“Abandoned beauty. To notice the beauty in things left behind is to see the soul of the life it once loved.” – Heather Durren
It’s always been interesting to photograph things that are old and especially those that have been weathered by the elements and or reclaimed by vines, plants and wildlife. These few photos show some random subjects I stumbled on over the years.
A water glass or bottle was washed up on the beach during an ocean storm. Years of erosion from the salt water and pounding waves has created this lovely and intriguing design.
This old, abandoned church was sitting on the side of a country road. In its day it must have been beautiful and the pride of the community..
Wonder how old this caboose is, it still looks good in spite of the years.
This was once a beautiful, stately home in Maryland that was abandoned many years ago and then wreaked by vandals. The last I heard the state has taken over the property and is working to restore it.
A car, a boat and a wooden bench, three examples showing nature’s way of reclaiming empty space.
Abandoned things, whether a forgotten object or a deserted space, can evoke a sense of history, loss, and the passage of time. They offer a glimpse into lives lived and the natural process of decay and reclamation.
Our challenge this week was selected by Anne of Slow Shutter Speed. Be sure to check out her post to see her lovely selection of abandoned subjects.
“Just smile and be the reason for someone to smile.” – unknown
Wonderful selections!
Thank you so much, Donna!
Such striking glimpses into forgotten corners of the world.
Each weathered surface, each vine-covered relic, holds echoes of stories once alive. The gentle takeover by nature isn’t destruction—it’s a quiet kind of remembering.
The lens catches not just decay, but a strange and beautiful kind of grace.
Thank you.
Philo
So beautifully stated, Philo… It’s as though the abandoned structures are portraying a sense of dignity as nature slowly reclaims its space. Thank you for visiting my post and sharing your thoughts.
You are welcome, Sylvia.
A pleasure to visit your posts.
Namaste.
Well done Sylvia, of course I recognize a few of the images 😊. Loved the church steeple – is that near here?
Thanks, Tina! Sorry, I remember seeing his old church next door to the gas station on a narrow country road (of course I had to photograph it)! This was taken in either ME, NH or VT while my husband and I were out exploring. The ornately carved wood is similar to what one would see in the northeast.
I liked the entire gallery, Sylvia. However, some photos lingered in mind longer than others. I want to mention the beauty in the bottle photo. So simple and captivating. The church was another great photo in this beautiful gallery.
Many thanks, Egidio, for your kind comments! It was the raw beauty and fragile look of this washed-up bottle that also grabbed my attention. And, the church belfry with its weathered, ageing wood looked like a painting in the sky.
Wow, Sylvia, I love this gallery, especially that last one!
Thank you Sofia, the bench is also one of my favorites. Probably, who ever previously owned the bench placed it on a frequently used golf course path some years ago. Probably wanting to provide a resting area for walking golfers. Now, everyone passing by is able to appreciate it’s unique beauty.
Nice gallery of abandoned things, Sylvia! There is beauty in them, despite their lack of attention.
John, you are so right. It’s as though nature has a way of transforming abandoned things so to reveal their beauty on another level.
What a great selection that shows us abandonment Sylvia! Each one leaves us wondering about the story behind it. Thanks for joining in!
Anne, thank you for suggesting such a great challenge! It’s fascinating how old, abandoned things speak to us in different ways.