The Mother Road

Rock Cafe Historic Route 66 - Stroud, OK

Historic Route 66 - Stroud, OK

I recently received a google alert that some Route 66 fans were following my blog. While I had already posted some New Mexico photos from the Mother Road, I thought I'd say a big welcome with some other photos taken from Oklahoma on a summer's day ride to Tulsa.

Talk about a ride through Hades! It was 108 degrees that ride that took us to see some of the kitschiest attractions that remain on the road. This was before my big digital SLR camera came to play, so these are just some shots I made of the ride with the Harley Owners Group from Allen, Texas using my point and shoot. Just playing around with the old toy camera effect to capture the nostalgia of the road trip.

Here are a few of our highlights.

Round Barn - Arcadia, OK

Blue Whale - Catoosa, OK

©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.

Putting myself on display

Wednesday Night Special - McKinney, Texas 1986

I am getting pretty excited about my first photo exhibition. I have been gathering photos in preparation of the show and it is funny to see the progression of 25 years of photos. I guess my love of night shots and neon signs started earlier than I recall.

I remember taking this photo back in college when I worked as a photojournalist here in McKinney. I was driving down the service road of Central Expressway and spied this guy changing the daily special on the Holiday Inn sign. So I circled back and took a few shots.

I found the old negative in that same folder I told you about previously. I think I may have printed the photo once. Originally it was taken with black and white film. I remember hand tinting the print and then gave it to a friend who liked it. Never to see it again until now. But with the magic of computers, I was able to make it come back to life as I originally pictured in my head when I took it.

The old Holiday Inn sign no longer exists. The hotel has been sold to another chain. Holiday Inn has updated their brand and built a beautiful new hotel in McKinney. Ironically, some friends and Chris and I stayed there for New Years Eve. Little did I know a few days later I'd be reminiscing over the old Holiday Inn neon sign. Funny how that works.

I would like to extend an invitation to my followers and friends to come see my first show, Laura Smetak At Work and On the Road 7 p.m. January 31, 2009 at the McKinney Performing Arts Center in downtown McKinney. Many of my blog photos will be on display as well as my work photos of McKinney.

©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.

Happy 2009!

Just wanted to wish all my followers a happy and prosperous 2009!