a Merry Christmas couch

I sold a copy of this image at Art Etc (my first couch sale!)

In the Christmas vein, this photo was taken December 30th 2009 and I assume it could be thrown out because they got a new couch for Christmas. We have a rule that you are not supposed to buy something that can be plugged in for Christmas, but I don't think my wife would be too excited about a couch.

Not a true nature photographer

last week's post was about waiting for a bed-spring to be moved so I could have a better photo, and this week is about my tampering with a scene. I rarely change anything in the scene I come across ( and for a few years it was against my principles) but here I moved the blue pillow from the chair to on top on the garbage can. I think it makes a slightly better photo.

This is a difficult job I have

I came across this couch on my bike ride to work in early December. Normally I have one chance to take the photo as in >90% of the cases they are picked up within hours. But the garbage truck had already passed. I was hopeful that someone would come and take the bed-spring away for its metal. It had not been removed on my way home that night, but the next morning it was gone. Only problem was I had to take the bus as it had snowed overnight and I couldn't photograph it. The next day it was gone.

Four days in the life (death) of a couch

I did a series of my top ten couch "histories" where they traveled or had an interesting story.

I liked this couch - not only did it moved but it had the snow come and melt and come again all in less than a week. 

Double insult

You can see the garbage collector in the corner of the photo. He was the cause of my embarrassment. I was talking to this 70 year old man who also told me that he had never thrown out furniture in his life, and I confidently told him that I was waiting to take a picture of the couch being thrown into the truck. When they passed without removing it, I felt that my couch expertise was being put into question. I didn't even have the chance to tell him that they can leave them on Mondays but that Thursdays they always take them. (I learned this from talking to a janitor after he asked me what I was doing)

Gets Dark Early Now

although it gets dark early now there are still opportunities to photograph the thrown out couches I find thanks to the very good ISO capabilities that the new cameras have. Here are a few recent ones.

Restarting my couch blog (weekly this time) - Thrown out couches in the MAC

We went to see the biennale exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Montreal and I was a bit surprised to see this work by Taysir Batniji from his series of photos taken in Bahrain. His work is ",,,,,displacement disappearance and illusion are central continuing themes." 

Maybe one day I will be acknowledged.

A History of one Backyard

the saga started on May 13, 2013  

it turned around and went against the wall May 27, 2013 

and on June 4 under the balcony 

by August 2nd it rolled over and had inherited a mattress 

on August 6th more stuff joined the party 

on the 8th it moved to the other side of the garden 

where it joined another one in the backyard

and on August 19th it made it to a dumpster 

imagine my surprise when on October 29, 2013 this one appeared under the balcony 

on December 2nd it was still there, minus a few friends 

some bicycles showed up March 2, 2014 

and moved around a bit for this photo on April 23 

on May 13 it turned the corner and on May 27th it was gone - 

and I never saw it actually in the garbage

imagine my surprise that on May 29 the ones below showed up 

I will keep you posted on how long these ones stay

Special One Minute video

the other day there were two places on my block that had couches being thrown away. Luckily I was there to see them loaded into the truck. These guys work hard - less than five minutes for the whole deal..

Eventually I will get back

in the meantime you can follow me on Instagram

alexbrz

#sofafree #dailycouch

Some 2014 Couches as filler #27

Some 2014 Couches as filler #26

Some 2014 Couches as filler #25

Some 2014 Couches as filler #24

Some 2014 Couches as filler #23

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Some 2014 Couches as filler #21

Some 2014 Couches as filler #20

Some 2014 Couches as filler #19

one of my favorite locations- the snow and cold are almost over- need to buy new bike as my old one was stolen at the end of last year - then I will be back in gear

Some 2014 Couches as filler #18

the season may be restarting = three in one day

Some 2014 Couches as filler #17

 I am promise I will get back to my top ten reason for doing the project - busy and mindset elsewhere

Some 2014 Couches as filler #16

still having trouble writing my more pithy blog posts

Some 2014 Couches as filler #15

Some 2014 Couches as filler #14

Some 2014 Couches as filler #13

this couch has been there since the fall

Some 2014 Couches as filler #12

Believe it or not- I am starting to know these guys- very pleasant for not an easy job-I gave this one my card and I will have to print up a few action shots to give them when I see them again.

Some 2014 Couches as filler #11

Some 2014 Couches as filler #10

Some 2014 Couches as filler #9

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Some 2014 Couches as filler #7

love that there is a pumpkin on this one

Some 2014 Couches as filler #6

from my "shooting fish in a barrel" location

Some 2014 Couches as filler #5

the one below taken a week after the one above may or may not be the same as the one below as there were originally two the first day