Capture This Photography
Abandoned Mural
Posted by Laurie (New Jersey, United States) on 9 January 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.
This is from the Deserted Village taken the same day as the previous shot. I shot through the window of one of the dilapidated structures. The porch, or rather what little was left of it, was fenced off and the building boarded up except for the windows.
Mark spotted this mural as I was wandering around the other side of the old structure. I had to shoot at an odd angle to get he mural from as close as I could get to the house. I don't know when this house was last inhabited. It is interesting to ponder when this mural was done and who the artist was...
For a much larger view go here.
See my new SLIDESHOW page.
Your comments are very much appreciated. I know how much time and effort it takes to visit and leave comments. I really do appreciate them.
I make every effort to reply to questions but sometimes I miss one or two and I apologize for that. If you really need me to get an answer to you quickly, the best way is to use the CONTACT button at the bottom of the page.
I post the same photos here as on Capturethisphotography.com but they are higher res. and landscape orientation shots are larger size.
I post only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
@Steve Rice: Thanks...it was almost like you could feel the history. I definitely wanted to learn more and hope to return when they have events.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I agree with Steve, there is something here that we cannot see, but you can feel it. Great shot Laurie!
9 Jan 2009 5:48am
@bluechameleon: Thanks...there was an air of mystery,
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Such a shame to see buildings like this go to ruin. Someone at some time obviously loved the place to take the trouble to do the beautiful murals. Great find and capture.
9 Jan 2009 5:50am
Sien from Valkenswaard, Netherlands
Hella Laurie...You are here :-)
Wonderfull...You've added real drama to this pic.
I like it!! ( You have 2 homepages ? )
Grz Sien
9 Jan 2009 6:17am
@Sien: Thanks...My other site is my original but I had some trouble with it a long while back and started to move here. The problems got resolved but by that time I had already established a loyal audience here and felt that I would post here as well as there for those who prefer this platform over the other.
The other site gives me more control over image quality and content so I will always keep that site active. I post larger landscape orientation shots there too for greater detail.
Jean-François from LES ISSAMBRES, France
magnifique cadrage et fantastiques lumières !
9 Jan 2009 6:26am
Paco Díaz from Spain
I like very much this composition with great DOF.
It opens the other side of the reality, very mysterious!
The mural on the wall looks beautiful, is the house abandoned really?
9 Jan 2009 6:43am
@Paco Díaz: Thanks...there are a few houses in the village that are in that condition and are abandoned although they appear to be attempting restoration or at least attempting to stave off total collapse.
k@ from Paris, France
Oh this will be one of my favs of the day for sure !! Love that green of yours, the framing is so powerful (dynamic one that makes you think), the reflected fresco, the almost broken mirror with that wondrous foggy stuff in its corner, like spider web made in glass, and all here tell so much - just a masterpiece in its kind ! Bravo*
9 Jan 2009 6:51am
@k@: Thanks so much for your generous complements!
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
Fabulous well spotted by Mark and well shot by you I love the POV
9 Jan 2009 7:36am
GJC from Kyoto, Japan
Old buildings always have great stories, and you found one here. Thanks for sharing.
9 Jan 2009 7:37am
Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom
Great photo Laurie....I love the idea of looking in through the frame of the window.
9 Jan 2009 7:56am
JamesC from portland, United States
Wonderful through the window framing of an interesting discovery. Nice shot.
9 Jan 2009 8:12am
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
What a great shot of the mural, very beautiful framing and old buildings have such a great atmosphere. You've captured the mysterious feeling very well and thank you very much for your explanation on your previous photo.
9 Jan 2009 8:46am
@Monique: Thanks...it will be interesting to explore deeper into the village and also see the progress the restoration efforts if any.
Claus Petersen from herfølge, Denmark
I feel like a peeping tom.. :-) looking into this house.. Great work!
9 Jan 2009 9:53am
Julian Kilsby from Birmingham, United Kingdom
Great composition with a real eerie quality.
9 Jan 2009 10:14am
Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium
I like the blurred out hints of broken glass in the foreground - adds to the desolation and abandoned feeling of this place
9 Jan 2009 11:08am
Luca Bobbiesi from Milano, Italy
Stunning point of view, I like the reflections on the brocken glass
9 Jan 2009 11:40am
djedfre from schaumburg, United States
that's great! mural reminds me of something out of Crete or maybe Pompeii...
9 Jan 2009 11:49am
Nina from Hamburg, Germany
A wonderful image, Laurie... every detail here is beautiful and especially I love the colored window-frame.
9 Jan 2009 12:09pm
zahai from Berlin, Germany
Great framing, i particularly love the reflections in the leftovers of the window.
9 Jan 2009 12:25pm
dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States
Great capture. Several interesting elements in this composition.
9 Jan 2009 1:28pm
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
The green window frame frames this mural so well. I clicked into "large" on this page and suddenly noticed the reflection on the broken window pane. I love the pattern of bricks or tiles being reflected there. And my eye wants to wander all around that room, but is caught within the friendly boundaries of that green frame. This one is special.
9 Jan 2009 1:51pm
@Viewfinder: Thanks...I think the reflection is the safety fencing that surrounded what was left of the porch. I really wanted to get better access to the structure but it was pretty well secured.
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
i supposed the exterior has hand floated glass. best...jerry
9 Jan 2009 5:11pm
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
Well composed and framed... An attractive way to discover the inside of this house through this broken window... the mural is very beautiful.
9 Jan 2009 5:17pm
Marcie from United States
Love how you've framed this...or how the frame happened to wrap itself around the ancient mural. Beautiful soft colors and tones.
9 Jan 2009 5:26pm
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
Like a window to the past . . I,too, would love to know the history.
9 Jan 2009 5:31pm
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Wow, mystery house! Love the point of view and the framing (and the frame in foreground). A truly intriguing shot!
9 Jan 2009 6:19pm
socketless from Canberra, Australia
Beautiful shot! Marvellous idea of framing the shot..
9 Jan 2009 7:53pm
MontereyJohn from Salinas, California, United States
Interesting and nicely captured.
9 Jan 2009 8:41pm
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Ohhhhh... excellent find... love the shot...
9 Jan 2009 9:43pm
Charles from New York, United States
Cool shot. I love the frame. Looks like an interesting substitute for wall paper...very nice!
9 Jan 2009 11:56pm
MJ from Delaware, United States
great find... this is a real mystery and a beautiful mural
10 Jan 2009 12:29am
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
Beautiful picture and DOF. The painting on the wall is splendid.
10 Jan 2009 1:52am
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States
Terrific image, Laurie. The mural is fascinating and I love the reflection in the broken glass. What a great find.
10 Jan 2009 2:39am
JJ from Jersey City, United States
looks like back in its day the owner put lots of effort to make their home beautiful, shame it has been let run down
10 Jan 2009 2:57am
@JJ: Thanks...the ones that were fixed up looked pretty nice...cozy and inviting. One was all decked out for Christmas.
Barbara from Florida, United States
Excellent discovery and capture of this fine mural. Like someone mentioned, from the island of Crete. My immediate thought were images I took during a visit to the Palace of Knossos. The impression is quite similar.
I too am curious as to the background to this mural and structure.
10 Jan 2009 3:18am
@Barbara: Thanks...I am hoping to go there when there is an event and maybe a docent there can answer these questions. I half prefer to speculate and keep the mystery though...lol...I'm afraid the story could prove disappointing.
One from Açores, Portugal
A very interesting capture ! A good light and beautiful colors !
10 Jan 2009 3:41am
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
A unique find indeed, it's wonderful. I wonder if it has any cultural value ?
10 Jan 2009 4:51am
@Observing: Thanks...I really have no idea of the story behind that mural which really made it more interesting for me to ponder.
Vink from Grasse - French riviera, France
Excellent framing ! An intimist composition !
10 Jan 2009 9:16am
Jeffster from Long Island, United States
WOW!! This is truly superb. Makes me think about the cave paintings of Lascaux.
10 Jan 2009 3:51pm
alex centrella from California, United States
great framing and a interesting image.
10 Jan 2009 3:53pm
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada
It is too bad you can't get in. That would be like exploring the pyramids with the wonderful murals.
10 Jan 2009 5:31pm
Matthew from Spokane, United States
cool reflection on the remaining part of the window.
11 Jan 2009 2:36am
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
Love the selective focus, detail and atmosphere in this excellent image.
11 Jan 2009 9:57pm
Doum from Canada
Really impressive! I'm surprised after enlarge the small vignette! Unique shot, different and prior art.
13 Jan 2009 3:00pm
Hadassah from Chicago, United States
I agree, this is a very mysterious shot - reminds me of ancient Egyptian murals almost. The light is beautiful and the green pop as well! Great Job!
13 Jan 2009 9:44pm
@Pouhou: Thanks...it's not tilt-shift or photoshop, just composed at an angle and shot with a wide aperture (f1.4) on the 50mm. I love this lens. It was inexpensive, really compact and lightweight and an excellent lens all around.
Nikon D700
1/250 second
F/1.4
ISO 560
50 mm