Photo: "Wing Archway"

The Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum was constructed in four waves between 1857 and 1885. It was constructed based on a Renaissance Revival design and was adorned with wood floors and trim. This building contained a four-story central structure and North and South wings. Each floor of each block contained individual patient rooms until 1915 when renovation began. 

Large open areas were created by removing partition walls, to provide patients with open dormitories and seating areas and electricity was also introduced. 

In 1980, the wings were cleared of patients, but the central portion of the building was still being used. 

The Babcock Building was placed on the National Historic Register in 1981. 

Photo: "Hey There Manly Beacon!"

After setting up my tripod at the top of the hill with the rest of my group, I decided I wasn't happy with my perspective. Since I shot sunrise from that same spot during the last trip, with a nice sky, I decided I wanted a new angle.

I began the decent into the canyon half an hour before sunrise, stopping along the way to take shots from various angles and not realizing that I had walked so far until the Manly Beacon was directly to my right. I suddenly realized the walk back to the car would be much farther than I had anticipated. 

Photo: "Glass House No More"

Standing inside a collapsed building, once part of an old fish hatchery, in the Mono Lake area. 

Photo: "A Zen Lifestyle"

Former commune, California.

Photo: "By the Light of Dawn"

Dawn light pours into a patient room, at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum, through a partially collapsed ceiling. 

Photo: "Alone I Wait"

Greystone Psychiatric Hospital, 2010

Another image from the archives, taken on the top floor of a ward at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey. 

Photo: "Lost Time Clings to Fences"

Blue hour at a former California dairy farm. 

Photo: "Effervescent"

Badwater, Death Valley

Photo: "The Morgue"

U.S. Marine Hospital, Tennessee

This morgue is very special to me, as it is the only one I have found completely in tact, copper head piece and all. 

This hospital was originally constructed in the late 1800's, but the main building was demolished and reconstructed in the 1930's. 

(Technical: Dark basement. 2min 20sec exposure. Lit with LED and incandescent flashlights.)

Photo: "Curves of the Dunes Part II"

There is something very special about the way the light hits the Mesquite Dunes early in the morning...

Photo: "Conveyor Belt of Hooks"

Based on what little information I've found online, this building, at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, was where blasting and painting of military parts was done. The two main buildings, connected by a thin hallway of hooks on conveyor belts, contained groups of washers, blasters and driers. 

Photo: "The Light Begins to Show"

South Carolina Lunatic Asylum

It is not often that beams of mid-day sunlight wind up in my shots, but I was intrigued by the textures the window grates created on the ground. 

While standing here, I couldn't help but wonder how many dozens of patients watched these same shadows move as the time ticked pass... 

Photo: "Things That Go Bump In the Night"

Car near Aguaberry Mine Camp, Death Valley

On our first evening in Death Valley last month, we ventured out to shoot a mine camp. It was the first time I had been shooting at night in a few months, so I was feeling a bit out of practice, but it was amazing being out under the stars again.

(Technical: This is a blend of two images, one exposed for the sky, the other for the light painting and car.)

Photo: "Curves of the Dunes"

Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley. 

Photo: "The Bluest of Blue"

Former dairy farm, California