colors were mimicked by the McDonald's sign in the background. McDonald's, i believe, is still there. :-)

©David Sorcher 2013

I believe this is one of the great values of documentary photography, allowing future generations an opportunity to look back years later at what once was, the way we were. Walker Evans certainly saw the value in this and i tip my cap to him whenever i take a shot like this. His countless images of signs and business from depression era America allow us a window into our past that would otherwise be completely forgotten once the last living witnesses had also passed away. 

©David Sorcher 2013

Though not very hospitable, this gentleman was pretty much camped out behind the big truck trailer, an arrangement probably made with the owner thinking he could have a human watchdog on his property to keep an eye on things after hours. I would have loved to investigate this guy's story if he had been more amenable, but time did not halt it's grinding gears of progress long enough to allow me a chance to gain his trust. I still wonder where he may have landed after the renovations.