Ghost Town Ghosts
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More of Laura Hartley’s Photos
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Enter "Ocean"!
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Photo license: © All rights reserved
This photo is the best I could do in extremely low, low light without sullying the mood with lights or flash. Also, the focus is blurry because I had to sit still for moments, and it is SO hard to focus a hand held, medium format camera in extreme lighting conditions, especially when the figure, ME, is not sitting there yet for the focusng. The air relase bulb is under my right foot, for the old style medium format Hasselblad camera has no timer, no light meter, no nothing, but a lense with a viewfinder!
As I have already heard, "Hey, Laura! I didn't recognize you with your clothes ON," I dressed in an oldish style Western/Santa Fe sorta "get up" to try to enhance the look of the ghost house, though, in retrospect, a longer, flowing dress, and perhaps a hat, would have been better. I'll go and do more later like that. I had also intended to pose nude, too, for the classic timelessness, but, though this ghost town is rather remote, there were other people present. That's a scary thought - for THEM!
So here you have Laura, at an Oklahoma Ghost town, in a builidng that is well over 100 years old; I, being tired, and looking contemplative, because I was both. It was hot, and taking self portraits is often a real pain.
My other half was running around somewhere taking his own shots, so here I am, alone, with the ghosts. And there is a very strange feeling in a place like this. It IS as though you are NOT alone. And I believe I was not.
There was an odd mist that kept appearing beside me. It is slightly visible to the extreme left of the print, but I DID burn it in in the darkroom as best I could because, though it is probably some ghost form, saying, "Here I am. I exist. Look!" it looked funky against the dark, right at the edge of my image. It looked like a technical glitch, which haunted me (excuse the pun). There was no light source there to otherwise explain it, either. Weird.
Sorry Ghost Town Ghosts!
38 responses
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Ronnie Ginnever gave props (8 Jul 2008):
intense and mysterious moment.
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Chris Whitney said (8 Jul 2008):
Spectacular visual of the story and the feeling is definitely conveyed here. I like the focus and think it intensifies the feeling of a ghost-like form in an abandoned house.
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Warren ~Mangione~ gave props (8 Jul 2008):
Sort of a forlorn spirit feel to this....I am sure you were not alone. Very nice creation, as usual, Laura
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Kevin Kabuki gave props (8 Jul 2008):
A great composition Laura.
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rory cobbe gave props (8 Jul 2008):
love the shot, nice composition, spooky
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Mick said (8 Jul 2008):
I agree. You did what you set out to do. I love it. It has a great feel to it.
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Simon Le gave props (8 Jul 2008):
Very interesting composition. Love the blur effect!
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Jason Platt gave props (8 Jul 2008):
wooo...ghostly it be...Hasselblad...I have camara envy too...
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Kevin Leger gave props (8 Jul 2008):
You can haunt me anytime! Great shot.
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Mark Gilliland gave props (8 Jul 2008):
This is a great shot Laura! The whole image is fantastic!
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Keith Skinner gave props (9 Jul 2008):
Wicked nice work.. love the grain and set up!
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Loree McComb said (9 Jul 2008):
I love it - worth the pain & effort you went through
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Paul Lavallee gave props (9 Jul 2008):
Laura!!! I love, love, love, love this one! I've wanted to get a long shutter release for my Clack and try something similar. You've really inspired me to do it! This came out so wonderful!!!
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peggy gardner gave props (9 Jul 2008):
yes I see the misty mention of something behind you. You know this would be my fav...I applaud you for the story, especially the part about the shutter release under your foot...heehee. This a real keepsake..you sitting still for that long. ;o)
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Gary Fudge (Deleted) gave props (9 Jul 2008):
I would have done this very differently, but the effect is great. Personally if I used a figure, I would have dressed them in period clothing to give that real ghost feeling. The dodging and burning is quite wonderful.
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Natalie S gave props (9 Jul 2008):
Love this image
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Carlos Aviles (Deleted) gave props (10 Jul 2008):
Very nice shot Laurita
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John Linton gave props (10 Jul 2008):
Very cool.
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j. l. said (11 Jul 2008):
this is splendid and definitely a great work of art. i love the little details you give away about your shot setups as i am not familiar with the medium format camera or film in general. totally a digital baby. i think it would be so fun to watch you work in the darkroom. you are an eclectic soul and a true artyst. stay sweet, laura. -jodie.
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Penny Nannini gave props (11 Jul 2008):
I just keep coming back to this, it's perfect in every way!
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Laura Hartley said (12 Jul 2008):
Thank you so much, ALL. I am constantly working to push the limits of photography: the film, the light, the place, the photographer and the subject, in this case, both ME! I appreciate more than I can say, the positive feedback. THANK YOU, fellow artistes!
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Eric Finster (Deleted) gave props (13 Jul 2008):
Nice but Creepy, I LOVE IT!
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Claudia Martin gave props (14 Jul 2008):
wow laura, this is spooky and awesome!
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Nelson Campbell (Deleted) gave props (14 Jul 2008):
Fabulous image! The ghosts of my Meriwether kindred agree...
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Farras Abdelnour gave props (15 Jul 2008):
Quite eerie. A charming ghost, if I may add
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Steve Hogle gave props (16 Jul 2008):
I just love this, Great Image!!!!
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Paulo Rojas (Deleted) said (23 Jul 2008):
I love it.
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Sk Wier gave props (6 Sep 2008):
Excellent photo! I love the moodiness of it and also the focus!
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Keven Oswalt gave props (25 Jan 2009):
Absolutely gorgeous!
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aaron sturz said (15 May 2009):
Awesome Pic
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Dilshad Aroos (Deleted) gave props (5 Mar 2010):
This is an instant favorite!!!!!
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Roxana Brivent-Barnes said (8 Feb 2011):
Simply perfect!
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Pedro Teixeira gave props (25 Aug 2011):
Well done!!
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Pedro Teixeira gave props (25 Aug 2011):
Well done!!
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Ævar B. Jak. gave props (25 Nov 2011):
Should be published. Great story, ...... photo (no word can comprihend this) and perfect for the theme.
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Carlo Pagan gave props (30 Jun 2012):
Awesome!! Voted!!
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Kevin Kott (Deleted) gave props (26 Jul 2012):
My vote!!!
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John Linton gave props (27 Jul 2012):
Oh YEAH! Rad!
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