Babcock Building, South Carolina Lunatic Asylum
Construction of the Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum took nearly 7 years and the building was constructed in 4 phases by 3 architects.
The building accepted its first patient in 1885.
Glacier National Park, Montana
There is something about nature that changes me completely. I've always been an observant person, but in nature that escalates to an even grander scale. I observe every vibrant flower, falling leaf, crawling inchworm, tiny singing bird, glimpse of a snowcapped mountain and still pond. I notice things most people don't see, but I rarely photograph those things because in nature, sometimes I love just being an observer.
During the hike to Avalanche Lake a few weeks ago when I visited Glacier NP, I saw this still patch of water along the river and the only way I could imagine it as a photograph, was if I shot it with the camera resting on the ground. I guess a part of me always imagines what the world would look like if I were 2" tall.
Moldy patient room inside a modern building on the campus of the historic West Tennessee State Hospital for the Insane.
The USS Holland, the second Hunley class submarine tender, was removed from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on Thursday, July 10, 2013. She was transported to Mare Island where her hull will be cleaned, by Mare Island Ship Yard, prior to her final journey to Brownsville, Texas to be recycled.
For me this is a big moment, as USS Holland was the first ship I ever visited in Suisun Bay back in 2010. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to wander her corridors a few more time over the years, exploring the memories and artifacts left behind by the men and women who served aboard her.
Docked at Mare Island Ship Yard, taken during twilight
Just before the workers arrived to begin work on the hull
The bow of USS Holland in the Mare Island Ship Yard dry dock
USS Holland was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Company in Mississippi and commissioned in 1963. Her mission was to service submarines, replenish food supply, fuel and weapons. She carried a machine shop and was capable of repairing any portion of a submarine.
Her first major mission began in 1964 across the Atlantic Ocean in Rota, Spain where she took over for U.S.S. Proteus, restocking missiles and supplies to the Polaris Submarines.
During her thirty three years in service, USS Holland was recognized ten times for battle efficiency.
She was decommissioned in 1996, while in Guam, and placed in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet shortly thereafter.
Looking towards Mare Island, from Vallejo, at the dry dock
The ship name has faded since being moored in the Fleet
Read more about the USS Holland here.
Moss grows in a damp corner of a restroom in the Babcock Building, constructed in three phases starting in 1857, at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum.
(Print - http://smu.gs/18bpWMq )
Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Day room inside the Polk Building, constructed in 1932 to assist with overcrowding, of the Western State Hospital in Tennessee.
Last week, I spent four days with family in Montana, around Glacier National Park.
My brother and I flew into Spokane on Wednesday to meet up with my Dad, who is on a 6 week road trip with his girlfriend, traveling in his 1950 Ford Woody pulling a 1947 teardrop trailer.
On Thursday morning, we drove to Glacier National Park and camped at the West Glacier KOA until Sunday morning.
We spent our time driving, hiking and paddle boarding in the park and though the trip wasn't a photography trip, I still managed to get a little shooting in.
I am definitely looking forward to making a return trip to Montana specifically for photography, adding Banff and Jasper into the mix as well.
Kalispell, Montana
Woody's in Kalispell, Montana
Entrance, Glacier National Park
Polebridge, Montana
Polebridge, Montana
Halfmoon Lake, Montana
Glacier National Park, Montana
Golden hour from the West Glacier KOA
Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park
Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park
Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park
Trail to Avalance Lake, Glacier National Park
Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park
Logan Pass , Glacier National Park
Sunset, Glacier National Park
Deer, Glacier National Park
Deer, Glacier National Park
Black Bear, Glacier National Park
Antioch Baptist Church, Georgia
While on road trips, I like to avoid the major freeways and take backroads when possible, because most often, the best finds are off the beaten path.
While cruising through Georgia, in between shooting abandoned asylums, +ed roppo and I stumbled upon this church. It appeared to still be in use, the front door was open, but it was a great fine nonetheless.
(Buy a print - http://smu.gs/1720KXF )
The 1932 Gothic Revival style Polk Building, designed for psychopathic use, on the Western State Hospital campus in Tennessee was constructed to assist with overcrowding. Originally designed to house 400 beds, the building was constructed with the mentality that "the prime demand was patient treatment with an architecture providing friendliness and warmth."
Central State Hospital, Georgia
In this crumbling top floor room of the Walker Building lies a cabinet of toothbrushes that once belonged to the patients admitted to this facility. In particular, the Walker building housed white, male convalescent patients.
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.)
