The Last Week Or So

Most of my blog posts are based on very intentional outings; planned, and centered around a goal or specific theme. However, life is chaotic and despite feeling very motivated and eager to shoot photos, I haven't had much time to dedicate to photography. These last couple weeks have been full of rushed and impromptu photo sessions. This post represents the last week and a half or so of photos that I've captured. 

Saw the unbelievable colors of this sunrise coming through my kitchen window and didn't even bother getting dressed before running outside to catch this photo. Colors like this don't last long. 

Yet another great foggy day in Cleveland. I did my best to take advantage of it while it lasted.

A ghost road along the Cuyahoga River's Irish Bend.

Another shot of the ghost road.

I love graffiti and I love exploring the nooks and crannies of the city. I wouldn't call these areas less traveled, because obviously they're quite well traveled, but less traveled by your average person I guess. 

Catching the lights of an RTA train leaving the Terminal Tower.

Kaylah exiting a tunnel along the tracks as we spend another couple hours seeking out more nooks and crannies and hidden spaces.

Graffiti and train tracks. Words cannot describe the sense of comfort I feel while wandering around areas like this.

I hope to find some opportunities to do some real exploring this week. Maybe find some more hidden places tucked away along train tracks. 

Photos taken with a Canon 60D and Canon 6D, using a Canon 18-135mm f/3.5 and a Canon 20mm f/2.8.

Early Morning Abandonment

Jake and I had planned on shooting a spot near downtown but when we got there the entrance which had been there a few days before, was now freshly boarded up. The next spot we went was the same story, so I drove us to a place that I knew would be open. You might recognize it from this post. The first time I was here I didn't shoot it very well. I for whatever reason didn't have my tripod with me so I was using pieces of wood and debris as make shift tripods, or worse yet, just shooting handheld with high ISO. This time around I feel like I did a little bit better. 

After taking our time here we headed to one final building but I only ended up taking a few quick photos, none of which are really worth sharing.

Photos taken with a Canon 60D, using a Canon 18-135mm f/3.5 and a Rokinon 8mm fisheye.

A Foggy Night

Ever since I was a kid I have loved the fog. It's fun, a little bit eerie, and it's great for sneaking about; it also makes for great photos. So in the afternoon when the fog first rolled into the city, I grabbed my camera and headed out in hopes of catching some nice views of Cleveland's skyline barely poking through the mist. The problem was, the city wasn't poking through at all. It was completely blanketed in fog. It was as though the city had been erased, which doesn't make for very exciting photos. I went home feeling defeated and disappointed at not being able to take advantage of one of my favorite weather conditions. Remarkably, the fog stuck around most of the day, and once the sun started to set, the city lights began to make the fog glow. I text Brandon and we immediately headed downtown.  

First stop, a quick rooftop.

Second stop, a not so quick rooftop.

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From here you could watch the fog move across the landscape and bend around the buildings.

By the time we got down from the second roof the fog had finally begun to dissipate, but we weren't ready to call it a night. So we climbed a lift bridge.

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Photos taken with a Canon 60D, using a Canon 10-22mm f/3.5, and Rokinon 8mm fisheye.

Lately

Over the last couple of weeks I've taken a lot of photos but not enough at any one point in time to justify a blog post. So here is a sampling of what the last couple weeks has looked like for me.

From a walk around Ohio City and Tremont with Kaylah and Brandon.

Walked around downtown for a little while by myself one day. I was really trying hard to see the shots that I don't normally see. 

Met up with Jason for a brief visit to the Terminal Tower observation deck.

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Although I wasn't really feeling it, I still got up before sunrise to explore a couple abandoned buildings with Kaylah and Brandon. This was also the first real test of my new tripod after having dropped my old one from the top of a lift bridge.

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Probably the last time I'll explore this old favorite. Soon to be renovated.

Finally got around to checking this place out. It had been on my list for a few years now.

Kaylah and I dangling our feet in the deep end.

Missed opportunity. 

Jake and I spent a morning exploring. This was one of the only photos that I took from this building.

Photos taken with a Canon 60D, using a Sigma 150-500mm f/5, Canon 10-22mm f/3.5, Canon 20mm f/2.8, Canon 18-135mm f/3.5 and a Rokinon 8mm fisheye.

Film Friday - 11

I had been planning on spending the day working at home, but after my second cup of coffee restlessness set in. I packed up a few cameras, including a new Polaroid that I had just picked up at an antique store. I parked at the first spot that I found and started walking. I walked around by myself for an hour or so before getting hungry and stopping at Barrio for a taco. After I ate I met up with Jason and we headed to Terminal Tower to get a few photos from the observation deck.

I found myself drawn to shadows.

Self-portrait.

Dirtiest alley in Cleveland.

The Warehouse District.

More lines and shadows.

Photos taken with a Polaroid Colorpack II, using Fuji FP-100c film.