Urban Ruins

SkedAddled · Expire: 2021-08-12

It seems there's a number of regulars here who enjoy urban ruins
and abandoned places. I've posted pics of this place before, but I thought
you might like to see a few more.

Unfortunately, this former state hospital was opened in 1952, so it is not
an example of the beautiful turn-of-the-century architecture found in
so many other state asylums. What perverted and decayed beauty it does hold
is almost exclusively inside the buildings, and you have to look rather
hard for it. I hope to make several more excursions to this neglected
and derelict ruin before it meets a wrecking ball.

Apologies if any of these are duplicates of previous posts.

This first image is HDR as taken from my PowerShot S3iS, from
a total of 7 exposures. This was just before I learned how to use
the Unsharp Mask to good effect.

Another HDR, from the same camera.

One final HDR, same camera. I just love the seemingly endless hallways.

First time in the place with the XTi/400D

Good dental hygiene is difficult to attain in an abandoned wreck. Wink

6-second exposure, taken in a basement kitchen. Primary light was my headlamp aimed at the ceiling.
This is an Electroencephalagraph, or EEG. Why it's in a kitchen, I'll never know.

A prime example of the mouldering decay to be found.
This chair was found in a basement air-handler room.

Of the 20 buildings on the campus, we have explored only 6, and we haven't
even covered all of those 6 yet.
The facility officially and finally closed in 2003. But the first building to go
into disuse closed around 1982, with others closing at different times
between then and 2003. The tunnels which carry the steam and electrical
services have been caved in, so any infiltration to the various building
clusters carries its own set of risks due to exposure to on-site tenants
acting as 'security'.

Screamin Scott · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

My favorite is the hallway as well... Nice shots !

hk300 · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 1041 Location: Hong Kong

thanks for sharing!

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

these photos are very strong, I can almost feel the pain of the people that were in there.

Poolhall · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 1296

Good series, very atmospheric, superb images ,it reminds me of 'Silence of the lambs', god knows what might be lurking there Shocked

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

I like the first two the most. I like that they have a very obvious and clear predominant color. Reminds me of director I like...whose name seems to escape me currently. All of the scenes he uses in the film has a very bright, vivid overall tone. A kind of 'direction by color'. Great work!

~Marc

SkedAddled · Expire: 2021-08-12

I thank you all for the positive comments.
To clarify, this site was a state-operated mental health hospital & treatment facility.
It encompasses about 450 acres of land, with nearly half of the property being very dense woodland at present.
Much of the growth has occurred since areas of the campus went into disuse.

It's a sketchy place to get in and out of without repercussions,
but the experience is a real headrush. With warmer weather
and the promise of leafy trees nearly upon me, I hope to return
to this site for several more photographic tours this season.

@Screamin Scott: Thanks; I simply love those hallways.

@hk300(Alex): Glad you like!

@Orio: The place was in service during the latter years of mental & psychiatric learning, but it is still a creepy place!
However, there are no horror stories associated with this place, as far as I know.

@Poolhall: It can be an unnerving experience, to be sure. There's lots to feed the imagination.

@Marc: The lighting ranges from perfectly normal to bizarre, with everything in-between. Due to close overgrowth, most of the 1st and 2nd levels of the place are bathed in a green wash from leaves crowding the windows. The green cast often gives strange results to photographs, but I have done nothing in an attempt to correct the color cast.
See this example of how the windows are shrouded by the overgrowth: