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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Roofer, Lone Pine, California, 2006
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16-OCT-2006

Roofer, Lone Pine, California, 2006

We drove out to visit Lone Pine’s old railroad depot, only to find that it was no longer open to the public. Long abandoned by the Southern Pacific Railroad, the depot had been purchased by this man. Bit by bit, shingle by shingle, he was restoring it. We asked permission to photograph and he graciously allowed us to do so. He was more interesting to me than his building. We found him doing some roofing, a hard and obviously dirty job. Yet he continued to talk to us as he worked, telling us of his laborious renovations. In this gesture I see confidence, pride, persistence, and energy. All are important human values. I structure the image geometrically, allowing his arm to add still another triangle to those already present.

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Phil Douglis27-Oct-2006 21:53
Good point, Tim -- when it comes to restoration, the future stretches to infinity. We get the sense that he may never finish his work. ( Just now emerging from a mere bathroom renovation, I know how he feels. He has a much larger task ahead, and he brings infinite patience to his labors. And unlike myself, he is actually doing the work himself. My own task is merely worrying about it. )
Tim May27-Oct-2006 21:05
To me, the arm speaks of a look to the future - he must have to keep his eye on the future - his task of restoration is so huge.
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