Plywood Veneer Peeling at Midday

Dust particles hang suspended in the pale, diffused light streaming through the high skylights of a grain elevator converted for veneer production. Thin sheets of plywood curl away from the rotating lathe in the center, their pale wood grain against the darker, grain-hardened metal of the machinery. The symmetrical composition pulls attention straight down the central aisle, where stacks of raw lumber line the walls on either side. Early spring light falls through the haze, illuminating the fine sawdust that coats the concrete floor and the rusted edges of the industrial equipment. One sheet of veneer rests against the lathe's support, its surface smooth and slightly reflective under the overhead glow.