Barren and Blue

               

Winter is turning out to be a slow and non-productive time for me this year.  So I’m digging into the archives to post another shot from the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.     

Pennhurst

      

Two weeks ago I made my 2^nd recent trip to Pennhurst Asylum.   While the campus is huge, most of the buildings are off limits due to asbestos or other hazards.  Currently the site is used as a mulch facility, haunted house and paranormal tours.  Only recently has the owner been open to photography tours.  The scene above is the raised sidewalks that connect most of the buildings.  Under the sidewalks are tunnels, but we did not have access to them this time.  

It's how I feel

After I finished editing and processing this picture I realized how my emotions influence my work.   Suffice it to say that today I was not in one of my better moods.   Thus I think I ended up with a picture that perhaps conveys a sense of my mood.    Some will just see an old car, but I think others might sense just a bit more.  

Every Picture Tells a Story

       

A couple of years ago I was shooting at Lorton Prison with Corey Hilz and a couple other friends and just before our time was up, Corey found this picture of an American flag inside one of the maximum security cells.   On my next trip to Lorton I made sure to find this cell.  On the inside of some of the cells you find a variety of drawings, posters and such that perhaps provide a little insight into the former residents.  Finding an American flag in a place like this is a favorite of mine. 

A few years ago access to Lorton was limited to a select few, not because of any arrangement, because it takes time to navigate the necessary channels.  Well now the secret is out an a number of photo clubs and groups have been shooting this place for the last year.  So last fall I was looking for this cell to work on this shot once more.  I was certain I was in the right area, but this cell eluded me.  Then I found that someone had shut the locker door so the flag was not exposed.  I’ll never know for sure, but I suspect it was another photographer that thought they had found something unique and by closing the door would deprive others of getting the shot. 

Year End and a Favorite

I have noticed lots of photographers posting their 12 favorite pictures for the year.  Considering this is the last day of 2012 I can’t possibly figure out my 12 favorites on such last notice.   One of the other problems is that I still have unprocessed images from this year.   Perhaps next year I’ll think of this concept in time to put something together.

The picture above was taken in Iceland this  year.  This was the first time I had shot this type of composition and exposure.  I was quite excited about this level of color, texture and simplicity. 

Here is a link to a few more of my pictures from Iceland.   

Saint Elizabeth’s

Last year I was quite lucky to get to spend a few hours inside of Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington D.C.    While part of Saint Elizabeth’s is a functioning institution, much of it has been locked up for about a decade, but is not in the usual state of disrepair that I prefer.   About the time I took this shot I noticed our guide walking away from the building entrance.   Being locked in was only temporary since some of the members of our group had found an unlocked door earlier in the day.  

Return of the Fabulous Tuckers

           

I was going through some of this year’s pictures looking for shots that I overlooked or never got around to editing.    Earlier this year I got to spend a morning with the largest private collection of Tuckers.  Considering that only 51 were ever produced, owning 3 of these wonderful cars makes this the largest private collection.   Originally I was not sure how I wanted to process this picture,  but with the benefit of time I decided on a look that I felt was appropriate.