Sunday, January 10, 2010

Shimmer

I don't know a thing about Tip Top Cleaners except it's a block from Cold Stone Creamery. Location, location, location. Important for any business.

I like the photo, though. All those nondescript, bagged-up clothes on the right, the press-board (or is it plywood?) counter, the plastic trash can, the wires and chains coming down from the ceiling, the round ventilation fans above, the semi-confusing reflections, even the neon sign, none of it--none of it--can take away from that dress.

17 comments:

Dina said...

Ooh, it's like a phantom in the night window!

Shell Sherree said...

I thought of Grace Kelly as soon as I saw that dress! I love your photo, too, Petrea.

Greg Sweet said...

Medium density fiberboard?

Petrea Burchard said...

Phantom, yes, Dina. Cinderella among the mice.

I thought of you, Shell. It's fanciful, like your art.

Greg, that's probably the word I was looking for but I didn't know it!

Katie said...

The dress looks like it's dancing all on its own. I like the name Tip Top Cleaners; sounds like the kind of place Grace Kelly would take her dancing dresses for drycleaning (thanks Shell!).

writerphotodeb said...

Lovely! Night shots of empty places let you see your own mystery...

Petrea Burchard said...

Katie, it kind of makes me think of Fred Astaire.

Well put, Deb!

John Sandel said...

The chips are too big for MDF. Looks like your archetypal "I'll make you a counter, honey" 3-ply.

I like the late-night feel of this—like walking home after a party. What furtive gestures do mannequins make when we're home asleep, or speeding blindly past in our cars?

John Sandel said...

Second glance, Greg's right. What looked like wood chips are artefacts in the photo.

Greg Sweet said...

@J+P: I thought oriented strand board myself at first. Do you suppose they used drywall screws or a nail gun? Oh yeah, nice photo, Petrea :)

Greg Sweet said...

I mean, Asian strand board.

Petrea Burchard said...

I think they probably used those little nails, the ones that are just a bit bigger than tacks. Can you put those in a nail gun?

Laurie Allee said...

I love this.

And congrats on the top ten placement at Hometown Pasadena!

Chuck Pefley said...

Wonder if the bride never came back for her dress, or if the cleaner is storing (and using) it for her.

Ms M said...

Love the photo! This scene reminds me of the Cole Porter song, "You're the Top:

You're the top!
You're the Coliseum.
You're the top!
You're the Louvre Museum.
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss
You're a Bendel bonnet,
A Shakespeare's sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile,
You're the Tower of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But if, baby, I'm the bottom you're the top!

Tash said...

I like the photo very much too. Esp. the double-double lettering. TIP-TOP photo!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Laurie,

Chuck, you have an interesting take on the situation. I suppose it's possible. But sad, if a bride doesn't come back for her dress.

Ms. M! You have replaced the song that was driving my brain crazy. This one will be pleasant for a day or two...

Thanks, Tash. I'd type that in neon if I could.