Always Watching
by Lois Bryan
Title
Always Watching
Artist
Lois Bryan
Medium
Photograph - Photography / Digital Art
Description
NOTE: FINE ART AMERICA WATERMARK WILL NOT APPEAR ON PURCHASED IMAGE.
The Pennsylvania Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true 'penitentiary,' a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber 'Slick Willie' Sutton and Al Capone.
My thanks to the "Eastern State Penitentiary":http://www.easternstate.org/ website for the above information.
Seen here is the food preparation area, to the right was once the bakery. In the background stands the more modern watch tower. The penitentiary was opened in 1829 and closed in 1970.
Image taken on April 12, 2011. Nikon D300 with Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens on Manfroto tripod. Seven individual images merged in Photomatix Pro for hdr image and blended with textures in Photoshop CS4. Additional tinkering in Photoshop and Capture NX2.
~My thanks to Princess of Shadows at Deviant Art and Skeletal Mess at Flickr for the textures.~
Uploaded
April 13th, 2011
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Comments (31)
Lois Bryan
A very late thanks to the hosts of "Old Buildings and Ruins" ... "The WOW Gallery" ... and "Photography and Textures Make Fine Art" for the features in your beautiful groups.
Carol Wisniewski
Great processing work done on this, enjoyed the write-up. Congratulations on your sale!
Donald Davis
WOW! Fantastic work Lois. Love the feel to this scene and the great tones. Many Congratulations on your sale.
Sandra Bronstein
What a fascinating place! You captured it's almost macabre mood yet making it somewhat inviting! Great work, as always, Lois! Voted.
Don Wright
This is great Lois. I love this kind of stuff. I hope you will be posting more in Abandoned and Forlorn. I'm having a bit of a problem getting my head around the fact that only 6 152 viewers have marked it as a favorite. Go figure. f/v
Lois Bryan replied:
Don, you are so kind, thank you!! You have to remember, though, this image has been up since April of 2011 ... long before anyone understood the significance of the votes. Maybe that has something to do with it ... ??Regardless, thank you!!!! Your note and f/v are truly appreciated!!!!!
Lois Bryan
Hi Reb, thank you!!! This particular place has been visited by many photographers and tho I have one image that I will post one of these days, it's been done by several other of my friends. So what I was really searching for while I was there was a spot that was a little different ... and this was it. They practically had to chase me out, but I got the shot, lol!!!!!!! Thanks again!!!!
Reb Frost
This picture attracts me very much.. It is the tones and darkened edges that make it so mysterious and intriguing... I love the watch tower in the background.. I often go to old areas of Montreal and photograph scenes of the old buildings.. I like your creative method here..
Svetlana Sewell
I like this sort of images and this one is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!
Lois Bryan replied:
Thank you so much, Lana ... I have at least one more from that shoot that I've been meaning to play with ... I like the creepy stuff too once in awhile, lol!!!!!!
Chris Lord
I absolutely have to get there one of these days,such a great location. I love this capture Lois and your texture treatment is very effective. Well done.
Lois Bryan replied:
Chris thanks so much!!!!! I've always wanted to get into a place like this!!!!! You must find a way to get there!!!!