49. Where the phones were...

I’ve written about projects a few times and as I’ve mentioned there is one project that has frustrated me.

For 16 years I have shot pictures of the spaces where phones used to be. I love this idea for a project — but unfortunately when I go back to the images, I don’t find them to be great photographs or even to hold together as a cohesive project. And then I see others who have done the subject much better (but those just become my inspiration to keep reaching, improving and growing).

That said, last week, I put up a picture of my reflection in a pay phone and

Kevin Cassidy

commented:

The pay phone is a fascinating subject as a relic of the past. It’s interesting in way, that you were able to find one at all. I’ve come across places where you can tell a pay phone once existed.

That sealed it for me. It was time for me to finally write this post. Here are the spaces I have seen where pay phones (and other public phones) used to exist… or, where pay phones were meant to exist but never did.

At the end, is an example of this done better then I could ever accomplish… then finally some phones. You can also look at the collection on my website for more.

Who did this well?

Check out this incredible image by

Tom Bland

of

PappasBland

. They published it here and I am lucky enough to now own a print of it. It hangs in my home office and every time I walk in its an inspiration to keep reaching. If you don’t already follow them, you should start. Always inspirational work—and fun to watch them (through their photographs) fall in love with New England—and track down their story also—what a great love story.

The Pay Phones

And yes, over the years I have also snapped a few interesting pay phones. Again I am inspired by others. There are amazing Instagram accounts such as this one dedicated to pay phones.