I know I’ve said this before, but it’s dang creepy exploring abandoned asylums on your own, particularly when you come across a scene like this. Â Who knows what lurks behind the next turn… a zombie, an angry specter, or, worse still, a psycho!
Photomatix
People often ask me for advice on whether they should buy this camera or that. Â For the most part, I avoid giving said advice, since, unlike Nikon seem to believe, it’s not entirely the camera or lenses that make the shot. Â It’s YOU, the photographer, and WHATEVER camera (lens) you have with you at the moment you come across something you want to capture. Â Take this shot here. Â I shot it with the X100, because that was what I had with me while running errands today. Â The big Nikon DSLR and the tasty Nikkor 14-24 lens were at home, resting up for the Scott Kelby Photowalk. Â Did I pout or whine? Â Hellz no! Â I busted out what I had and snagged the shot. Â And you know what? Â If all I had with me had been my iPhone, then THAT would have been the best camera and I would have captured something cool anyway. Â So whether you have Canon, Nikon, Leica, Pentax, Fuji, Sony, or whatever, shoot it like you stole it and have fun. Â Oh, and stay away from all the dumb forums where people go on and on about their pixel size!
For some reason, this scene reminded me of that great confrontation between Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men. Â That has to be one of the greatest speeches in a movie…ever. Â To me, it rates right up there with George C. Scott’s speech to his men in Patton. Â What do you all think? Â Is it sacrilege to put those two performances in the same league?
Here’s another shot from my last explore at the old East German powerplant in Vockerode. Â What a great place to shoot URBEX. Â I shot the photograph you see here in a section of the old place that had been used a few years back from about 2006 to 2009 for a freaky Marquis de Sade performance. Â They left the floor in there when they were done, and you can see them dancing all over it by clicking right here (warning: this is pretty creepy). Â They still film a lot of movies in this place, and some film makers were actually doing a shoot while I was there last.
Today I discovered a group with whom I had not yet been familiar, VNV Nation.  I was so struck by their music, particularly the song Nova, that I decided then and there I’d be post-processing the photograph you see here to that song.  I listened to the song several times in the car, and then several more times at home while creating this HDR photograph.  I liked the song (and particularly the lyrics) so much, in fact, that I’m listening to the song, yet again, as I write this.  You can find the lyrics to this song under the photograph, if you’re interested.  I’ve listened to the whole album a couple of times now and really dig it.
Nova (Shine a light on Me)
I long to feel my heart burned open wide, til nothing else remains,
except the fires from which I came.
Like parted souls, divided for an age, awe and wonder I´d embrace,
and the world anew again.
But now, this picture from me fades.
From steel’s cold hand there’s no reprieve, light the fire in me.
Shine, shine your light on me.
Illuminate me, make me complete.
Lay me down, and wash this world from me.
Open the skies, and burn it all away.
‘Cause I’ve been waiting, all my life just waiting,
for you to shine, shine your light on me.
I dreamt the world, with my eyes open.
But time moved on and then, new worlds begin again.
Oh my heart, in this universe so vast.
No moment was made to last, so light the fire in me.
Shine, shine your light on me.
Illuminate me, make me complete.
Please shine, shine your light on me.
No hesitation, make me complete.
Lay me down, and wash this world from me.
Open the skies, and burn it all away.
‘Cause I’ve been waiting, all my life just waiting,
for you to shine, shine your light on me.
~ Music and Lyrics by VNV Nation
