Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Starfire Motel

I have passed a number of these old time motels around Niagara Falls... relics of '50s and '60s family vacationers. They look pretty seedy these days and and are not busy establishments. Niagara Falls is still a wonder of the world and a great place to visit for a day or a few hours, but these motels are neglected and frozen in time.

I plan to do a series of these signs but never seem to find the time when passing by. This shot was a spur of the moment, and to make matters worse I did not have a proper camera with me (which is very unusual) other than my iPod.  So, with a photo taken with a music player, you can't expect much... but with a bit of post processing I think the result is kind of in keeping with the subject.

4 comments:

  1. This is a classic sign. I wonder when they posted that the rooms had air conditioning? I bet it has been awhile. It's often said that the best camera is the one you have with you. Nice picture.

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  2. This would make a great continuing project, John. Ant there is plenty of material in the area. I love the mid-century look of these and the colors are still pretty bright. The iPod did a decent job, too.

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  3. Aah - now the internet ate my comment for the third time! Public wifi access points are not the most reliable ones, unfortunately.

    A strong image, John - and no need to regret not having used a "real" camera for it. The difference would only have become tangible in low light situations, I think.

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  4. Interesting place. Back in the late '90s, a Niagara Falls Gray Line Tour Company was headquartered out of THIS MOTEL. I worked for them in Ohio. We often booked hotel rooms along with our tours, and the unwritten rule was "Fill the Starfire First". Once it was full for the night, it was ok to book other hotels.

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