kenievans Loc: Dallas

Every few months we make the pilgrimage to the Heritage Market and Bakery in Kemp TX. It is owned and operated by a Mennonite family that is originally from Pennsylvania, very near the small town my wife grew up in. In the tiny store they sell rows and rows of bulk baking and cooking ingredients, material and items for sewing, books, homemade candy and fresh local products like sausage and cheese. They bake and sell bread, sweet and savory pastries, fried pies and best of all hot sticky buns right out of the oven. They also import and sell some of the chips and other snacks that my wife misses from Pennsylvania.

I finally got up the courage to ask if I could photograph the store and its eclectic merchandise. They were kind enough to even allow me back in the kitchen area for a few photos. While the store is very colorful with clear bulk bags of iridescent jello mix and jars of jeweled toned jams and jellies It also quite dark in some areas. I decided to do a black and white series to capture the feeling of stepping back in time that you get when you come into the little store. I had these printed and I plan to take them to the store as a thank you for letting me bother them. I hope you enjoy them.

As always your comments and suggestions are very welcome.

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Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

I like them. You accomplished what you set out to do and the store owners will certainly be happy to receive the prints. I suspect they will soon be displayed in a prominent area of the store.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

A thoughtful gesture and I bet you'll enjoy presenting them as much as they will enjoy receiving. Interesting series that gives me a great sense of place.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Very nice series Keni. I particularly like #4 and #5, very atmospheric. They will love them for sure.
Will you be trying a bit of ‘grunge’ on some? It may suit them.

JimG1 Loc: Waxahachie, TX

Wonderful series Keni! Having grown up in Dallas and spending a bit of my youth in east Texas I didn't know this place existed. Now I'm going to have to take a drive and check it out. Thanks for sharing this!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Thank you! I haven't worked with black and white very much. I was concerned they might be too dark.

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

Looks like they are out of luck if they need another shelf or counter to put something on. B&W works well.
It appears the lack of good lighting resulted in some bokeh in a picture where it would have been better without it.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Thanks Linda. There are not many of these types of stores left. Everything has been swallowed up by the big box stores. Hopefully this one will be around for a while.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Thank you! I do think I will go back and do some more work on them. I think these are good place to start experimenting with processing black and white. I just downloaded Topaz Studio so I have a new play ground.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Glad you like them Jim! My family has been in this area of Texas since the late 1800's. So many of these little mom and pop places have disappeared. If you want the sticky buns you have to call ahead and order them but everything else is available there in the store. It is always worth the drive to me.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Yes Gaylord it was not a great lighting situation especially back in the kitchen and it was pretty crowded back there with their giant ancient Hobart mixers. I haven't seen one like this since I was in elementary school and my mom worked in the cafeteria.

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magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I have the Topaz suite but haven’t converted to Studio yet. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it. The apps are great - although the temptation is always to overdo the effect - subtle is good!