The Administration Building at the former Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California is the oldest building's on the grounds, but since the construction in 1870, many modifications have been done. Here, they have added ceiling tiles, carpet and modern office lighting fixtures.
(Buy a print )
Mayview State Hospital, Pennsylvania
Sadly, demolition on this 100 year old campus began late in 2012 and many of the buildings have tragically met their fate. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to document their beauty before it was too late.
Mono Lake, California
Until last weekend, it had been a while since I'd been out shooting under the full moon. A few years ago, I was able to get out nearly every month and shoot at least one moon night, but life seems to get in the way lately. I guess it's time to start figuring out how to make that happen again.
(This image was a 9 minute exposure taken at ISO 100 and f/16.)
I couldn't think of a more fitting image to post for today to tie into the Supreme Court decision regarding DOMA and gay marriage in California.
The Walker Building at Georgia's Central State Hospital was designed for white males with mental disorders. During the early 1900's, the "coloured" male patients admitted to this asylum were placed in overcrowded tents, while they received a lesser quality of treatment.
Today, we thankfully live in a country where the law does not segregate or discriminate people based on race or sexuality.
June 26th, 2013 is a great day for the LGBT community.
This morning, I woke up to the sound of rain and couldn't help but think about what it was like to watch the rain through the window of a patient room at an asylum like this newer building at Western State Hospital in Tennessee. I wonder if anyone ever counted the drops that landed on the windowsill...
This asylum is the oldest psychiatric facility in the state, admitting its first patient in 1842, but this building, the Walker Building, wasn't constructed for four more decades.
Construction stopped on the Hartsville Nuclear Plant in Tennessee in 1983, part way into the building process. Once the Tennessee Valley Authority received reports depicting the actual need for nuclear power in the 80's, which was dramatically less than anticipated, the project was cancelled.
The classically influenced and Gothic Revival style Psychopathic Building, known as Polk, on the Western State Hospital campus in Tennessee was constructed in 1932 to assist with overcrowding in the main hospital. The four story building was designed by a Memphis architecture firm and cost $500,000 to build.
I'm heading back to this area on Friday and I'm really looking forward to Subaru camping, hanging with friends, shooting and being back in nature.
The Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum opened its doors in 1885, after a grueling thirty years of construction. For the next one hundred years, it treated the mentally ill.
Here, a street light shines into a day room during blue hour.
The Polk Building at Western State Hospital in Tennessee was added to the original Kirkbride campus in 1932, to assist with overcrowding.
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.
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.
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.
