2014 Deck – Week 23

On November 1, 2014November 1, 2014 By themichaellamcollectionIn 2014 Deck, Photography1 Comment

On the face of it, I look Chinese, that plus the camera in hand usually sets people in Georgetown to thinking that I’m a tourist; this means I’m either a target for criminal elements or people think I’m harmless and do things in front the camera that they wouldn’t normally do for most other local male photographers (I distinguish the gender because I’ve also seen that most people are more comfortable and open in front of female photographers).

This street photo is one that I liked, it’s not the perfect composition as I was on the back of a moving truck (no shocks to speak of, Georgetown roads, and a driver who used his accelerator, breaks and clutch as if they were piano keys).

I just wanted the horse-cart in the foreground of the Shell Service Station, and the man on the horse-cart suddenly posed 🙂

105mm, 1/3200s, f/4.0, ISO500

Click on the image to see it in the Gallery.

2012 Deck – Week 50

On December 21, 2012December 21, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn 2012 Deck, Photography2 Comments

In one of those whirlwind type moves, the local chain of Texaco Service Stations was taken over, and before most people realised it, they were being rebranded to the new name of “Rubis”

Fortunately, I managed to take a long exposure of this one at Liliendaal, Georgetown, just days (or day) before they began the rebranding.

End of an Era

On September 13, 2010September 13, 2010 By themichaellamcollectionIn Commentary, Photography15 Comments

I doubt if I have all the facts, but I think I have the general gist of the thing. For as many years as I can remember, and probably for as many years as I have existed, there have been three “Gas Stations” on Vlissengen Road, right next to one another; from north to south it was Texaco, then Esso and then Shell. I think most Guyanese grew up calling these places Gas Stations, instead of the more internationally acceptable “Petrol Station” or “Service Station”. At Mashramani time, these stations were always popular meeting places, and even “drinking places”.

A few years ago, the Shell service stations were purchased by Sol, and are operated under the Shell brand/franchise, shortly after that Sol also bought out the Esso service stations, these now operate either unbranded or as Sol service stations. So at this point Sol had two service station competing with each other, right next door to each other, on Vlissengen Road. I figure that it was only a matter of time before one had to close down.

The Esso service Station was known by many as the KC Correia Service Station, and it has been under that management for more years than I care to count. I was told that it is now closing its doors. That is sad, but changes are inevitable and we must either change with it or be left behind. It seems that the old Esso Station was chosen to close its doors over the more modern Shell Station.

I took this photo last Friday, not knowing when I would get the chance again.