The Workshop That Became A Book

What started off as a series of Photography Workshops... Has now, thru the urging of the participants in both workshops, become a beautiful book.

The first workshop: "The Absence of Light" (There are two types of black; that of ink/paint/pigment, tires, asphalt, etc. and that which is in the darkest shadows where there is an "Absence of Light") was taught at Northern State Hospital using the outside of these historic, abandoned buildings with beautiful architecture, as a backdrop. The mission; use the shadows as either the focal point or an important element of your image.

Northern State Hospital, in Sedro Wolley, Washington, built from 1910-1912 was the State's Mental Asylum. If you needed this type of treatment, this facility was widely considered the best hospital of its kind at the time. It was also pretty close to being a self-sufficient working diary farm, which allowed some patients to be outside, working in the fields and with the animals. This hospitals main years of practice were in the early days of studying and treating mental health, with many procedures that today, including lobotomies, would be considered horrific. The facility was closed in the 70's, and has seen many years of aging and neglect due to lack of budget.

After shooting the outside of these buildings, many participants wanted the ability to go inside and shoot there too... Which turned into a 2nd workshop with the theme of "Emotion" (show us what emotion you were feeling, or would like us to feel in your image). There were many eerie feelings amongst all the photographers as we walked the halls of this famous hospital. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there was no denying the sense of what life may have been like inside those walls.

From these two workshops, the photographers wanted some way to preserve and present what they captured, so the idea for a book was put forward, with proceeds from the sale going to a fund that has been made to assist in the renovation of these historic buildings.

Below is the cover art that I made for the front and back of the book. There's a link on the side of this blog for ordering.

We are planning another set of workshops out there again this Spring. If you're interested in these or any other Photography Workshops taught by us, go to That Photo Shoppe to learn more.