Peanuts In My Pocket

Part of my new life as a retired person is that I’ve become the family Uber driver. I don’t mind this duty as it gives me time to myself. I can listen to a book, podcast, or music. I can also take photos. I carry my Fuji XPro 3 camera with me most of the time, so the opportunities are there to exploit. I am content while alone with a song in my ear and a camera in my hand. I find it peaceful.

I noticed this old abandoned Foster’s Freeze on a drive a few days ago and took a mental note to take a photo at the next opportunity. I like the look of the building, and seeing it again brought back a forgotten memory. A long time ago, about 2016 or so, my mother asked me to take her here so that she could get a chocolate-dipped ice cream. She told me the story of visiting this same place with her late husband after attending car shows. We sat at an outside table enjoying a decadent dipped cone on a blisteringly hot summer day. I remember having difficulty eating it fast enough to keep up with it melting. My mom got chocolate all over her shirt. I don’t eat much ice cream, but this one lives in my memory as one of the very best.

After taking this photo—well, after taking a dozen photos to arrive at this one—I realized that I am not satisfied with the image. I’ll take it again and again until I get it right, but for now, I’ll use it to help improve my skills by asking for feedback from ChatGPT. I used this prompt: “Assume the role of a photography instructor and give an assessment of this photo, providing feedback on how to improve the image.”

The feedback started with strengths:

1. Composition: The image is well-framed with the building centered, allowing the viewer to focus on the subject.
2. Lighting: The natural lighting creates a nice contrast and highlights the texture of the building’s exterior, emphasizing its abandoned state.
3. Mood: The boarded-up windows and doors, along with the empty parking lot, effectively convey a sense of neglect and abandonment.

The areas to improve are far longer and covered everything from angle and perspective to exposure and focus. All of this feedback was on point and gave me ideas about how to better approach another version of this photo. One bit of feedback was interesting: ChatGPT suggested putting something in the foreground. I’m not sure what—perhaps a hobo or a cat? The only usable bit of foreground material is a large ugly piece of blacktop.

Photography and memory are tied together for me. It is one of the reasons I enjoy the hobby so much. When I add in writing, it helps cement the bond between image and memory, plus I can share it with others. If you have a moment, please let me know what you think of the photo. Thanks.