The subject of empty cities has been getting a great deal of attention recently, with the Life after People documentary and television series, plus the stream of pictures of abandoned buildings, both in Detroit from long economic decay, or newer houses left empty as part of the sub-prime crisis. Flickr’s abandoned pool is a great way to waste a few hours, as is Forgotten Detroit, although it appears that the latter hasn’t been updated in a few years.
But I think it is Tom Baker’s set on a modern LA devoid of cars that is the most haunting and provocative, hence the title of the post. LA, like Detroit, is a city defined by the automobile, although I think LA got the “better” bargain, as they got the sexiness without the industrial pollution of the manufacturing. Even But what Tom has proved is that hideous highways can be turned into art, as can be seen below, one of the nine images he has stitched together with a great deal of patience and time.
