Your Bio

Welcome to TheSkewedEye.Com on Smugmug.

I'm Bill Brown, and I specialize in rural/urban abandonments.

The locations you see here, especially the rural sites, will not be found in typical location databases. I use a very old skill that anyone can be taught, very similar to remote viewing/remote sensing to find map "hotspots".

Usually it's a general area, but can be as specific as a road. Or I just drive, go with the flow, and listen to what I refer to as The Voice and my own native intuition for directions, and am led right to most locations.

I go alone, not exactly smart, but ulimately necessary. I try and capture the 'feeeeeel' of the places I've been led to, as I find the experience of being there to be generally intensely personal. In some instances where the real world and conditions inhibit or detract from that feel, I remove and replace certain image elements. I've drawn some measure of criticism for those enhancements by some folks, but stand by the modifications I make. I find it a true compliment to hear "I've never seen anything like.this before!"

Hallmark Moments I'm not, but I guarantee you won't leave the site without being affected by at least one image. Somewhere.

An if so, I've done my job.

Enjoy!

~BIll Brown, aka TheSkewedEye

9-26-09

Featured Galleries

Curacao, October 2009 : I didn’t know what to expect, but was not lugging 25 pounds of gear on a Carribbean vacation. Just essentials. As it turns out, the trip to Curacao was beyond my expectations on all levels and in ways photographic, gastronomic, accommodations and amazing environment. It was a photographic jewel box, and constantly was presenting new and unusual ways to capture standard “islandy” images. I don't DO "islandy fluffy pretty". Let the tourons photograph Punda to death. Curacao makes it easy to find the unusual, the forgotten beauty of decay and of the vibrantly alive, seemingly at every turn of the road. Curacao was a fabulous discovery for me as a photographer of the old, forgotten, and abandoned, So much of Curacao’s rich history is easily or well, at the very least, bravely accessible. From deserted yet grand Landhuis’ (plantation house,) and beachfront mansions to Cineland, the crumbling old movie house, to Fort Beekenburg, built in 1703 to defend the outer bays, Curacao readily presents it's unbelievable and stunningly diverse beauty. What still needs attention is the casual dumping of hazardous waste, and cleaning up of the island. I sometimes came across seas of plastic, rather than blue water, and the “computer recycling” dump you see below during my explorations of places on the island rarely visited by your standard tourist. I also included, as I feel it’s important to be an objective observer, an image of a truck with a particular epithet regarding Curacao’s being a member of Dutch Antilles. There were numerous signs all over the istand that read “Stop Dutch Apartheid”. There is, I believe, an upcoming popular vote (however with no firm date set,) concerning independence from Holland, and it seems to be clear there is a contingent of Curacao residents who rather strongly present their opinion. To all our wonderful new friends on the Avila Hotel Staff - Luciano, Ivanetta, Waldy, Tanusi, Maachel, Robertico, Shannon, Ella, Jahira, the managers we met and talked to, we cannot thank you enough for your exceptional hospitality and the making of our incredible experience on Curacao complete! Thanks also to Natalie from the Avila Boutique, without your sage knowledge of the local fringes, my San Pedro experience would not have been had!. Thank you all for your unique and special contributions to my unbelievable time on Curacao! And of course, to Pearl, thank you for taking such good care of us. Pearl made us feel as if she were welcoming us into her own home every single day. She has a smile and a warmth that outshines the Caribbean sun, and we loved seeing her and chatting every day during our stay. In fact, every employee we interacted with at the Avila seems to truly enjoy and are proud of working at the Avila. The management and staff, the gorgeous grounds, facilities, accomodations, the beauty of the beach, the best snorkeling, and the unique location, make the Avila Hotel our ONLY hotel choice on future visits to Curacao. And I will be back, A lot of careful research went into planning the stay at both the island and hotel. Due to the geography of the island and the myriad of new experience and exploration possibilities, I personally feel Curacao and the Avila Hotel are the singular five star Caribbean choice for GLBT Americans, specifically. The island truly welcomes diversity, and is completely accepting and welcoming to everyone. It is a SAFE destination that should be placed at the top of any Caribbean vacations list . Don’t expect a large gay population nor the types of establishments you may be used to. There is one gay bar on the island, and it's thankfully not a Caribbean Fire Island. However, if you are looking for a Caribbean destination that offers amenities, accommodations and venues that treat you with respect, graciousness, and as a valued, discerning customer, my experience makes Curacao a no brainer. Also, it was fantastic meeting our fellow guests, the good doctor from Miami, Armando, and Steve and Christa, newlyweds from Atlanta. To our most gracious hosts and new friends at Rozendaels and Lanoevo restaurants in Pietermaai, we regret discovering your talented chefs and fantastic menus far too late in our stay. Both restaurants served us our best meals on the island, and we did all of the “must eats”. We will make up for that on our next visit, trust me! So please enjoy the images of what I’ll keep considering my Personal Paradise, Curacao. ~ Bill 10/22/09

Curacao, October 2009

The Busted Quarry, WV : Same old deal. Gorgeous day, look at maps, feeeeeeeeeeel this area and zone in, switch to aerial, and then go "WTF is THAT?" Looked like an abandoned castle. Or something. It turned out to be *quite* something... Welcome to the Busted Quarry gallery. The name fits for a couple reasons, one being rather visually obvious right off the bat. The other is I was caught trespassing at this location, Eeek! Yes! My first EVER, and I've trespassed in some pretty fabulous and high security places! I promised "Dixie", the great (to say nothing of eagle-eyed) security guy who busted me, the location of the quarry would remain a secret until my dying day. So I am not going to say anything other than it is in the state of West Virginia. Uh, Dixie also wanted me to pass something on to you. DON'T BOTHER. You'll get nabbed, just like I did, and they DRIVE AROUND about every hour. Dixies also says don't EVEN try to go swimming in the quarry lake. He showed me where he can see the entire area from above, and he's GONNA see you. Then there's the color of the water. I could not FAKE a color like that. No way I was takin' a dip. Not so for about 5 teenagers who were at the lake, when did Dixie say, last year, and one jumped off what I am calling "Death Rock" (don't worry, you KNOW I shot it!). and never came up. It is seriously, according to both my and Dixie's estimation, about an 80 foot drop. So, to say the security is tight here is an understatement. Liability issues and all. Now, here's the DYNO ROYALE part. Ok. So I've pretty much exhausted the shooting site itself, no problems/hassles/nothing, and was walking down this dirt road to the quarry lake. Then I hear the truck, turn around, SEE the truck, and go "Crap, I am soooooo totally busted!" I turned my ass around and started walking slowly toward the truck. I meet Dixie. "YOU KNOW YOU'RE TRESSPASSING!?!?!?!?!", he hoilers. I admitted I did. I then immediately apologized and offered to heist my butt out of there immediately, if this snarling, gum chewin, Black Ray Ban Aviator wearin' SOB was of a mind to let me. I launched into what I considered a beautiful rendition of "I'm a photographer, I leave only footprints. touch nothing, don't leave Miller Lite cans..." I offered a business card, as if that made my little trespassing faux pas legit or "OK" somehow, and he says, "Naaaa, don't gimme that. I don't wanna know who ya are, cause I'm not going to turn you in. Get in." Who am I at this point to argue? After all, I figured at worst it's a free ride to the gate, and was a long uphill hike back, So I do. And we start talking, he asks me where I'm from, I say Reston (DC), he snarls, "figgered". I start asking questions, and then from that magic moment on, I was given a personal TOUR of the friggin' place, complete with Dixie's family history, and of the quarry. Dixie was born in a company house that has long rotted away, along with many others on the grounds here. You can still see the stacked rock walls running throughout the dense woods that have now overaken everything and anything. His father worked for over 50 years at the quarry/smelting plant, and retired in 1961, Dixie and his brothers also worked long years for the quarry, the name of which I never learned. Didn't want to seem pushy or anything by asking, seein' as how I was trespassin' and all. So anyway... Dixie and I wind up being the best of pals, he drives me all over, giving me the history of this and that, and what this was, and that was, etc. He, dig this, actually POSITIONED his pickup truck so I could get a good shot of Death Rock. Deluxe! Which is the the beautiful lake and the rock shot in the gallery. A Reckless Youth of Questionable Sobriety jumped from the large monolith you see in the foreground, and sank, never to come back up from. Divers recovered him tangled in something; the depth at that spot being 40 ft..Shot it right outta Dixie's pick up truck winder. So... presented with a bit of a story, the usual skew, and many anonymous regards to my dearest Security Person pal EVER, Dixie, please enjoy The Busted Quarry. ~ Bill 10/5/09

The Busted Quarry, WV

Same old deal. Gorgeous day, look at maps, feeeeeeeeeeel this area an ...

Updated: Oct 06, 2009 1:57pm PST

Galleries

Akota : I am so thankful for my "gift", and my unseen guides. It was a Sunday morning, and was to be a football widow day. John asks, "You going taking pictures?" "I dunno", I say, but the prospect of listening to those annoying mucho mas macho sportscasters grunt out their opinions all day long was more than I could possibly handle. So, to the maps I turn, and say, "Ok where we goin' today?" I'm drawn to an area I'd never been, but could feel it's intensity, feel something completely unique about it, and heard 'The Voice' say, "Come take a peek, you won't be disappointed." So off I go. The following images are from somewhere in either Loudoun or Faquier counties, I really couldn't tell you. I just go, turn where The Voice says turn, and voila! It was an incredible day, I felt I was in a place where time stood still, and I somehow was time tunneled back a hundred years.

Akota

I am so thankful for my "gift", and my unseen guides. It was a Sunday ...

Updated: Feb 16, 2008 2:54pm EST

Route 30 West : I felllllt it. Took one look, and "knew". Route 30 West in Pennsylvania, west of Gettysburg. Some strange area, der hon. So thick with "odd" it seems to hang in the air. These are some of the images taken on the Exploration.

Route 30 West

I felllllt it. Took one look, and "knew". Route 30 West in Pennsylvani ...

Updated: Feb 16, 2008 1:29pm EST

Eastern State Penitentiary : 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.

Eastern State Penitentiary

I finally, through some internet research, was able to attach a name t ...

Updated: Feb 03, 2008 9:57am EST

Ashburn, VA : A pal of mine said, "There's this house out where I live. It's right up your alley." Now, some people might not understand having a scary rotting old hulk of a house the first thing that enters their mind when they think of you, but trust me, it's SPECIAL! Tip o' the Lens to Tim B, who suggested the location. The below images are from two locations, one a scary looking Addams family kinda house in the middle of suburban luxury townhomes. It won't be there long, I was lucky to get IN and shoot it as it was. VERY busy little intersection, and not discreet. Hmmmm... what to do what to do? Ok, well we'll just take ONE or TWO from the ROAD, and why... The second house and property is a nasty old farm complex. I'd often seen it heading out the Greenway for more obtuse destinations, but figured it would be tough to find, and looked very, uh, restrictive in terms of access. A "wrong turn" on the way back from the Addams family house and wham! There I was, the creepy farm complex dead in my sights. Maybe more than I know. If you look VERY carefully at one of the kitchen shots. I have no idea if it WAS or not, but sure does look like SOMEONE was in the kitchen playing with knives and had a bit of an accident... note the horrendous spatter all over the white cabinets. Both places had a distinctive, almost malevolent feel when I went in them. It seems that "feel" seems to have transferred in the images, as even though these are similar to the Northern Neck gallery houses, t he "feeeeeel" of these places was much harder, meaner. Who knows, maybe it's me. Now, shall we go IN?

Ashburn, VA

A pal of mine said, "There's this house out where I live. It's right u ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2008 10:35pm EST

South Africa - Ngala Game Reserve : Our stay at the Ngala Game Reserve was point-blank amazing from start to finish. From the 5-star accommodations, to the amazing and varied wildlife you see in the images below. We owe so much of our incredible experience to our Ranger Lyson and our Tracker (and I will risk the misspelling) Januwadeo, pictured below. The almost telepathic way these two men communicated, tracked and found the wildlife you see below is nothing short of incredible to see in action. Much less POSITIONING YOU to SEE it. The Wild African dogs are extremely special as they are very endangered and rarely seen. The entire game reserve was notified when the pack below was spotted. The lions had, conveniently for John whose expectations were "for a kill", just dispatched a baby giraffe and were having lunch. The sounds these animals made I will never forget, and made for an incredibly close up, vivid and in-yer-face experience. Apparently brains are a delicacy for lions. The cheetah was an out and out poser. But when you wear fur that well... flaunt it.

South Africa - Ngala Game Reserve

Our stay at the Ngala Game Reserve was point-blank amazing from start ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2008 7:43pm EST

South Africa - Langa Township : I had so been looking forward to this particular excursion while in Cape Town. The Langa Township Tour, as guided by Andile Nzuzo, of Inkululeko Tours - The Freedom Route - was perhaps the highlight of the trip for me personally. The people of Langa have very little, but greet you with big smiles that are genuinely welcoming, willing to talk, share, work, play. The images are from Cape Town's oldest township, Langa. The last image is of a thumb piano I picked up on a corner vendor lot in Langa, and is a highly prized possession. The colored bands on the tines are made from tin cans, and it is completely from-scratch made, hand-burnt and decorated. It sounds as beautiful as the hands that crafted it.

South Africa - Langa Township

I had so been looking forward to this particular excursion while in Ca ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2008 7:38pm EST

South Africa - Cape Town : Cape Town, Stellenbosch Wine Country, Simon's Town, Cape Peninsula, Bo Kaap Neighborhood, Table Mountain Sculptures Information: Art Creations Africa - http://www;artcreationsafrica.com

South Africa - Cape Town

Cape Town, Stellenbosch Wine Country, Simon's Town, Cape Peninsula, Bo ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2008 7:37pm EST

Surreal Estate : I've been lazy, I admit it. I've been shooting in RAW format, and the time it takes to process images has now doubled. I finally decided that I needed to review, process and post images I've taken this summer from places such as Ontario, Canada, rural Virginia, and the Del Marva peninsula, der hon. These images fit the page title. Surreal. Both inside and out. Tip 'o the lens to Robert de Gast, whose stunningly beautiful images of the Eastern Shore so inspired me, I had to go there myself. I felt a bit of artistic skeeviness in shooting some of the same locations, but well, got over it. Our styles could not be more different, despite our common passion for these amazing structures. Yes, we're back to gratuitous effects. Deal. To me, that's what puts the SUR in the real.

Surreal Estate

I've been lazy, I admit it. I've been shooting in RAW format, and the ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2008 1:36pm EST

The Northern Neck : I went back to King George and other counties to the south and east. I had to. I looked at the maps and KNEW, I could feeeeeeeel it. Below are some of the images from Virginia's Northern Neck as of March, 2005. The images were taken from one abandoned elementary school as well as several abandoned houses. This trip was particularly affecting. You simply cannot stand in these rooms and not hear the voices, and feeeel the intense heaviness of the lives that had to abandon these rooms, sometimes with such obvious haste clothes were left hanging where they were last placed, the comforter remains crumpled at the foot of the bed.

The Northern Neck

I went back to King George and other counties to the south and east. I ...

Updated: Feb 03, 2008 8:25am EST

Harris Family Houses - Walton, WV : At the very last minute, I looked at the maps and knew I had to "go someplace" once again. "There" was West Virginia, but this time MUCH further than a day trip would allow. I wound up booking a lodge room at LongFork Campgrounds and Resort about 40 miles NE of Charleston, thinking it would be perfect, rustic, and close to what I was looking for -- rotting, abandoned houses. It was all of that and more. What I didn't know was that I was going to meet a very amazing man by the name of Danny Harris, who is the Office Manager/Events Coordinator for Longfork. After checking in, I wound up talking with Danny about, my uh, penchant for abandoned houses. Danny assured me I was in the right area. "Fabulous", I say. Thought so, could feeeeeeeel it from the maps. "Dump the maps", Danny says, "they won't do you any good". Danny was right. Danny grew up in the hollows of Walton, WV, and knows them all like the back of his hand. In fact, four generations of his family are from or were at one time located around Walton, WV. I was extremely fortunate to have Danny personally accompany me to a set of 3 abandoned homes which are all close together, completely isolated now, and which had been occupied by his family for at least 3 generations. All had been at one time - the last being 6 years ago (Bobette's House) - active and thriving homes up on a hillside close to Walton. Danny was right about the maps. Useless. We snaked in the SUV for about 30/40 mins. across the intense ridge roads of the hollows. He directed me to turn on to what looks like a cowpath, and continue driving to the creek. THEN IN AND UP THE CREEK. Which I do. Once we emerged from the creek at the right spot, I see what I've captured in the images below, as well as a total bonus. FOR ONCE, I would know "What happened to the people who lived here?" Danny most graciously shared his family's history, stories from his father and other family, and memories from these amazing houses. Which will NEVER, EVER, BE FOUND. Indeed, CANNOT BE FOUND (nor vandalized, more importantly) unless you know exactly where they are, and Danny Harris is the ONLY one to talk to about that! I will make the briefest of notes on each image page, as my memory sucks (imagine!), and Danny can correct me on any mislabeling and I'll update the page. I cannot thank Mr. Danny Harris at LongFork Campgrounds and Resort enough for his taking an entire day and sharing with me not only his gracious and most excellent company, but also for his recollections of the lives, stories, events and defining moments in HIS family's history since the early 1800s in the family houses you see below.

Harris Family Houses - Walton, WV

At the very last minute, I looked at the maps and knew I had to "go so ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2008 11:17pm EST

Lorton Prison : With gas @ $4 a gallon, and an extremely thirsty, yet trusty SUV, I've drastically curtailed my wanderings to far flung locations to satisfy my obsession with the rotting and forgotten. So, it was a gorgeous August day, and the Voice said, "Well ya know, you have something quite interesting just down the road from you in Lorton - Lorton Prison." So I discovered what looked like a perfect back door into it, and amazingly just waltzed my azz on in. The following images are from a number of locations that were the Lorton Complex, including an abandoned farm the inmates used to work. It was a very intense experience to photograph the locations due to the history of the prison, and the obvious residual energy that remains soaked into the walls. Most of the images are from the Power Plant, an UrbEx slice of heaven. A personally disturbing fact to me is the opening this September of the Max Security buildings (third to last pic in the gallery) as an ARTISTs space. There are such, how do I put this, residual energy problems here that I wouldn't even CONSIDER having a workspace here. Thank GOD they didn't go with the original plan of making the same spaces into condos! So, all that said, please enjoy what most probably are the last illicitly photographed images of what once was one of the most notorious prisons in the US.

Lorton Prison

With gas @ $4 a gallon, and an extremely thirsty, yet trusty SUV, I've ...

Updated: Dec 17, 2008 9:27pm EST

Henryton Sanitarium - November 2008 : I'd heard Henryton was easy to get into and shoot, despite warnings of asbestos, severe vandalism, and it being *almost* a TOURIST attraction. I went on two separate shoots, the first being a bit of a washout, due to being cut short by human factors. Loud, let's-bust-up-some-stuff, drunk ones apparently. So, the first time was much more of a recon mission, shall we say. I had to be invisible and able to get away quickly if things got ugly, which limited me to mostly outside stuff. Henryton site is HUGE, with many different buildings. It's easy to get to and into, and is extremely popular with roving bands of *scairt* GURLEENS sporting headband flashlights and baby blue surgical masks, the occasional clan of Goth People, and finally those that think this would be a great place to play GhostHunters with their CHIRREN, for crying out loud. For that reason, and it's rather isolated location, if you get in trouble here due to PEOPLE, which is faaaar more likely than anything from The Beyond, no one WILL hear you scream. Or if they do, TRUST me, Honeylamb, they are going to be RUNNING from yer ass as fast as they can due to being scared right into MessyPants. It's extremely dangerous from the broken glass/hazardous debris/asbestoes/structural integrity perspectives, to say nothing of the drunken vandal perpective. Some history of the place I gleaned somewhere: "The facility was established in the 1920s as a tuberculosis hospital for the "Negro" population. The hospital was converted to a facility serving the developmentally disabled population in 1962, and closed in 1985. It has been vacant since closing. However, the Maryland State Police currently use the facility on a part-time basis to train police dogs and demonstrate how to conduct searches, etc. The hospital campus consists of eighteen buildings, with a total of 228,000 square feet. The campus is located on 46 acres in the middle of a State Park. The main buildings at the hospital include three connecting multi-story structures, built between the 1920s and 1940, containing approximately 119,000 square feet. The earliest building comprised the original tuberculosis hospital. Two additions were built and renovations were made to the original building between the time of the original construction and 1940. The property is currently for sale and having trouble selling due to environmental issues and the historical value of the buildings, some of which cannot be torn down." So with all THAT outta the way, please enjoy the Skewed View of Henryton Sanitarium.

Henryton Sanitarium - November 2008

I'd heard Henryton was easy to get into and shoot, despite warnings of ...

Updated: Dec 17, 2008 10:23pm EST

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - October 2008 : I have passed through Weston, WV before, but never stopped. This time I did. I drove through town, and turned on to this street and there it was, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, formerly Weston State Hospital. The facility was a psychiatric hospital operated from 1864 to 1994 by the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia, in the city of Weston. So I pull up to park and notice I seem to be alone in visiting that day. Then begin to wonder just why that might be. I eventually do make my way in, and was given a personal tour of the entire hospital and grounds by a former employee and resident, complete with gross, disturbing and hieeously vivid anecdotes about daily life (and death) At Weston. She was fabulously and gruesomely honest in her recollections -- it was perfect. The below images, as always, present the Skewed View.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - October 2008

I have passed through Weston, WV before, but never stopped. This time ...

Updated: Dec 17, 2008 11:07pm EST

Route 29 : As always, I sat in front of the computer and started to just look at the maps, and as I did, it became clear to me where I had to go. The gentle tugging, the almost imperceptible whisper said, "Route 29 south. And EXPLORE, hon, go where you feeeeeeel it." The Voice didn't have to tell me twice, I was gone and on my way. And, as always, paydirt. Not much quantity, be lordaMERCY, Percy, the quality was there. If you can call this quality. Below are images from the drive 'down 29'. They are presented here with the usual Skew. Enjoy!

Route 29

As always, I sat in front of the computer and started to just look at ...

Updated: Aug 02, 2009 5:40pm EST

The Box Factory - West Virginia : As always, as I glanced at an area in northern West Virginia, I felt the Call. The Tugging. The Something's Here and Right Up Your Alley feeling. So I go. Have no clue where this was, but knew I was on the right track after the first house you see below. The following images are mostly from an abandoned box factory. As usual, presented with the usual Skew!

The Box Factory - West Virginia

As always, as I glanced at an area in northern West Virginia, I felt t ...

Updated: Sep 26, 2009 1:17pm EST

The Busted Quarry, WV : Same old deal. Gorgeous day, look at maps, feeeeeeeeeeel this area and zone in, switch to aerial, and then go "WTF is THAT?" Looked like an abandoned castle. Or something. It turned out to be *quite* something... Welcome to the Busted Quarry gallery. The name fits for a couple reasons, one being rather visually obvious right off the bat. The other is I was caught trespassing at this location, Eeek! Yes! My first EVER, and I've trespassed in some pretty fabulous and high security places! I promised "Dixie", the great (to say nothing of eagle-eyed) security guy who busted me, the location of the quarry would remain a secret until my dying day. So I am not going to say anything other than it is in the state of West Virginia. Uh, Dixie also wanted me to pass something on to you. DON'T BOTHER. You'll get nabbed, just like I did, and they DRIVE AROUND about every hour. Dixies also says don't EVEN try to go swimming in the quarry lake. He showed me where he can see the entire area from above, and he's GONNA see you. Then there's the color of the water. I could not FAKE a color like that. No way I was takin' a dip. Not so for about 5 teenagers who were at the lake, when did Dixie say, last year, and one jumped off what I am calling "Death Rock" (don't worry, you KNOW I shot it!). and never came up. It is seriously, according to both my and Dixie's estimation, about an 80 foot drop. So, to say the security is tight here is an understatement. Liability issues and all. Now, here's the DYNO ROYALE part. Ok. So I've pretty much exhausted the shooting site itself, no problems/hassles/nothing, and was walking down this dirt road to the quarry lake. Then I hear the truck, turn around, SEE the truck, and go "Crap, I am soooooo totally busted!" I turned my ass around and started walking slowly toward the truck. I meet Dixie. "YOU KNOW YOU'RE TRESSPASSING!?!?!?!?!", he hoilers. I admitted I did. I then immediately apologized and offered to heist my butt out of there immediately, if this snarling, gum chewin, Black Ray Ban Aviator wearin' SOB was of a mind to let me. I launched into what I considered a beautiful rendition of "I'm a photographer, I leave only footprints. touch nothing, don't leave Miller Lite cans..." I offered a business card, as if that made my little trespassing faux pas legit or "OK" somehow, and he says, "Naaaa, don't gimme that. I don't wanna know who ya are, cause I'm not going to turn you in. Get in." Who am I at this point to argue? After all, I figured at worst it's a free ride to the gate, and was a long uphill hike back, So I do. And we start talking, he asks me where I'm from, I say Reston (DC), he snarls, "figgered". I start asking questions, and then from that magic moment on, I was given a personal TOUR of the friggin' place, complete with Dixie's family history, and of the quarry. Dixie was born in a company house that has long rotted away, along with many others on the grounds here. You can still see the stacked rock walls running throughout the dense woods that have now overaken everything and anything. His father worked for over 50 years at the quarry/smelting plant, and retired in 1961, Dixie and his brothers also worked long years for the quarry, the name of which I never learned. Didn't want to seem pushy or anything by asking, seein' as how I was trespassin' and all. So anyway... Dixie and I wind up being the best of pals, he drives me all over, giving me the history of this and that, and what this was, and that was, etc. He, dig this, actually POSITIONED his pickup truck so I could get a good shot of Death Rock. Deluxe! Which is the the beautiful lake and the rock shot in the gallery. A Reckless Youth of Questionable Sobriety jumped from the large monolith you see in the foreground, and sank, never to come back up from. Divers recovered him tangled in something; the depth at that spot being 40 ft..Shot it right outta Dixie's pick up truck winder. So... presented with a bit of a story, the usual skew, and many anonymous regards to my dearest Security Person pal EVER, Dixie, please enjoy The Busted Quarry. ~ Bill 10/5/09

The Busted Quarry, WV

Same old deal. Gorgeous day, look at maps, feeeeeeeeeeel this area an ...

Updated: Oct 06, 2009 4:57pm EST

Curacao, October 2009 : I didn’t know what to expect, but was not lugging 25 pounds of gear on a Carribbean vacation. Just essentials. As it turns out, the trip to Curacao was beyond my expectations on all levels and in ways photographic, gastronomic, accommodations and amazing environment. It was a photographic jewel box, and constantly was presenting new and unusual ways to capture standard “islandy” images. I don't DO "islandy fluffy pretty". Let the tourons photograph Punda to death. Curacao makes it easy to find the unusual, the forgotten beauty of decay and of the vibrantly alive, seemingly at every turn of the road. Curacao was a fabulous discovery for me as a photographer of the old, forgotten, and abandoned, So much of Curacao’s rich history is easily or well, at the very least, bravely accessible. From deserted yet grand Landhuis’ (plantation house,) and beachfront mansions to Cineland, the crumbling old movie house, to Fort Beekenburg, built in 1703 to defend the outer bays, Curacao readily presents it's unbelievable and stunningly diverse beauty. What still needs attention is the casual dumping of hazardous waste, and cleaning up of the island. I sometimes came across seas of plastic, rather than blue water, and the “computer recycling” dump you see below during my explorations of places on the island rarely visited by your standard tourist. I also included, as I feel it’s important to be an objective observer, an image of a truck with a particular epithet regarding Curacao’s being a member of Dutch Antilles. There were numerous signs all over the istand that read “Stop Dutch Apartheid”. There is, I believe, an upcoming popular vote (however with no firm date set,) concerning independence from Holland, and it seems to be clear there is a contingent of Curacao residents who rather strongly present their opinion. To all our wonderful new friends on the Avila Hotel Staff - Luciano, Ivanetta, Waldy, Tanusi, Maachel, Robertico, Shannon, Ella, Jahira, the managers we met and talked to, we cannot thank you enough for your exceptional hospitality and the making of our incredible experience on Curacao complete! Thanks also to Natalie from the Avila Boutique, without your sage knowledge of the local fringes, my San Pedro experience would not have been had!. Thank you all for your unique and special contributions to my unbelievable time on Curacao! And of course, to Pearl, thank you for taking such good care of us. Pearl made us feel as if she were welcoming us into her own home every single day. She has a smile and a warmth that outshines the Caribbean sun, and we loved seeing her and chatting every day during our stay. In fact, every employee we interacted with at the Avila seems to truly enjoy and are proud of working at the Avila. The management and staff, the gorgeous grounds, facilities, accomodations, the beauty of the beach, the best snorkeling, and the unique location, make the Avila Hotel our ONLY hotel choice on future visits to Curacao. And I will be back, A lot of careful research went into planning the stay at both the island and hotel. Due to the geography of the island and the myriad of new experience and exploration possibilities, I personally feel Curacao and the Avila Hotel are the singular five star Caribbean choice for GLBT Americans, specifically. The island truly welcomes diversity, and is completely accepting and welcoming to everyone. It is a SAFE destination that should be placed at the top of any Caribbean vacations list . Don’t expect a large gay population nor the types of establishments you may be used to. There is one gay bar on the island, and it's thankfully not a Caribbean Fire Island. However, if you are looking for a Caribbean destination that offers amenities, accommodations and venues that treat you with respect, graciousness, and as a valued, discerning customer, my experience makes Curacao a no brainer. Also, it was fantastic meeting our fellow guests, the good doctor from Miami, Armando, and Steve and Christa, newlyweds from Atlanta. To our most gracious hosts and new friends at Rozendaels and Lanoevo restaurants in Pietermaai, we regret discovering your talented chefs and fantastic menus far too late in our stay. Both restaurants served us our best meals on the island, and we did all of the “must eats”. We will make up for that on our next visit, trust me! So please enjoy the images of what I’ll keep considering my Personal Paradise, Curacao. ~ Bill 10/22/09

Curacao, October 2009