Most of American culture has been homogenized, pasteurized, and fortified by the inevitable march of progress. This is fine for our economic well being, but as a photographer I find it uninteresting to try to make evocative photographs of the latest crop of big box stores and fast food restaurants.

Fortunately (for my photography, if not for the residents), there are parts of America that have not prospered like the wealthy suburbs and Sun Belt meccas. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Nebraska sandhills, parts of the rural south, and a few other places have stood resolute against forces of change.

Okay, back to my photo: I like this microcosm of a rural past that is not really too distant. The old metal advertising signs, the stamped metal "brick work," and the old gas pump evoke the 1940s. And no, I'm not going to tell you where this photograph was taken--the highly collectable pump and signs will disappear soon enough anyway.

I hand color the pump with red photographic dye.

Lee Rentz