Behind a historic house, a less-than-historic clothesline, punctuated by multi-coloured plastic clothespins.
Is it HDR or just better control over depth of field that could have given me a series of in-focus clothespins stretching to Infinity and beyond, per Buzz Lightyear? In any event, think how fine.
And don’t think about how they ever get anything dry by hanging it up outside . . .
I love the act of drying clothes outdoors. Over the course of my married life, I’ve had occasion to do just that – although the sad fact is that in some new neighborhoods – clotheslines are not allowed. I think the depth of field issue is something that is harder to deal with on a digital camera than on an old 35 mm manual camera. I learned on my dad’s old camera’s, and when I remember to think of it, it allows you lots of flexibility in your photo. However, I like the blurriness as it heads into infinity – that seems to fit as well. Would be a great day to hang out clothes today – sunny with a breeze!
Alison – I’ve never had a place of my own where we hung out clothes to dry, and don’t even have any memory of it as a kid, although it must have been the norm in Edmonton (pre 1959). But everyone I know who does it, does it because they love it. And I’m pretty sure you’re right – a clothesline would be verboten in most if not all new neighbourhoods. As for the depth of field, I suspect it’s like the rest of the camera arts – I have to take the time to practice when I’m not actually trying to get a photo! Then at least I’d be ready when I do want the shot.
My Mom joked about getting her clothes ‘freeze-dried’ in winter. She always hung them out. The electric dryer was too expensive to operate. My Mom was very ‘Scottish.’ We lived on a dairy farm. No neighbors to complain, but if it was spring-time and Dad was spreading manure, you better hope the wind was blowing the other way.
Thanks for the memories.
Jim – Thanks for your memories. That image of manure on the laundry will stay with me! I never quite understood this business of freezing laundry on the line, but I guess it dried them out a bit, so that when they thawed inside, they weren’t nearly so wet?