Stills

The wires are well positioned in the picture - one of up to six layers. The v of the dirt track is a great intro and the progressive pieces of information up the picture describe the place well. For me this is 'Americana', which always attracts in a strange sort of way.
 

"For me this is 'Americana',"

For me, this looks like the kind of place where you wake up in the middle of the night to find the neighbor's house burning from a mistake in their meth lab. I'm tempted to say that it is the old cars and the washed out road that make me feel this, but I think something in the post processing also gives it this feel; it seems like there is a lot of detail that has been obscured in the web presentation,.
 

I don't get so much from the aesthetics here, but there is enough to contain the documentary elements such that I get some understanding of what sort of place this is without being bored by the presentation. This is, I feel, the real challenge of documentary work (if, indeed that is what you are doing. I'm not trying to put words/labels in your mouth).
 

If this is "Americana", I'd better move elsewhere! I'm joking (well, half-joking) -- unfortunately I think I get John's point, although not the part about how it "attracts". This type of image is tough for me, since I'm usually going for the opposite effect.

That said, I definitely get a feel for the place and the composition is very well arranged. The dirt road foreground is surprisingly interesting and works beautifully to take me into the rest of the image. The tones seem perfect for this.
 

I was interested in the half vehicle on the left, why half?

I love the way the dirt track leads me into the picture.

The lack of grass makes it look very dry, desolate and run down.
 

It grew on me. Took time and a few visits :) I often struggle with pure documentary. Others' comments have helped me appreciate it.
 

First, thanks again for your candid comments as they are a wonderful reflection purely on the merits of the image presented.

As to this image, it is from another series that is in progress of which you have seen some outtakes over the last couple of months.

I've struggled with the 'documentary' process for the images, but I have become more accepting as I reflect on what you all have written, Thanks!

This is another economic struggling area of Riverside County, but changes are occuring as people recognize the good deals (investments) available in this area.

So at times I am trying to capture the contrast of the new development and the context of the change, such as this image. The new house on top of this hill and the older homes below with this dirt lot (yes Stephane, very dry and arid and LOTs of dirt) and the older vehiles being stored in this seam between them. The lighting conditions this morning were tough, so to Matt's point, a challenage to bring out all of the latent textures and values. As to the partical car on the left, an attempt to bring a little more tension into this urban landscape image.