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| Corrugated Iron, Eurelia Railway Station Goods Shed, South Australia |
While a penchant for neatness, order
and logic most likely explains my affinity for corrugated iron, the
unkind would probably attribute it to the inflexibility and
pedanticism of a full-blown control freak!
Whatever it is, corrugated iron's neat
rows and precise undulations with their resultant patterns of light
and shade hold an artistic appeal that actually increases as the
decay inevitable in Australia's harsh climate starts breaking it
down.
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| Inside the Eurelia Railway Station Goods Shed |
To me, anyway.
Tiny and nearly deserted railway siding
Eurelia, in South Australia's mid-north just south of Carrieton is
symptomatic of the decline and fall of the rural railway network once
linking remote outposts and delivering mail and supplies across the
country.
The decay of the unused structures at
the station now rusting, falling apart and succumbing to dry rot
echoes the decay of a rail system once the life-blood of rural
Australia.
But the other side of decay is its
unexpected beauty.
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| Eurelia Railway Station Goods Shed, South Australia |
The fading paintwork on the corrugated
iron of the Eurelia goods shed ruin, overlaid with the graffiti inevitable
to a large, deserted and empty building is a stunning patchwork of
colour, light and shade. And the crumbling cut-off 44 gallon drum is
a prop I couldn't have bettered in a million years ...
Eurelia's inadvertent art installation
owes much to the fine properties of corrugated iron in decay. And
while it's unlikely the rail network will be resurrected in my
lifetime – if ever – the clean-lined rusting beauty of its decay
overlaid with fading colours and random signatures will just get
better as the years roll on.
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| Eurelia Railway Station, South Australia |
But maybe that's just my inner
control-freak talking!
Read MORE:
For different takes on beauty in decay
from around the world by the City Daily Photo community click HERE! (AFTER 4:00pm 1 June, Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Doubt anyone sees beauty in my decay. I dislike modern corrugated iron with its skinny lines and ridges. The goods shed is proper corrugated iron, of the type that will rust through eventually. I noted the water pipe for refilling the train tanks. A slightly sad post, but nice.
ReplyDeleteAll things return to dust, but what beauty while it lasts. Inspiring pictures, Red!
ReplyDeleteI do see the beauty in these disappearing stuffs. Well captured. I like the textures.
ReplyDeleteI'm no control freak but I just love our use of corrugated iron. There's just nothing like it. I love the re-use of it with different coats of paint and decay, I love our dunnies made of it, I even had a large shed built and specified corrugated iron rather than those flat sheets. Good post.
ReplyDeleteWasn't it from corrugated iron shacks that people always reported UFO sitings?
ReplyDeleteUnexpected beauty, clamoring for its place. Art.~Mary
I'm with you on this one Red, rust makes for very interesting images...and it's red! It's nice to think of this 'rural art in progress' sitting there in the outback!
ReplyDeleteAmazing how nature can colour objects. You could not do it yourself.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
In Tucson, people use this style to "art up" their restaurants, homes etc. It's such a beautiful look....I think. But the sun being as strong as it is here can be a powerful artist on copper, iron, etc. You really do hit some rural areas.
ReplyDeleteI want to see Australia so badly......it's huge! Living in the desert makes me want to really see the desert near and around Perth and Central portions of Australia. I know a lot of it is remote, but the stories of the Aborigines, etc etc have always held my fascination. We both live in some incredible places:)
G'day Red - Superb narrative accompanying these stunning shots - who couldn't love the colours and stories of these decaying Aussie structures.
ReplyDeleteSome stunning old shearing sheds out there too!
Great post!
I don't think I'll quite see corrugated iron again in the same way - wonderful shots of decay! All that rust makes for marvelous combinations and possibilities (and yes, as Gracie at PerthDailyPhoto says, also lots of red!:)
ReplyDeleteCorrugated iron with its rust and colour variations ... the older and more scraggier the better .... a delight to my eyes Red.
ReplyDeleteTo me it's easy to see the beauty of corrugated iron, in all its stages but not easy to described that beauty. You did so brilliantly, plus backed it up with images. Love it!
ReplyDeleteSad to see the decline of rail service. It's happening here in the U.S. as well. Glad you found some great images in the old corrugated iron, wonderful multicolored patterns.
ReplyDeleteI've seen many such sheds in my moves from one state to another, some of them shearing sheds, some railway sheds, many old backyard sheds that used to be outdoor laundries and detached garages. All beautiful in their own way, but i could never have described them as you have.
ReplyDeleteThe changing of the state is the beauty....
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for theme day! I particularly like your first shot. Nice use of pattern and color. Cheers from Colorado!
ReplyDeleteStrange how something so ugly, from one angle, can be so striking when seen from another
ReplyDeleteExcellent, didn´t realize rust could have so many colors
ReplyDeleteBrilliant perspectives!!
ReplyDeleterust has a certain aesthetic appeal - maybe it is the inherent reminders of a time less stressed.
ReplyDeleteYou really got the best from those half-rusted pieces of corrugated iron!
ReplyDeleteYou've chosen a perfect subject for today's theme. I fully understand your fascination with corrugated metals. I too have special affection for anything with repeating patterns in it.
ReplyDeleteI have seen so many of these corrugated sheets in poor townships in South Africa, and am happy that strong material such as this can be put to a useful purpose. Better to have more substantial housing, but that's the way it is in some areas. Very colorful photo.
ReplyDeleteYour first shot is glorious!
ReplyDeleteI really love the first shot too, it reminds me of a patchwork quilt. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought old corrugated iron came in such a range of colours.
ReplyDeletethe first photo really shows how corrugated iron could be quite pretty at times :)
ReplyDeleteIt decays slowly, but decay it does. Nice post for this theme.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great subject to photograph. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suzanne...my wife is a quilter and I also instantly thought this would make a fantastic quilt design.
ReplyDeleteYour photos of rust are very interesting. Haven't you been on this rust kick for a while? I remember another rust and i mentioned Neil Young. He had an album out called Rust. Reminds me of the b/w pictures of the depressions years that are bleak yet really draws one in.
ReplyDeleteThe first picture looks like cool+abstract art...its indeed difficult to explain why we sometimes like what we like, but this is what makes us unique right? happy rest of the weekend:-)
ReplyDeleteSymply ART. That is.
ReplyDeleteYou’ve made a great Theme Day post. I'm glad you picked these for today. Thanks for the informative text.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. I like the rust.
ReplyDeleteVery nice paen to corrugated iron and decay. Perfect for Theme Day.
ReplyDeleteAn artful introductory shot, superb writing from psychoanalysis to geography and history, and excellent illustrations - great contribution to the theme!
ReplyDeleteYes, the one thousand word concept allows the inner you to let fly, Red. I agree that the opening shot is just superb!
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a great contribution to our Theme Day.
Great post, the first image have an extraordinary array of colors and textures!
ReplyDeleteI love the first photo. It's like a modern art installation. Great colours.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by at Polonica: Home Again. I am looking forward to seeing more of your Australian adventures - I've joined your site.
Love the first pic. Will make a wonderful texture for backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteI love the first pic too. Great post for this theme!
ReplyDeleteRust never sleeps.
ReplyDelete"Eurelia's inadvertent art installation" - it truly is, those pictures are breathtakingly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed all these shots, I can imagine the wind makes this 'art installation' sound good as well as look good!
ReplyDeleteThis iron makes very beautiful colors! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteI like it too. And the rust is red after all, did you say that already?
ReplyDeleteAnd the barn, ..well, not exactly living art, but it is changing all the time!
Love the top shot. Fabulous colours!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and I have been browsing you blog enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteUm... That's like 300 words. (yes I counted them). Luckily these photos are speaking to me and with a funny accent no less. Speaking of which - When are you going to toss in a tiny video of yourself. I think your fans are ready for it.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is beautiful! I so wish it´ll rain at night when we´re in Perth - hopefully we get a cabin with that material as a roof again and ... aww, I so love the sound of rain on it. Not the forget the smell of the eucalyptus-trees!
ReplyDeleteNeat pictures! The first one is especially beautiful.
ReplyDelete@Andrew - I couldn't suppress my melancholia at Eurelia - so sad to see the decline and fall of the rural rail network. Sadly, no one wants to see my decay either, so I stick to inanimate objects!
ReplyDelete@TMWH - This is such heavy quality iron it'll be a long time turning to dust ... just as well for aspiring photographers, huh?!
@Indrani - I'm a texture girl too!
@Arija - It's one of the best building materials around! I particularly like the small size as seen on many outback homes, particularly Broken Hill!
@Mary - Hahaha! It symbolises both social and geographic isolation!
@PDP - There's a lot of such 'art' around OZ - can't go wrong with texture & colour like this, huh?!
@Filip - Correct! The original colours of this iron are long gone ... leaving the beauty I hope I have shown!
@Chris - Would be VERY interesting to compare notes on our deserts ... there are others as well as those you describe, and it's fascinating to know that Aussie Aboriginals lived in them for many thousands of years in a way that us big softies couldn't!
@Rose - HAha, I NEARLY used a shearing shed for this post, but couldn't resist the RED!
ReplyDelete@LONDONLULU - You've uncovered my cunning plan! The whole post was just a surreptitious way to sneak in more RED!
@Dianne - It must be one of the few building materials that actually improves with age!
@Pauline - Thank you so much! It didn't come easily, so I'm glad it was appreciated!
@TFG - Sadly down here the railway decline has meant certain death for many small towns and outposts. Not to mention the wastage of buildings and infrastructure! But what would I know?? I'm just a voter ...
@River - Haha, I hope that's a good thing??!!
@wilf - It is indeed, my friend!
@Tamera - It's a weird feeling to receive greetings from somewhere higher than anywhere in OZ!!
@Glen - Guaranteed completely photo-shop free!
@Rob - Yes! And it's SO cool that most of them are shades of RED!
@magiceye - Thank you!
ReplyDelete@Gerald - Perhaps so. I guess this is what iron does when it relaxes ...
@VP - Thank you!! It's sometimes amazing how it all comes together in a photo!
@Sharon - Repeating patterns make the world go round!!!
@Kate - Actually, I don't think you can get too much more substantial than well-constructed with high quality corrugated iron!! It takes FOREVER to break down ...
@cieldequimper - Thank you!! Tell all your friends!!
@Suzanne - I never thought of that, but you're right!! Maybe I should patent a pattern!
@BFG - And so much the better that most are RED!
@Kris - I think it needs some ageing first ...
@Judy - VEEERRRY Slowly!!
@slim - Haha, I actually picked it because it was EASY ...
@Stuart - Haha, that does it! I'm definitely patenting the design!!
@Manzanita - We're clearly ALL inspired by rust in some way ... but in my case, it's probably the RED that sucks me in!
ReplyDelete@Jana - I like finding abstracts in the non-abstract - and you're right about our uniqueness! Thanx for your visit!
@Peter - Thank you!
@Lynette - I've tried really hard to post a pic without words, but I just can't!
@Randy - Rust is good. Rust is RED!
@ODP - Decay is often underrated!! I can't imagine many of my photos without it!
@paul - One does one's poor best ...
@Julie - I DO struggle with brevity, don't I?!?!
@Carraol - I couldn't believe the magic in the viewer on my camera so I pressed the button QUICK!
@Zosia - Thank you! And I hope you enjoy the Aussie Adventures ride!!
@Ramakant Pradhan - I see a stint as my banner shot in this photo's future ...
@Karl Demetz - Thank you!
@Birdman - Thank god for that!
@Merisi - Thank you! I couldn't help but think it was art - I was just there to capture, not create!
ReplyDelete@Deb - Yes, there's definitely 'music' that will evolve as the 'installation' breaks down!
@Spiderdama - Thank you!
@Sallie - I'll be interested to watch its further decline ... the changes to shapes and colours will be fascinating to capture!
@JM - Thank you!
@whiteangel - I'm glad you're enjoying it & look forward to seeing more of you!
@SFlaGuy - Haha, the 1000 words refers to the picture(s) - anything added by me is superfluous ... as for a video - I'm not sure the world is ready for my acting 'talents'!!!!
@Iris - Rain on corrugated iron is the best sound in the world!!! And a whiff of eucalyptus makes any moment better!!
@Linda - Thank you!
love love the first corrugated iron pic
ReplyDelete@Visual Communication - Thanx!! I saw it in the viewer and thought 'YES'!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat colours, as everyone agrees. As for the sound of rain on a corro roof - there's nothing more soothing. Knew a chap who lived in a house with a tiled roof... but put a piece of roofing iron outside his window so he would hear the rain at night.
ReplyDeleteAnd PS... tapping a plastic water tank is nowhere near as informative as tapping an iron one [or just feeling the change in temperature near the water line] to guess how soon one will taste kerosene in a cup of tea...
@FruitCake - Haha, love the story about putting the roofing iron over the tiles ... maybe I should try that over the camper trailer canvas?? Sometimes the drumming of the rain only a few inches from my face is a bit much!!! And ... plastic tanks are also unlikely to survive a bushfire!!!
ReplyDelete