Monday, May 18, 2015

Confessions of a Drive-by Photograper


If you want to continue the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge at your own pace, sign up for the Post A-to-Z Road Trip: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2015/05/are-you-ready-to-go-on-5th-annual-post.html

"You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, then you find out who they really are." Joss Whedon

I confess I enjoy taking photos while driving. Not to worry, because it's my superpower. As I was doing another drive-by photo shoot, I reminded my eldest son who was in the passenger seat to never text and drive and never under any circumstances should he take photos while driving. Don't judge me.

Welcome to Hannibal where storms brew over the Big River.


(The road ends in the Mississippi River.)
One of my favorite buildings
Sadly, I never featured this neglected building in my AtoZ posts. It's one of those creepy, abandoned places you would find on an episode of Supernatural. I would give ANYTHING to explore this forgotten piece of history. The spire has a metal architectural globe attached, and I imagine that's the exact spot where my MC siphons his powers from storms collecting in the atmosphere. Writing urban fantasy has taken root in my brain.


Marion County Courthouse



I recently spent an entire day (that I will never get back) inside the courthouse. And I wasn't even allowed to have a phone! No pictures. And no, I wasn't wearing an orange jumpsuit, although the chain gang did arrive while the court took a short recess. I was rejected for jury duty, the only time I jumped for joy at receiving a rejection.

How goes your MC's journey? You're not going too easy on him, are you? Are you putting up roadblocks and obstacles, making his journey full of potholes and detours? Throwing a few storms in the mix, forcing him off the road? Giving him jury duty? Now, that's pushing it a little too far.

All photos were taken while driving. No children, animals, or vehicles were harmed in the process. The Twain on Main Festival is this weekend. Tune in Monday for Twain sightings!

29 comments:

  1. My poor MCs never have a good time, I almost feel sorry for them. I love that building though, it has such potential for a creepy story!

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    1. I feel the same way. Just when they're starting to have a good time, BAM, I hit them again.

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  2. I won't judge.
    Those are some wicked cool buildings.

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  3. These are SO spooky with the overcast sky and the black&white photography! The perfect setting for a horror story! :)

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    1. I prefer overcast, rainy skies to sunny ones probably because of the potential set-up for suspense.

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  4. lol I'd jump for joy over that rejection too

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    1. I did. On the way out, the sheriff told me to not look so happy. ;-)

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  5. Finally a good rejection! So glad you're signed on for the Road Trip. See you along the way.

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    1. I know! I kept chanting to myself, "Don't pick me, don't pick me!" Haha!

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  6. Finally a good rejection! So glad you're signed on for the Road Trip. See you along the way.

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  7. Oooh, I can think of a whole host of stories to take place in those buildings, under that foreboding sky...

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    1. I'd like to think of the building with the globe and awning as apartment buildings--creepy and scary!! I doubt anyone lives there now.

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  8. Those buildings are neat. I like the coloring of the photos, too. Wouldn't it be fun to go inside and explore?

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    1. One of these days, I'm going to know who to ask so I can explore that building. As for the courthouse, I've had my fill ;-)

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  9. Those pictures are awesome! I love the cloud cover and the darkness of the pictures. It makes the building look eerie and cool. :) You're a lot better at driving and taking pictures than I am. :P

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    1. Thanks! Cloud coverage allows building to naturally pop in a picture.

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  10. Whoa, those buildings look incredible. And freaky.

    Rejected for jury duty...is there any better feeling? I've never had to even sit on a jury, as the one time I got called, the case was dropped the morning of. I was so relieved.

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    1. I've actually been rejected twice for jury duty. I knew each of the persons involved. Hmm... :-)

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  11. Congrats on being rejected for jury duty. That is one great feeling.

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  12. I just threw my MC into a river and nearly drowned him. Is that being tough enough? Not as terrible as sitting in a room all day without a phone or laptop. I think I'd rather be thrown in a river.

    Love those pictures. I can't believe they came out so well from a moving car.

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    1. Thanks! I'm becoming quite the pro. We have such control over our characters! I fidgeted so much that ridiculous nine hour day.

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  13. Awesome photos! I drove under a road sign the other day with the words "Trucks Rock...They Roll, Too. Buckle Up!" I wanted to snap a picture of it and post it online but I don't have the talent to drive and snap photos. I wish I had that superpower!

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    1. That's the worst, when a sign or something pops up and I'm not ready! I've been known to circle back around if I can:)

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  14. That building looks deliciously creepy! I'd love to go with you to explore it as it looks similar to how I imagine a building in my WIP. Why are abandoned places so magnetic?
    Thanks for stopping by this week :)
    AJ Lauer

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  15. I hardly take pictures when I'm not driving let alone while driving. I do like old buildings like you've captured in your photos. Maybe I'll have to remember to take some pictures during my summer travels this year. I think I'll stop though.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  16. You've got driving photography down to a fine art. I always wonder what happened to these old buildings and what stories they might have to tell us.

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  17. Great pics. I tend to take photos at red lights or if I'm stuck in traffic. If I'm on a small road, I'll go ahead and stop to take photos. I can't take a good pic if my hand is wobbly.

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    ReplyDelete

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