Page 64 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 4 #2

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weekend because it was so darn far. into the trance that long drives generate, I try
When you started a drive to the coast, you to pay attention to what is around me. I also
had to put your mind in neutral and just en- try to get off interstate highways every time I
dure mind-numbing monotony. If you thought can and take the back roads. Life is too short
about anything, you thought about your desti- to spend it on interstate highways, even if you
nation. The drive was the price you had to pay. might save a little time.
As a result, I had never really seen or thought All this brings me back to my recent trips
much about that area of North Carolina. I down east. Because I have gotten off the in-
drove along those roads without seeing or feel- terstates, slowed down, and paid attention, I
ing anything. have come to see the beauty and complexity of
However, since I took up photography, I have this area. On the January trip, I tried to focus
tried to work on my powers of observation. In- on the small towns and on abandoned houses
stead of taking things for granted or assuming and barns. There is a plentiful supply of these
that I know what I am seeing, I try to be more subjects.
observant and really “see” things. This is espe- Take, for example, the town of Everetts, lo-
cially true when I am driving. Instead of going cated in Martin County, just off Highway 64

64 |Down East