ABUSE, NEGLECT & HOPE (cont. again)

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EXPLORATION #1: Set 3 of 3

The final mini-batch of photographs from the first visit to the abandoned children's hospital. From top to bottom: one of the many schools, its hospital wards, the church and rehabilitation center. (ID# 01.17.2009 Hospital Pt.3)

ABUSE, NEGLECT & HOPE (cont.)

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EXPLORATION #1: Set 2 of 3

More photographs from the first visit to the abandoned children's hospital. From top to bottom: the juvenile detention center, employee offices and lounge, a hospital ward and its cafeteria. (ID# 01.17.2009 Hospital Pt.2)

ABUSE, NEGLECT & HOPE

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EXPLORATION #1: Set 1 of 3

Mark, Dan and I ventured onto the grounds for the first of our explorations within an abandoned children's hospital in the Washington D.C. area. Part of what we know about the place is that it was a children's hospital, mental asylum and/or juvenile detention center in the time it was operating. It's reputation was riddled with wide-spread abuse and scandal that finally resulted in lawsuits and a forced-closure in the early 1990's. This set features shots from the main structure of the children's section, which I was only able to partially explore. (ID# 01.17.2009 Hospital Pt.1)

CANDID WEDDING BLISS.

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Back in August, I shot the wedding of my life. I agreed to it with the stipulation that I'd be the 2nd photographer who would grab the candid, color-commentary and behind-the-scenes shots and not the posed wedding party photos, etc. In the end, the bride was thrilled with the work and I actually had a great time doing it. No pressure, of course, it's only their once-in-a-lifetime special day... don't screw it up, Tom! (laughs) (ID# 08.23.08 Wedding)

THE HOUSE OF SMOKE & MIRRORS

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Jennifer and I met up with Laura to photograph the, as Laura called it, House of Smoke & Mirrors. Built adjacent to what is now the Valley Forge National Historical Park, where throughout the winter of 1777 and 1778, George Washington's American Continental Army turned the British Army away from Philadelphia and back to New York in a decisive victory. With that said, of course, I'm pretty sure that this house had nothing to do with all of that! (laughs) It was, however, quite fun to explore and it's always a pleasure to meet up with good people, who also happen to be good photographers and have a go at a site. Cheers, Laura. (ID# 10.26.2008 Valley Forge)

IN HEAVEN (Lady In The Radiator)

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Mark Kyle found this abandoned home on Route 462 in Wrightsville, PA. It was a quaint little home at one time, filled with nooks, hardwood floors and a wonderful – albeit slightly claustrophobic – upstairs. Oh, and of course, there's the many radiators I just had to keep shooting! The roof was out in parts so therefore, the floors were not in the best shape for walking ("walk along the beams, Tom... walk along the beams") but it made for a nice, creative early Sunday morning for me. (ID#: 09.21.2008 Wrightsville)

DOWN 'BAMA WAY.

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Over the 2008 holiday season, we spent some time in Alabama while visiting both friends and family. The intrigue of the deep south is its history, one that is very different than the colonial-era history of the Northeastern U.S. I've spent most of my life living in. The shots included here – which represent a small percentage of the entire shoot – were taken between in Birmingham, Talledega, Ashland, Wadley and the county roads between them. (ID#: 12.25.08-Alabama)