Tom b. Photography

BIG NEWS: A CHANGE IN VENUE

2010-04-04T12:43:00.008-04:00

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tombphotography.tumblr.com

Hey everyone,
I'm excited, and kind of nervous, to say that I'm moving my photography website to Tumblr. In this ever-changing world of online opportunities, I wanted to create a new, editorial-like venue for me to display my photography – and Tumblr does just that. My images will now have more immediate impact, the ability to post slideshows, a cleaner online setting and a way for me to boldly spotlight individual images when I'd like to. I can also post videos, quotes, etc. all in one place – which I'm very excited about.

With that said, I've gone ahead and started the blog with 4 new posts already. I invite you to join me at my new online photographic home. Please feel free to subscribe, add to your bookmarks, mark what you like, re-blog, etc. and come back often. I'm still learning all the options and will push the site to be as interesting, informative and visually stimulating as is possible.

Speaking of, I have several excellent posts from a recent road trip that took me out of the tri-state area and into one of America's most abandoned cities. Look for them on Tumblr soon…

Cheers,
Tom b.

POOLEY FURNITURE COMPANY, II

2010-04-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

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For more information and a detailed history, see Pt. 1 of 2.

POOLEY FURNITURE COMPANY, I

2010-03-29T07:00:00.007-04:00

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Located in the heart of North Philadelphia, this former manufacturing and shipping facility was once home to the Pooley Furniture Company – maker of fine furniture and cabinetry. Although founded in 1892, records show as early as 1900 that this was the site for their business. Gutted and in fantastic shape, perhaps this building will one day be re-purposed.

For a detailed history, with emphasis on Pooley's connections to early radios, go here.

YORK FARMSTEAD

2010-03-25T07:00:00.007-04:00

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This former farmstead was on Mark's radar for quite a while and upon passing it while driving home from Williams Grove Amusement Park, we decided to hit up as well. A hoarders delight and Hazmat nightmare, this once (could-be-yet-again) beautiful home was a nice little exercise in photography.

THE PARK MARKET, III

2010-03-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Pt. 3 of 3

The rest of the park, including carousels, gift shop windows, bingo halls and space arcades.

For the history of the Williams Grove Amusement Park, please see Pt. 1 of 3.

THE PARK MARKET, II

2010-03-18T07:00:00.005-04:00

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Pt. 2 of 3

A specially aligned, toy camera-esque series of patterns created by the Cyclone rollercoaster against the early morning sky.

For the history of the Williams Grove Amusement Park, please see Pt. 1 of 3.

THE PARK MARKET, I

2010-03-15T07:00:00.005-04:00

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Pt. 1 of 3

Located at the old Williams Grove Amusement Park, the Park Market is something that is continuing to rise from the ashes of past. The Williams Grove Speedway website states: "We envision the Park Market as a place where you will be able to purchase unique treasures, fresh produce, crafts and other flea market items. Our goal is to make the Park Market a place that the entire family will enjoy. Later in the Spring, we hope to offer kiddie rides for the children, including the 140 year old carousel, and maybe even the water slide this summer. We plan to turn the arcade, gift shop and other buildings into indoor vendor spaces and already have many of the quality inside vendors from the Silver Spring Market planning to participate. Please visit the Park Market on Sundays throughout the season to see our plans materialize!" With that said, it is not abandoned but it was a beautiful, historic site to shoot photographs.

THE HISTORY: The Williams family began hosting picnics in 1850 in a small grove located outside Mechanicsburg, PA. The grove would, within a few years, grow into a park. Within two decades the park had itself grown into the Mechanicsburg Fairgrounds. In 1928, the first rides appeared at the park. /// Morgan Hughes purchased the park in 1972 for $1.2 million. Many of the rides were relocated to Williams Grove from the defunct New Jersey's Palisades Amusement Park, which closed that same year. Williams Grove Park was nearly destroyed in the summer of the same year due to Hurricane Agnes and the subsequent flooding from nearby Yellow Breeches Creek. The park was rebuilt and operated until the end of the 2005 season, when the Hughes family decided to focus all of their energies on Williams Grove Speedway. Morgan Hughes, who was in his mid-80s when the park closed, attempted to sell the property in 2006 to a prospective owner who would keep the park intact and operational, but was unable to find a buyer. The rides were auctioned off the same year. /// The Cyclone: Designed by Oscar Bitler, The Cyclone was a revolutionary wooden roller coaster erected in 1933 and reaching speeds of 65 mph. Due to fire and snow damage in 1995, the roller coaster remained closed though the 1996 season while repairs and restoration were made. Etymology: The name was changed from Zipper to Cyclone to match the name on the trains used from the Palisades Park Cyclone. – Williams Grove Amusement Park, Wikipedia

• For photographs of the park's rides and amusements, go here.
• For home videos taken on the grounds, go here and here.

PILGRIM STATE HOSPITAL, IV

2010-03-11T07:00:00.003-05:00

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Pt. 4 of 4

This set from Building #23 features the x-ray room, offices, lounges, science classrooms and the morgue. It's important to note that while taking the shot of the science mural, my back was facing the doorway to the morgue only 5 feet away. Please re-visit Pt. 1 of 4 to view the morgue in its original, pristine state during the late 1930s, as featured in LIFE Magazine.

For the history of the Pilgrim State Hospital, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

PILGRIM STATE HOSPITAL, III

2010-03-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

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Pt. 3 of 4

Building #23's classrooms, hallways, medical supply cabinets, nurses offices, patient's rooms, confinement quarters, calming artwork and day rooms.

For the history of the Pilgrim State Hospital, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

PILGRIM STATE HOSPITAL, II

2010-03-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 4

Image #3 perfectly displays the abatement that's gone on within Building #23, and you can see this everywhere you go now throughout Pilgrim State. Images #4 & 5 were taken looking out the windows of the surgical rooms – where the lobotomies were performed – while 6 & 7 were shot in medical rooms adjacent to those. The image of Mark (#9), as well as #10 & 11, were taken in a padded cell – a first for us in our explorations. The recipe for lamb stew is printed on newspaper that was stuffed inside an electrical outlet.

For the history of the Pilgrim State Hospital, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

PILGRIM STATE HOSPITAL, I

2010-03-01T07:00:00.005-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 4

Although largely abated and empty, the walls of Pilgrim State Hospital are still talking after all these years. And they most certainly should, mind you – especially Building #23 (the central medical/surgical building), within which over 1,000 lobotomies were performed. For more on this, there's a 20/20 2-part series shot at Pilgrim State Hospital that aired in 1992, focusing on lobotomies; their history and effect on the individual. For Pt. 1, go here. Pt. 2, here.

Note: All images in Pt. 1 taken in Building #23, except 3-7 which were taken in #21 (the kitchen).

THE HISTORY: "Opened in 1941, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center was the largest hospital in the world – no facility of any kind has ever exceeded its size. The sprawling complex in Brentwood, NY had its own police force, fire service, courts, post office and cemetery and accommodated over 15,000 patients and staff at its peak, giving rise to its nickname – Pilgrim State." For much more, visit Jacqueline Walker's fascinating "Pilgrim State" website.

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GLENWOOD POWER STATION, IV

2010-02-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 4 of 4

For the history of the Glenwood Power Station, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

GLENWOOD POWER STATION, III

2010-02-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 3 of 4

For the history of the Glenwood Power Station, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

GLENWOOD POWER STATION, II

2010-02-18T07:00:00.005-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 4

For the history of the Glenwood Power Station, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

GLENWOOD POWER STATION, I

2010-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 4

With windchill temperatures dipping into the low single digits, exploring this once fantastic power station was a bit of a mental challenge. Add this to the fact that Glenwood was one of the most dangerous sites we've ever explored and I'm simply glad to be home, warm and safe. For more, go here.

THE HISTORY: "The New York Central Railroad began construction on the $2mn Glenwood Power Station in 1901. The plant went online in 1906 powering the mainline between New York and Albany and most of the city of Yonkers. Two coal-fired steam turbines were installed. In 1936, the NYCRR decided to get out of the power generation business and sold to the plant to Consolidated Edison Co of NY for $850,000. /// The plant ran into the early 1950s but was gradually backed down as newer, larger power stations plants were built and finally Glenwood was shutdown for good after sitting idle for years. After a failed attempt to sell the structure and the property to the City of Yonkers for a sum of $1, ConEd abandoned it completely, removing its steam turbines and machinery from the pit, and the boilers from their brick stalls. All that was left behind were the hydraulic circuit breakers, stripped switchboards, and 5 or 6 rotary converters, which occupied the 2nd floor of a smaller building, which sat to the north of the main powerhouse. Over the last four decades, the plant became somewhat of an urban legend, the subject of local folklore, and fell victim to more impromptu scavenging and vandalism as the neighborhood around it slowly fell apart. The site is being evaluated for landmark designation and adaptive reuse." – LostCityExplorers.net

BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE

2010-02-11T07:00:00.005-05:00

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Another failed attempt at saving something special, this time at the hands of the City of Yonkers. After leaving in 1978, the institute was occupied through 1997, only to be acquired by the city in 1999. After abatement was completed, the city decided not to use it as a school, several proposals for reuse came and went and in 2004, plans by a real estate company were brought to the table – which obviously did not come to fruition. Now, practically beyond reasonable budgetary repair, the building will surely see its demise in years to come.

Thanks to Hudson Valley Ruins for much of the information here.

THE HISTORY: "Thompson’s most significant achievement was yet to be realized. He stated at the time: 'There will be two hundred million people in this country pretty soon. It’s going to be a question of bread, of primary food supply. That question is beyond politicians and sociologists. I think I will work out some institution to deal with plant physiology, to help protect the basic needs of the 200 million. Not a uplift foundation, but a scientific institution dealing with definite things, like germination, parasites, plant diseases, and plant potentialities.' /// And so in 1919, he began to obtain property opposite his Yonkers home to house the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, created with an initial investment of $1 million dollars, an amount to which much more was added over the years. /// The Institute was formally dedicated on September 24, 1924. The original building had a total floor space of 85,764 sq. ft. There was an arboretum and greenhouse space of over 16,000 sq. ft. The Institute used to own more than 300 acres of rich agricultural land for field plots. /// William Boyce Thompson died of pneumonia on June 27, 1930, at the Alders. His health had been declining since 1926, and he had only recently returned to Yonkers from a long convalescence in Arizona. The funeral, on June 29, 1930, drew a virtual who’s who of American Society. /// The Boyce Thompson Institute later became a part of Cornell University and was moved to its Ithaca campus in 1978, after 54 years in Yonkers." – John D'Agnillo

WADLEY, AL: SCHOOL & PASTURE

2010-02-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

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Images 1-6: Segregated School – This abandoned building was once a segregated elementary school in Wadley, AL. It's a stone's throw off of State Road 77 in Randolph County and offers up only a minimal glimpse into what it once was.

Images 7-10: Davis Pasture – Of the three pastures on the Davis land, this pasture contains several buildings – including a screen house and toy house for one of the children. Toss in a couple creeks, a tree swing and beautiful trails and it's a lovely place to spend hours of your day.

WINTER STORM AFTERMATH

2010-02-06T15:27:00.006-05:00

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Winter Storm: February 5th & 6th, 2010
Accumulation: Lancaster City, 23-24" in 24 hours

A few quick shots taken at our house.

WADLEY, AL: WADLEY TRAIN DEPOT

2010-02-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Built by the Alabama Terminal Railroad on CSX's Lineville Subdivision and left vacant and abandoned, the train depot in Wadley, AL is in bad need of restoration – with no funds lying around to do so. This depot had a twin in nearby Roanoke, AL but that one burnt to the ground years ago now.

WADLEY, AL: ANNIE'S HOUSE

2010-02-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

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This small wood cabin, complete with rusted tin roof, can be found on land adjacent to the Davis family property in Wadley, AL. It's referred to as "Annie's House" after a woman who lived there many years ago.

SCRANTON LACE, IV

2010-01-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 4 of 4

For the history of the Scranton Lace plant, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

SCRANTON LACE, III

2010-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 3 of 4

For the history of the Scranton Lace plant, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

SCRANTON LACE, II

2010-01-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 4

For the history of the Scranton Lace plant, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

SCRANTON LACE, I

2010-01-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 4

THE HISTORY: The Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Company was established by the Scranton Board of Trade in 1890 and was incorporated on June 15, 1897. The name Scranton Lace Company became standardized in 1916 when the Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Company and one of its subsidiaries combined their operations. On May 13, 1958, the company changed its name to The Scranton Lace Corporation, but soon thereafter reverted back to using the name The Scranton Lace Company as its official title. From 1916 to 2002 the company remained the first and largest known producer of Nottingham Lace in the United States. They produced tablecloths, napkins, valences, and shower curtains, among many other types of lace items. During the 1940s, the company teamed up with subsidiaries such as Victory Parachutes, Inc. and Sweeney Bros. to manufacture parahutes and camouflage netting. Though the company prospered well into the 1950s, risky investments involving Hal Roach Studios and the fledgling television industry placed the company in financial peril and eventually led to its closure in 2002.

Scranton Lace, world leader in making Nottingham lace, closes SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) Scranton Lace Co., once the world's largest producer of Nottingham lace and later a symbol of the region's dying textile industry, has stopped production. The 105-year-old company employed more than 1,400 people at its peak in the early 20th century and used an enormous, one-of-a-kind loom to create Nottingham lace, the city's highest-profile export. Robert Christy, of Scranton, a weaver at the plant, said company vice president Robert Hine called all employees together halfway through their shift Friday to break the news that Scranton Lace was closing, effective immediately. "People were shocked," Christy said. "Since I've been there, I heard rumors about closing, but you never think today will be the day." The company cut employment to 150 last year, and most recently to about 50. Wages ranged from about $7 to $13 an hour. At one time, Scranton Lace had bowling alleys in the basement, a fully staffed infirmary, a staff barber and a gymnasium, and owned its own cotton field and coal mine. Its clock tower was a city landmark. U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's father and grandfather worked there. Before World War II, the laceworks was one of 10 mills in Pennsylvania that together produced more than half of all lace goods in the United States. Like most industries, Scranton Lace joined the war effort, producing mosquito and camouflage netting, bomb parachutes and tarpaulins. After World War II, the company returned to making cotton yarn, vinyl shower curtains and textile laminates used for umbrellas, patio furniture and pool liners. But it was best known for its Nottingham lace, named for the city in England where the loom for manufacturing lace was developed in the mid-1800s. According to the Scranton Lace Web site, the company's century-old imported looms were the largest Nottingham looms ever created, each weighing more than 20 tons.

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THE "MISERY OBSCURA" BOOK SIGNING, II

2010-01-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 2

Here's a sampling of imagery taken during the signing period of the night. Besides myself, in order of appearance, are: Kerri D'Antonio, Mike D'Antonio, Lyle Preslar, Eerie Von, Kenny Gabor, Vaughn Lewis, Vincent Li, Dr. C.H.U.D., Erin Mihlek, Josh Mihlek, Rick Dittamo, Heineken, Jim Beam, Sandy Preslar, Bert Queiroz, Bob Montena & Lulu.

For video segments of the night's acoustic performance, go here.

All photos taken by Jennifer Martin (because I was busy).

THE "MISERY OBSCURA" BOOK SIGNING, I

2010-01-11T07:00:00.018-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 2

To celebrate the release of Eerie Von's Misery Obscura book, which I proudly both designed and created with Eerie, I put together a book signing at NYC's Generation Records. The event was pretty much a "this is your life" night for me with four of my best friends in the world coming together to put on both a performance and signing.

Kick-starting the night was a one-time-only, 5-song acoustic performance by Lyle Preslar (Minor Threat, Samhain, Meatmen), Mike d. (Killswitch Engage, Overcast) & Eerie (Danzig, Samhain, Rosemary's Babies). They played 2 of Eerie's latest tracks in "Lay the Blame" and "Please Don't Wake Me" as well as Samhain's "To Walk the Night," Danzig's "Killer Wolf" and (in honor of his would-be 75th birthday) Elvis' "The Wonder of You."

We followed that up with a signing where all four of us signed the book, which also happens to be the only time we'll all do so. I personally had a blast sitting with my friends, signing books and talking to old friends, fans of Eerie's book and the great staff at Generation – lead by my old friend Vinny Li, who treated us brilliantly the entire time.

In addition to the aforementioned folk, I'd like to extend my thanks to Matt, Linda & the Generation staff… to Jeremy Atkins & Aaron Colter at Dark Horse for helping me set this night up… to Jennifer for being there for me and… last but not least, every single person who came out to support me and my friend's efforts on a cold, January evening. Much respect.

Images 1-7: Rehearsal at Lyle's, 1/7/10 (by Tom b.)
Images 8-13: Rehearsal at Vinny's, 1/8/10 (by Tom b.)
Images 14-15: Pre-show at Generation, 1/8/10 (by Jennifer Martin)
Images 16-20: Soundcheck at Generation, 1/8/10 (by Tom b.)

Mount Moriah Cemetery, II

2010-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 2

Mount Moriah Cemetery has a sign at its entry points that says "permanently closed." What a great shame, for sure. With beautiful stones, history and mausoleums abound, Mount Moriah is a special place deep within the urban environment. For more on the cemetery, its history and preservation efforts, go here.

Mount Moriah Cemetery, I

2010-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 2

Mount Moriah Cemetery has a sign at its entry points that says "permanently closed." What a great shame, for sure. With beautiful stones, history and mausoleums abound, Mount Moriah is a special place deep within the urban environment. For more on the cemetery, its history and preservation efforts, go here.

FILMING ABANDONMENT

2010-01-01T07:00:00.005-05:00

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Through the purchase of my much-beloved Canon 7D, I gained access to shooting HD video on my dSLR. Following my documentary-led travels to Brazil with Killswitch Engage, I've been inspired me to expand video to feature the abandoned sites I explore for photography.

While I created and posted 2 videos in the past couple weeks, I recently posted the first video I edited in Final Cut Express (the manual is 1152 pages!) and, while there's so much to learn and correct, I did apply several initial features I wanted to here, including transitions, music editing, text and color treatment.

Please hop over to my brand-new Vimeo page and check out my first videos, already featuring the likes of Stehli Silk Mill and the yet-to-be-posted-here Scranton Lace Factory site. FYI: The link to the video page is, and always will be, available in the far right column of this blog.

Happy New Year!!! Welcome to the new decade…

Northeast Manual Training High School, IV

2009-12-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 4 of 4

For the history of the Northeast Manual Training High School, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

Northeast Manual Training High School, III

2009-12-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 3 of 4

For the history of the Northeast Manual Training High School, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

Northeast Manual Training High School, II

2009-12-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 4

For the history of the Northeast Manual Training High School, please see Pt. 1 of 4.

Northeast Manual Training High School, I

2009-12-21T07:00:00.005-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 4

For starters, this place resembles more so an warzone than it does a historic high school. Second, we were hardly the only people on-site – but surely the only photographers. Yeah, it's a tough place to be, to say the least. The school does, however, feature a Top 5 room that I've ever been in, which alone made it all worth it. And without further ado…

THE HISTORY (in brief): As one of the oldest high schools in Philadelphia, the original Thomas A. Edison High School building was opened in 1890 as the all male Northeast Manual Training High School located at 8th Street and Lehigh Avenue. Eventually the school became Northeast High School in 1905 when the Northeast Manual Training High School moved to a new location and changed its name to Northeast High School for Boys. The auditorium was added in 1916 and in 1936 vocational education shops and many regular classrooms were added to the original building. /// Later, the school was named the Julia De Burgos Bilingual Magnet Middle School after the famous poet. It's hard to say what the status of the school currently is but this is/was the plan now/at-some-point: "For the School District of Philadelphia, SRK Architects in joint venture with Susan Maxman Architects is currently working on the historic restoration and adaptive reuse of the former Edison High School into a bilingual middle magnet school to house 1,600 students. At the center of the complex is a new 3-story atrium which links all shared spaces…" – SRK Architects

WINTER WALLOP 2009

2009-12-19T16:08:00.014-05:00

(click image to enlarge) Photos by Jennifer.

The Weather Channel's calling our first major winter storm of the year the Winter Wallop. Er, anyway… it is packing a punch, I must say. So much so that the photographic exploration we had scheduled for tomorrow is now bumped to later in the week. Don't worry, I have a back up plan…

MORE SALLY JANE VINTAGE…

2009-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

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… then you can shake a vintage, 70s moo moo at.

Amish Country + Vintage Clothing = Sally Jane Vintage

ASHLEY-HUBER COAL BREAKER III, PA

2009-12-14T07:00:00.004-05:00

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Pt. 3 of 3

For the history of Ashley-Huber, please see Pt. 1 of 3.

ASHLEY-HUBER COAL BREAKER II, PA

2009-12-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 3

For the history of Ashley-Huber, please see Pt. 1 of 3.

AN NYC BOOK SIGNING EVENT

2009-12-09T17:47:00.008-05:00

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Note: Although this isn't my photography, it's both a photography book that I designed and a special event that myself and three of my best friends are putting on this January in NYC.

For immediate release:

On Friday January 8th, 2010, punk legend Eerie Von (Danzig, Samhain) will make a special in-store appearance at New York’s Generation Records in support of his new photography book MISERY OBSCURA: The Photography of Eerie Von (1981-2009).

Eerie Von will play a rare acoustic performance with Lyle Preslar (Minor Threat) and Mike D’Antonio (Killswitch Engage) during the in-store appearance at Generation Records, and sign copies of MISERY OBSCURA along with designer Tom Bejgrowicz.

The one-night-only event starts at 7:00pm in the West Village. Those wanting to secure their place at the event can pre-order copies of MISERY OBSCURA at generationrecords.com to be guaranteed entrance (space is limited).

NOTE: Please note that only copies of MISERY OBSCURA will be signed during this event. No outside material may be brought into the store.

ASHLEY-HUBER COAL BREAKER I, PA

2009-12-07T07:00:00.010-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 3

Long before I ever experienced St. Nicholas, the Ashley-Huber Breaker was on the list of sites to photograph. Construction for the Maxwell Breaker began in 1892 and was completed in 1895, named after DL&W Co. President, Roger Maxwell. And while the name has changed many times over the years, it was a move in 1928 that gave Ashley-Huber its legend; they experimented with dying their coal blue. Then, in 1976 – after 81 years in business – the colliery shut its doors for good. Currently, the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, a non-profit corporation, is busy doing its best to preserve the breaker and the surrounding land before time and teenage vandals take too large of a toll.

(Ashley-Huber Breaker, August 18, 1954,
courtesy of the Library of Congress)

PHOTOGRAPHS OF ME TAKING... III

2009-12-03T07:00:00.009-05:00

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Mark's the man. My partner in photographic crime. He's the brains and the brawn, mind you. I just show up, share the driving duties, hype him up on his awesome hot sauce, make sarcastic comments about how much coffee he drinks and mock the existence of idiotic vandals like "Caveman" and "Phantom." There, I said it. I feel better.

Anyway… Here's another installment of images Mark took of me taking photos. We both go home, edit our images and then swap shots like these. I love having them and here's a few recent favorites. Check out Mark's fantastic image archive here.

Row 1: (l) Essex County Penitentiary, (r) Schmidt & Ault Paper Co.
Row 2: Essex County Penitentiary
Row 3: Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded
Row 4: Richmond Power Plant

"Hey, let's stop at this Sheetz up here…"

ON THE ROAD WITH THE KSE

2009-11-30T07:00:00.004-05:00

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The reason I was recently in Brazil in the first place was to document the start of Killswitch Engage's South American tour for Roadrunner Records. I've known the band for many years, I consider them to great friends, wonderful people and they also happen to be one of my favorite metal bands of all-time. So yeah… good stuff, all around.

I don't show many of these publicly but wanted to share a few of them here. From Brazilian steakhouses in Sao Paulo to soundchecks and concerts in Curitiba, I had my lens in their faces every waking moment for three days straight.

ESSEX COUNTY PENITENTIARY, NJ IV

2009-11-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

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Pt. 4 of 4

For historic notes, see Pt. 1 of 4 of the Essex County Penitentiary image series.

ESSEX COUNTY PENITENTIARY, NJ III

2009-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

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Pt. 3 of 4

For historic notes, see Pt. 1 of 4 of the Essex County Penitentiary image series.

ESSEX COUNTY PENITENTIARY, NJ II

2009-11-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

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Pt. 2 of 4

For historic notes, see Pt. 1 of 4 of the Essex County Penitentiary image series.

ESSEX COUNTY PENITENTIARY, NJ I

2009-11-16T07:00:00.009-05:00

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Pt. 1 of 4

Contrary to popular belief, the Essex County Penitentiary was not designed by famed architect John Haviland. Mr. Haviland designed the Essex County Jail in Newark, NJ, approximately 12 miles to the south of the penitentiary. Instead, here's the details…

"Originally constructed in 1862 to hold Confederate prisoners of war, the Essex County Jail Annex functioned as a state penitentiary for many years before eventually being replaced by a new facility to alleviate overcrowding. The county took over the facility eventually and the Essex County Penitentiary became the Essex County Correction Center and housed mostly sentenced inmates. The jail eventually merged with the Essex County Jail in Newark in the early 1980s and was rechristened the Essex County Jail Annex, a name it would carry for the rest of its term. At its peak the jail housed more than 1,800 beds. Essex County finally finished construction of a new prison in Newark in 2003, and all county lockup services were transferred to this new address and the jail in Caldwell was closed." – Mountain Sanitorium

BRAZIL (NON-MUSIC) II

2009-11-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

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More non-Killswitch Engage moments captured in Brazil. This woman and her dog took shelter in the springtime shade of our bus in Curitiba. Her dog, as one of our contacts translated for me, was her "best friend in the whole world, ever." A tough life, but they have each other – and hopefully always will. I'm thinking of them now and sending them my best.

Otherwise, Mike d. & I made sure we were escorted to a cemetery we passed along our way into town from the airport. We only had a few minutes and could have used 5 hours.

Row #1: Homeless woman & her dog, Curitiba, BR
Row #2: Rooftop of Melia Hotel, Sao Paulo, BR cemetery
Row #3: Sao Paulo, BR cemetery
Row #4: Sao Paulo, BR cemetery, Rainforest in Sao Paulo, BR

BRAZIL (NON-MUSIC) I

2009-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

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While not shooting Killswitch Engage (as was the purpose of my being in Brazil in the first place), I had a rare few moments to shoot some of my surroundings; whether that be in the air or on foot.

Row #1: Btwn. Philadelphia & Dallas, Amazon River, BR
Row #2: Amazon River, BR
Row #3: Sao Paulo, BR
Row #4: Sao Paulo, BR

IN FIELDS

2009-11-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

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As I recover and catch up from my travels, enjoy another couple images taken on my 7D featuring the lovely countryside found between Bird In Hand and Intercourse, PA. You don't have to travel very far in Lancaster to find something beautiful.

IN WINDOWS

2009-11-02T07:00:00.005-05:00

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While en route from Sao Paolo back to Amish Country, I still wanted to post some early photos taken with my Canon 7D. "In Windows" features images found in windows of Lancaster's residences or shop windows. I'll do a full series of this in due time, for sure.

WALKING IN LANCASTER (2008), II

2009-10-29T07:00:00.004-04:00

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During my first year back in Lancaster, I'd often just walk aimlessly around Lancaster looking for places, objects and textures to photograph. Here's a 2-part set of some that caught my eye again this past week.

Row #1: Rocky Springs Amusement Park
Row #2: Rocky Springs Amusement Park
Row #3: Armstrong World Industries
Row #4: Consumers Ice Factory

WALKING IN LANCASTER (2008), I

2009-10-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

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During my first year back in Lancaster, I'd often just walk with my iPod around Lancaster looking for places, objects and textures to photograph. Here's a 2-part set of some that caught my eye again this past week.

Row #1: Lancaster Stockyards
Row #2: Lancaster Stockyards, Water Buggy
Row #3: Metallic dust, doorknob (Lancaster city)
Row #4: Armstrong Cork

THE FASHION SILK MILL II, LANCASTER

2009-10-22T09:00:00.006-04:00

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Pt. 2 of 2

More Sally Jane Vintage fashion-action from the Stehli Silk Mill. I love to shoot the details while she's preparing her outfit – including a self-portrait in one smudgy mirror! Someone get me some Green Works Glass Cleaner! One day this old mill is going to be refurbished and it's going to be fascinating (or disturbing) to see the new life it takes on. Only time will tell…

THE FASHION SILK MILL I, LANCASTER

2009-10-19T07:00:00.007-04:00

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Pt. 1 of 2

I hadn't shot Jennifer… er, Sally Jane Vintage… at the Stehli Silk Mill to date – and wanted to remedy that while it was still an option. They just don't build structures like this one anymore, right? Look at the details in those stairs. Gorgeous.

AN UPDATE FROM YOURS TRULY…

2009-10-17T12:15:00.013-04:00

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First, what's up with all the old photos lately, you ask? Where's the new images of toxic rotting creepiness? Well, Mark & I have been on an exploration hiatus due to our busy schedules. After all, he's got his own line of delicious hot sauce to worry about for god's sake. And me? Well, I bought a new-to-me, built-in-1867 house and have been dealing with moving, projects tackled on our own, contractors both inside and outside the house, the beginning of my semester of teaching at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, freelance design, my freelance work with Killswitch Engage and – in general – trying to maintain some semblance of a life all the while. However…

Second, I just compiled a brand-new Canon dSLR kit:
• Canon EOS 7D body
• CanonEF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM Lens
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens
• SanDisk Extreme III Compact Flash 16GB (x5)
• Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack (x3)
• Tamrac 5767 Velocity 7x Black Photo Sling Pack

Not only will I have my first kick-ass lens but I'm replacing the 50mm/1.8 that I destroyed at Rosewood, having my first actual camera back, etc. Did you know the Canon D-line shoots HD video? I can't wait, let me tell you. Speaking of "can't wait"…

Third, within the month ahead, I have photography/video trips to New Jersey, New York State and Brazil. In other words, I'm going to have a lot of images to post in November – to say the least! More on all of this as the photos come together. Wish me luck and…

Thanks for stopping by, as always.

RUINS OF THE DIRTY SOUTH IV

2009-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Pt. 4 of 4

"A Study Of An Abandoned “Creosote Creek”Community"

This is the dawn of it all, my first true abandoned photographic exploration. The site was McDonald St. in Tarrant, AL, a street of former, shotgun shack housing for the coke plant across the railroad tracks. Located in a flood plain of a polluted creek only a couple hundred feet away, the homes were abandoned during a severe flood never to be returned to. Everything was left inside: from photo albums to clothes and even keys and photo identification.

Looking back on it, it's no wonder I got hooked on photographing abandonment, with this being my first. We returned in December 2008 in hopes of shooting the street once again, but the street was completely razed. It was a necessary step for the land but we were bummed not to get another shot at it, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Note: All of these images were shot on 35mm on November 9th, 2005.

For a complete history that's very worth reading, see Pt. 1 of 4.

RUINS OF THE DIRTY SOUTH III

2009-10-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

Pt. 3 of 4

"A Study Of An Abandoned “Creosote Creek”Community"

This is the dawn of it all, my first true abandoned photographic exploration. The site was McDonald St. in Tarrant, AL, a street of former, shotgun shack housing for the coke plant across the railroad tracks. Located in a flood plain of a polluted creek only a couple hundred feet away, the homes were abandoned during a severe flood never to be returned to. Everything was left inside: from photo albums to clothes and even keys and photo identification.

Looking back on it, it's no wonder I got hooked on photographing abandonment, with this being my first. We returned in December 2008 in hopes of shooting the street once again, but the street was completely razed. It was a necessary step for the land but we were bummed not to get another shot at it, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Note: All of these images were shot on 35mm on November 9th, 2005.

For a complete history that's very worth reading, see Pt. 1 of 4.

RUINS OF THE DIRTY SOUTH II

2009-10-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

Pt. 2 of 4

"A Study Of An Abandoned “Creosote Creek”Community"

This is the dawn of it all, my first true abandoned photographic exploration. The site was McDonald St. in Tarrant, AL, a street of former, shotgun shack housing for the coke plant across the railroad tracks. Located in a flood plain of a polluted creek only a couple hundred feet away, the homes were abandoned during a severe flood never to be returned to. Everything was left inside: from photo albums to clothes and even keys and photo identification.

Looking back on it, it's no wonder I got hooked on photographing abandonment, with this being my first. We returned in December 2008 in hopes of shooting the street once again, but the street was completely razed. It was a necessary step for the land but we were bummed not to get another shot at it, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Note: All of these images were shot on 35mm on November 9th, 2005.

For a complete history that's very worth reading, see Pt. 1 of 4.

RUINS OF THE DIRTY SOUTH I

2009-10-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

Pt. 1 of 4

"A Study Of An Abandoned “Creosote Creek”Community"

This is the dawn of it all, my first true abandoned photographic exploration. The site was McDonald St. in Tarrant, AL, a street of former, shotgun shack housing for the coke plant across the railroad tracks. Located in a flood plain of a polluted creek only a couple hundred feet away, the homes were abandoned during a severe flood never to be returned to. Everything was left inside: from photo albums to clothes and even keys and photo identification.

Looking back on it, it's no wonder I got hooked on photographing abandonment, with this being my first. We returned in December 2008 in hopes of shooting the street once again, but the street was completely razed. It was a necessary step for the land but we were bummed not to get another shot at it, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Note: All of these images were shot on 35mm on November 9th, 2005.

THE COMPLETE HISTORY: Tarrant is a small town located in north central Alabama, approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Birmingham’s city center, in Jefferson County, Alabama. Five Mile Creek flows through the city and McDonald Street rests in the midst of the creek’s flood plain. Five Mile Creek has, for many years, been classified as “agricultural and industrial” – which allows the water quality to be so polluted that it is not suitable for aquatic life or recreation. As a result of this, the Five Mile Creek has earned the nickname of “Creosote Creek” after creosote, a chemical compound which has been regarded by our government as a carcinogen since the 1970s. Creosote works as a wood preserver and bug repellent and millions of pounds of creosote are manufactured each year, many of which are introduced to the environment. High levels of creosote exposure, or extended exposure over time, can cause skin problems, kidney and liver problems, possible birth defects, unconsciousness and even death. People are most often exposed to creosote through contact with freshly treated wood or from drinking water that has been contaminated.

McDonald Street is a low-income “neighborhood” comprised of a church, a school and a couple dozen homes built as employee housing in the 1930s for the ABC Coke plant (built during WWII) across the railroad tracks in Tarrant. Although flooded and evacuated many times over the years, it was in the summer of 2003 when the city recorded 29.59” of rain making it the wettest since record keeping began there in 1890. That year’s rainfall more than doubled the area’s average of 13.70” for that period. Ken Graham, meteorologist in charge of WFO Birmingham, recalls a particularly busy day last May. “Nearly 10 inches of rain fell in just a few hours across northern portions of the Birmingham metro area resulting in historic flooding. The Five Mile Creek in northern Jefferson County rose above the river gauge by nearly eight feet.”

As a result of this flooding in 2003, the residents of McDonald Street were displaced from their homes. Most of them never returned to claim any of their personal belongings: family photo albums, closets full of clothing, record collections, keys, personal identification–nothing. The street was, for all intents and purposes, a ghost town. Only the school had been transformed into a business while the rest of the street, both the church and the homes, remained untouched and vacant until they were razed at some time between 2005 and 2008.

CONESTOGA MOTOR INN III, LANCASTER

2009-10-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Pt. 1 of 3

Note: These shots were taken on May 11, 2008 with a Canon Powershot point-and-shoot.

Several buildings sprawling over a 28-acre lot, the former-Conestoga Motor Inn was an Amish Country resort for several decades. My parents grabbed their first anniversary dinner together there in 1963. Now completely razed and gone forever, the images here show my traveling from the oldest building and its kitchen all the way to the fantastically unique pool and hotel room building. A very spooky place to explore, it was also one of my favorites to date. (ID# 05.11.08 Conestoga Motor Inn)

THE HISTORY (in brief): Vacant since 1989, the resort opened as Conestoga Motor Inn and has also operated as Sheraton Conestoga, Conestoga Resort Inn, Shawnee Lancaster and Lancaster Farms Resort. The complex dates to 1950 when Carl E. Pyle built the 20-room Conestoga Motor Inn. Later, the resort operated as a Sheraton, but lost that affiliation in 1984 and was rechristened Shawnee Lancaster Resort in 1986. After it closed in 1989, the property changed hands several times, with failed proposals to turn it into a Christian conference center, a supermarket or a sanitarium.

CONESTOGA MOTOR INN II, LANCASTER

2009-09-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

CONESTOGA MOTOR INN I, LANCASTER

2009-09-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

BALTIMORE PURE RYE DISTILLERY III

2009-09-25T07:00:00.001-04:00

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Pt. 3 of 3

More brilliant broken glass found in the staircases on-site, the Baltimore Pure Rye smokestack (sans the horrendously ugly cell phone tower attachments), a vintage scale and two lovely textures. (ID#: 09.13.09 Baltimore Pure Rye Distillery)

THE HISTORY (in brief): In the 1930's, shortly after the 18th amendment was repealed, two distilleries were built in the countryside east of Baltimore. The area is known as Dundalk. The topsy-turvy shuffling of market positions that marked the post-prohibition scramble is well illustrated by these two plants, located virtually next-door to one another. One distillery was built on farm land just off Sollers Point Road in the 1930s. It's hard to believe today, but the population of Dundalk at that time was less than 8,000, mostly employees of the Maryland Steel Company at nearby Sparrows Point. The Baltimore Pure Rye distillery closed in 1957 when Seagram's, as it's known to most people in the area, purchased it to produce Paul Jones and Four Roses. For more, go here.

BALTIMORE PURE RYE DISTILLERY II

2009-09-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Pt. 2 of 3

The storage facilities unveiled a cool old stencil used to mark barrels back in 1984 as well as a creepy angel doll. I mean, all dolls are at least partially creepy with some being more so than others! (ID#: 09.13.09 Baltimore Pure Rye Distillery)

THE HISTORY (in brief): In the 1930's, shortly after the 18th amendment was repealed, two distilleries were built in the countryside east of Baltimore. The area is known as Dundalk. The topsy-turvy shuffling of market positions that marked the post-prohibition scramble is well illustrated by these two plants, located virtually next-door to one another. One distillery was built on farm land just off Sollers Point Road in the 1930s. It's hard to believe today, but the population of Dundalk at that time was less than 8,000, mostly employees of the Maryland Steel Company at nearby Sparrows Point. The Baltimore Pure Rye distillery closed in 1957 when Seagram's, as it's known to most people in the area, purchased it to produce Paul Jones and Four Roses. For more, go here.

BALTIMORE PURE RYE DISTILLERY I

2009-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

Pt. 1 of 3

The former whiskey distillery is completely gutted but the whiskey storage buildings, in particular, were unique. Don't be fooled by the scale of the top left shot; that's looking up at about 4 floors of whiskey barrel storage. Ah, the drunken laughs, fights and debates all the whiskey ended up playing a part in over the years! (ID#: 09.13.09 Baltimore Pure Rye Distillery)

THE HISTORY (in brief): In the 1930's, shortly after the 18th amendment was repealed, two distilleries were built in the countryside east of Baltimore. The area is known as Dundalk. The topsy-turvy shuffling of market positions that marked the post-prohibition scramble is well illustrated by these two plants, located virtually next-door to one another. One distillery was built on farm land just off Sollers Point Road in the 1930s. It's hard to believe today, but the population of Dundalk at that time was less than 8,000, mostly employees of the Maryland Steel Company at nearby Sparrows Point. The Baltimore Pure Rye distillery closed in 1957 when Seagram's, as it's known to most people in the area, purchased it to produce Paul Jones and Four Roses. For more, go here.

LANCASTER MALLEABLE (04.13.08)

2009-09-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Lancaster Malleable Castings Co., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, closed in March 2003 after 93 years of operation. The foundry employed approximately 200 people at closing time. These photos were taken within 2 of the 3 final buildings to be razed on the property, which are now completely gone for good. Apparently the company was a major polluter in our area, so good riddance to them.

These photographs, like the Stehli shots from 2008, were all taken on a point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot camera before I bought a dSLR. After all, it's not what you shoot with – it's knowing how to shoot that matters. (ID#: Lancaster Malleable 04.13.08)

STEHLI SILK MILL, LANCASTER (2008)

2009-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Stehli was one of the first Lancaster explorations upon my return from 15 years of living in NYC, LA and AL. Like Armstrong, Stehli Silk played a major part in Lancaster's manufacturing history. These shots were taken on either March 16 or May 3, 2008. I posted them online on another photo site but thought it would be fun to post them again here on my blog. Previously I posted other photos from a third trip to Stehli, you can view them here. (ID#: Stehli Silk Mill 2008)

Notes: In the lowest image (as taken by Jennifer Martin), I'm framing the uppermost image's composition while the third row's images are of the same hallway, taken from different ends.

THE HISTORY (in brief): "The Stehli Mill at Rossmere is the chief [silk mill] in [Lancaster] county and the second largest in the world. It gives employment to no less than 1,200 people. Broad silks and dress goods are the chief products, all of which are sent to New York City to be placed upon the market. This factory is in a building more than one sixth of a mile in length and with floor space aggregating 250,000 square feet or about six acres." – excerpt from "Physical and industrial geography of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania" by H. Justin Roddy (1916)

For a brief update and history in video form, go here.

ASYLUM & TRAINING SCHOOL: REVISITED III

2009-09-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Pt. 3 of 3

From the second and final visit to Rosewood, the first can be found here and here. All photos included in this 3-part series were taken in three (3) of the sites original buildings, dating as far back as 1888. Although in severe disrepair and condemned for demolition, the site offers up quite a bit as far as exploring and photography goes. (ID# 07.03.09 Rosewood State Hospital)

ASYLUM & TRAINING SCHOOL: REVISITED II

2009-09-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

Pt. 2 of 3

From the second and final visit to Rosewood, the first can be found here and here. All photos included in this 3-part series were taken in three (3) of the sites original buildings, dating as far back as 1888. Although in severe disrepair and condemned for demolition, the site offers up quite a bit as far as exploring and photography goes. (ID# 07.03.09 Rosewood State Hospital)

ASYLUM & TRAINING SCHOOL: REVISITED I

2009-09-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

Pt. 1 of 3

From the second and final visit to Rosewood, the first can be found here and here. All photos included in this 3-part series were taken in three (3) of the sites original buildings, dating as far back as 1888. Although in severe disrepair and condemned for demolition, the site offers up quite a bit as far as exploring and photography goes.

THE HISTORY (in brief):
1888-1912: Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded
1912-1961: Rosewood State Training School
1961-1969: Rosewood State Hospital
1969-closure: Rosewood Center

Rosewood Center was established as the “Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded” in 1888 on a 683-acre property near the Owings Mills area of Baltimore County. In 1912, its name was changed to the Rosewood State Training School and in 1961 it became the Rosewood State Hospital.

For most of the nineteenth century, feeble-minded, idiotic and alcoholic citizens often shared the fate of the insane, locked in local jails or almshouses. The Board of Directors for the Maryland Inebriate Asylum reported in 1864 that they were still without a building but some inebriated persons were being treated in a lunatic asylum (Maryland Documents A, 1865). In 1883, the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty petitioned the legislature on behalf of the feeble-minded, and, in 1888, the Asylum and Training School for the Feeble-Minded was authorized (Chapter 183, Acts of 1888). (ID# 07.03.09 Rosewood State Hospital)

CHARLES HICKEY SCHOOL FOR BOYS III, MD

2009-09-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

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Pt. 3 of 3

This third set of images happened out of necessity, and were a welcome addition to the day. Overall, the school has been modernized a bit much for our own tastes but the power plant offered up some nice rust and dilapidation. We were just stopping in to the power plant on our way out when a magnificent and powerful rain storm blew through. I can assure you that it was absurdly loud under that metal roof with the rain pounding on it. Naturally, waiting out the storm forced me to cure my boredom by walking about and shooting everything that caught my eye. For a complete history on the site, see my Pt. 1 of this series and go here.

Note: It's worth noting that I shot the entire day at this site with my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens. It obviously offers me a larger depth of field while, on the other hand, limiting my framing options. By doing so, I forced myself to focus more on objects, and less on larger spaces. (ID#: Charles Hickey School for Boys 08.02.09)

CHARLES HICKEY SCHOOL FOR BOYS II, MD

2009-09-02T07:00:00.003-04:00

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Pt. 2 of 3

This second set of images sees us entering the school offices and subsequent classrooms, hallways and lavatories on-site – including the "G.E.D. Hall of Fame". For a complete history on the site, see my Pt. 1 of this series and go here.

Note: It's worth noting that I shot the entire day at this site with my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens. It obviously offers me a larger depth of field while, on the other hand, limiting my framing options. By doing so, I forced myself to focus more on objects, and less on larger spaces. (ID#: Charles Hickey School for Boys 08.02.09)

CHARLES HICKEY SCHOOL FOR BOYS I, MD

2009-08-31T07:00:00.004-04:00

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Pt. 1 of 3

The Charles Hickey School for Boys began in 1850 as the House of Refuge in Baltimore City. It was an early effort to separate children from adult criminals in jails. In 1910 it moved to its present-day location where many buildings are still utilized, a full staff monitors the property and utilities are still connected throughout the campus. For a complete history on the site, go here.

This first set of images sees the juvenile center in full action through orange jump suits, photos sent from parents to their children, remnants from the A.V. closet, library and administrative offices.

Note: It's worth noting that I shot the entire day at this site with my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens. It obviously offers me a larger depth of field while, on the other hand, limiting my framing options. By doing so, I forced myself to focus more on objects, and less on larger spaces. (ID#: Charles Hickey School for Boys 08.02.09)