A departure

Well...the title is misleading. But, it was a breath of fresh air after what seems to be endless flowers and pretty all the time. I like urban decay but, it seems to come in small doses. Today, I went shooting with five friends that initially grew from a now defunct meet-up group. It has been a gray overcast day with rather flat light, which makes an interesting backdrop to the site: Sloss Furnance.

For those not in the know, Sloss is a old steel mill that now serves as a museum (and sometimes haunted house) to the industry that gave Bessemer it's name and Birmingham part of its fame. If you're into abstracts, urban, or industrial shots - this is the perfect photoshoot. Caution though, they have become hip to professional photographers and do charge a fee for models and professional set-ups. Because of the fees, I was not able to take in my tripod as apparently that is one of the dividing lines between professional and amateur - ha! Little do they know that it would take a lot more with me. Like some better knowledge of how to read light, but I digress.

What strikes me most about Sloss though, is the glimpses of beauty among the decay. Among the falling bricks and rusted machinery are the tiny little bright green ferns that have grown in niches in the brick and steel. Bricks are covered with beautiful lichen and there are pops of green and blue against the dull red ferric paint. It shows that life will find a way.

I shot approximately 225 shots. Of the shots, there are about ten I like and fifteen that I will tolerate. But...the good news today is that I finally got photoshop loaded onto my laptop and I spend the evening reloading actions, templates and textures. I had forgotten the joy that I feel editing and playing with textures, colors and feelings.

Here are a few of the shots - I think I'm also going to do a black & white series from these as the lines just scream for the contrasts. Every time I go to Sloss I learn a little bit more. Maybe next time I will be able to get a better feel for the light.