Eastern State Penitentiary - May, 2004
I finally, through some internet research, was able to attach a name to this odd obsession I seem to have with photographing rotten, decaying, afwul things in places I really shoudn't be in the first place. It's called Urban Exploration. Further reseach led me to the Eastern State Pennitentiary web site (www.easternstate.org) and I virtually could not sleep until I had been there and shot it.
These images represent a change in my work, very little if any, manipulation of the images. The incredible nature of this most hideous place, the objects in it, the state of amazing synchronicity between rotting decay and everlasting strength, dominance and control, the "feel" of knowing that human beings lived and died here, makes intrusive image manipulation a sacrilege. The images stand on their own. Certain enhancements are obvious, and in those cases I feel strongly contribute to the image's feel, intent, and message.
So please enjoy them.
I'm going back.
