The Polk Building at Western State Hospital in Tennessee was added to the original Kirkbride campus in 1932, to assist with overcrowding.
Photo: "Secure Entrance"
Inside the guard booth at the main entrance to the Forensic Building, for the criminally insane, at Mayview State Hospital.
Sadly, most of this campus is now demolished.
Photo: "Least Resistance"
Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum
It's natural to get stuck in a routine, to be so comfortable with something that change becomes frightening, but I truly believe that every ended opportunity leads to another open door full of possibilities. It's not often what we expect, and sometimes not what we think we want, but sometimes it's the best thing for us.
Photo: "In A Perfect World, You'd Remain the Same"
San Francisco from Treasure Island, 6/10/13
I love sitting on the water, watching the clouds pass by as the waves lap the shore.
Photo: "Among the Giants"
Fog at sunrise, Hartsville Nuclear Plant
Construction plans for the nuclear plant in Hartsville, Tennessee began in the 1970's, in preparation for the predicted need for nuclear power in the 1980's and beyond. When reports were presented depicting the actual demand for that type of power, the Tennessee Valley Authority realized the demand wasn't as high as predicted and cancelled the construction of the plant in 1983.
Photo: "Words Roll Off Your Lips"
Blue hour at Lake Tahoe, California
For me, blue hour is usually the most magical time of day. I can always use a little "magicalness" on a Monday morning.
Photo: "Ever Lasting"
Vultures perch atop a partially constructed building at a nuclear power plant in Tennessee.
Photo: "Someday..."
For many, it's hard to comprehend how someone could feel at peace inside an abandoned location, especially an asylum. Though many of these places were saturated with dispair, loneliness and depression, where patients were sometimes mistreated, asylums are also a major part of America's history that should not be forgotten. The serenity I find inside these places comes from the lessons we as humans have learned about care for the mentally ill, from the stories of those who were patients or staff that the images help tell, from the incredible architecture and the beauty in having an opportunity to document something that will soon be lost forever.
Photo: "Slivers"
"Rainless night,
moonlit sky
pouring glittered stardust upon the sea
the colorful melodies wrapped within
while resting peacefully..."
The Racetrack, Death Valley
Photo: "The Only Way To Survive"
Vines creep towards the light in the tunnels of the Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum, constructed in the late 1800's.
Photo: "Perspective"
Zabriskie Point, Death Valley
There are moments in life when I realize, often later than I'd like, that I've been so wrapped up in something that I lost perspective. I had one of those moments this morning and when I saw this imagine in my cue, it was a perfect example of how something massive can look so small without a little perspective.
Photo: "Winding"
Central State Hospital, formerly known as the Georgia Lunatic Asylum, admitted its first patient in 1842, but it wasn't until almost 40 years later that the Walker Building was erected.
This building was constructed during a time when racial segregation was common in the south and because it was intended for white male convalescent patients, its design seemed less institutional than the buildings housing the "coloured" patients.
Photo: "Interior Design"
It's always interesting looking at the artwork in former asylums. In buildings like the Forensic Building, for the criminally insane, at Mayview State Hospital, it was evident someone attempted to liven up the boring tile corridors and day rooms with paintings of nature.
Photo: "Fort Baker Blue Hour"
This morning, I set the alarm for 4:15am and went north to the Headlands to shoot sunrise. It wasn't anything amazing, but it was nice to stand on the windless cliff, alone for an hour watching the ships move in and out of the bay while snapping a few pics.
I haven't dumped the card from this morning yet, but here's a shot of the Golden Gate from Fort Baker, East of where I was this morning.
Photo: "Second Star To The Right"
North Ward, South Carolina Lunatic Asylum
Thanks for stopping by the new website. I've spent hours selecting images, many of which are previously unpublished, compiling history, writing descriptions and integrating a 'purchase' option for prints via SmugMug. Hope you enjoy!