A Remembrance of Things Lost
The Lost Tomatoes :: Watts // Blanko Noir // No flash – the first of a pair of photos; see the second in the main galleryI’ve been capturing things lost on Hipstamatic more than two years now, and have built up quite a collection. They are things I’ve seen on my perambulations to work, to training, on holiday and generally out and about.
At first I photographed anything lost I came across, but as there are a remarkable number of lost things lying about everywhere, I soon had to become more discerning.
Nowadays I photograph only interesting objects, preferably in unusual situations or locations, and preferably in situ – in the actual spot they were lost, I mean, rather than somewhere they have whimsically been put by some lad out on a lark late at night. For instance, I once saw (and photographed) a CD rack that had been stuffed high into a tree. I am fairly sure that it had not wandered there of its own accord – unlike the conjoined ironing boards that had been dragged willy-nilly down Sturt St by the raging wind one day. I photographed those from the window of our first-floor office. Nor do I include in this collection items that have been deliberately abandoned.
The Lost Teddy :: Helga Viking // Ina’s 1969 // No flash – the very first Lost Thing I photographedThe most popular lost items are things that fall out of pockets of course, such as gloves and hankies; ribbons (the most favoured colours being red and pink); shoes – mostly children’s; hats and scarves of all sorts; and fruits and vegetables. I’ve also seen a surprising number of picnic baskets, but I do walk through the Botanic Gardens several times a week. No money unfortunately, except for the $5 Monopoly note. Most surprising is the number of large items that get left behind – an easel at Melbourne Central Station for heaven’s sake. How absent-minded can you get? Another amusing pair is the two suitcases I photographed in the same spot, in two successive days – how odd! Both feature colourful prints.
I have in my collection so far around 200 photos, but I have only included my favourite images in this Hipstagallery, which means most of them have been taken in the last year, after I upgraded from the 3g to 4s iPhone, which takes better quality photographs. I am sure I will be collect more in my travels. Check out the Lost Things Hipstagallery for more.