Would you open the Door and go in?

[postatomic]

Just curious. The only info I'll provide you is that I had to (very carefully) maneuver my way through a 5 foot high barbed wire fence with many layers to get to this place. I ripped my pants half way going through the nasty fence.

Some of you (most of you?) would have probably stopped at the fence and thought "only an idiot would try going through this fence". But, for those of you that got through the fence. Would you open the door and go in?

How far would you go to get a photograph?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Without a lot more information, I would NOT enter.

Why? It's dangerous. I'm not into risks that don't tell me what is waiting.

I cannot make a move without more information...

Did you go in?

Welcome to the Photo Group, btw!

:hi:

[postatomic]

6. Yes, I did go in

Thanks
:hi:

I didn't have any other information than what you have. The door with the 'Danger' sign attached.

[alfredo]

2. The younger version of me might have. Too old, too slow for such adventures.

[postatomic]

7. I'm not sure of the reasons why

But I have lost my 'Flight Mechanism'. (the whole fight/flee thing) I take many risks and go places I know I shouldn't go to take a picture. I understand the too old point. Lessons learned and such. I guess I'm ignoring these lessons.

Thanks

[alfredo]

8. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission?

[postatomic]

14. I never apologize for my behavior or actions

And when my only entry to a particular place requires permission I will obtain it.

[alfredo]

16. I was in my political activist mode there. I found that if I

act like I know what I'm doing or that I am supposed to be there, I'm usually not challenged. As far as private property is concerned, yes I do ask permission.

[postatomic]

17. No worries

I know what you meant. My lack of fear isn't always a good thing and I know that I could be arrested (or worst) some day. I do lots of Night Photography and I'm always by myself. I go places that most would avoid at night. But I get images that others never would. There is an America that is vanishing as I type this and I want to capture it before it's too late.

I've also had a few close encounters but they've always ended up being pleasant even though they didn't start out they way. The HUGE gent in a small town in Kansas wasn't happy about me taking pictures of a building that had just burned down. We talked. I discovered that a good friend of his lived there and he was in the hospital. I expressed my sincere good wishes for his friend and assured him that my pictures were totally benign. We parted on friendly terms.

[alfredo]

18. I am just getting over my reluctance to photograph people.

I really pushed myself this summer. It helped. I like getting right up into people's faces. Usually I show the image to the person and ask if they feel it is OK to keep it or if they want me to trash it. They never say to trash it. If I take a picture of a kid, I show the image to the parent.

I use a compact camera, the Canon G10, but soon I am moving up to a compact APS-C or M4/3. DSLR's are too heavy and seem to intimidate people.

[postatomic]

20. Those are very very good

I'm glad you got over your reluctance to photograph people because it's apparent you have a remarkable gift for this. And I would add that the photos say quite a bit about you, the photographer. The people are obviously very relaxed and comfortable with you. Candids are easy. These are not.

I don't know what the 'APS-C or M4/3' are, so I'll turn to google to help me out. I have quite a few cameras and I just went Good Will Hunting yesterday and picked up a couple of old film cameras that I'm going to try to modify. With my senior discount I only spent about $3.00 for both cameras so if I screw up the cameras I'm not out a bunch of cash. The film will cost more.

I'd say your Canon does quite well but I can understand your desire to acquire a camera that may suit your needs better.

Don't stop taking photographs of people. You have a rare talent for it.
:hi:

[alfredo]

21. Thank you. I want to move up because my camera only

returns good images at 80 or 100 ISO. It also has a lot of shutter lag, meaning it is more difficult to catch the moment.

I like my old film camera, but digital allows me to take 100 to 200 photos at a time without shelling out a lot of money.

I just got back from doing a black and white shoot in two cemeteries .

Can you get Ilford black and white film in your town? I recommend it.

[postatomic]

22. I have some Ilford but I've been using the new Kodak films

And I do more digital now than film. Yea, shutter lag and focus lag can slow ya' down. I can understand the need for speed.

[alfredo]

25. Shutter lag is the bane of compacts. I'm off to

bed so I can catch a foggy morning.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

27. your shutter lag is so bad

you have to wait hours for it? wow, that is bad

[alfredo]

29. I ain't gettin' any younger

[Celebration]

3. probably I would go in

I'd have to know more too, but I rarely let a sign stop me from doing whatever it is I want to do. I might glance around my shoulder and then open it gingerly. If someone wants to tell me it is dangerous they are going to have to give me some reason WHY it is dangerous.

[postatomic]

10. An adventurer

I've been places where there were 'Danger' signs but it was quite apparent what the danger was. This one was a complete mystery to me.

[HarveyDarkey]

4. Were there any signs on the fence indicating danger?

A sign wire tied to a door handle isn't very "official".

Wire cutters can preclude the pants ripping BTW.

What kind of a facility was it?

[postatomic]

11. No other signs anywhere

But I didn't walk the entire parameter. My first thought when I heard the pants rip was wire cutters.

I have to get a few more pics up so you can see the place.

[Mira]

5. The fence already indicated that there was no invitation.

If I'd braved the fence I would have had some business there, no?
So yes, I'd go in, ready to hit anyone who threatens me with my camera.

[postatomic]

12. I am very respectful when I trespass

I never intentionally damage anything and I never take anything. Especially in places like this. I am very very respectful. I didn't fear someone jumping out at me. I was about 200 yards from a Super Fund site and I thought the danger might be related to that.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. hell, yes, and I did... here is what was in there

[postatomic]

13. Too funny

:thumbsup:

[NV Whino]

15. No lock?

You bet I would open the door. Would I go in? It would depend upon what I would see on the other side.

[postatomic]

23. Another adventurer

:-)

[ManiacJoe]

19. Open the door - yes. Go in - maybe.

Depends on what I could see inside.

[postatomic]

24. Thank you for all the responses.

It's interesting how an image can invoke different responses. Actually being there might yield completely different responses, but all you had to go on was just the image and a tiny bit of background.


This was above the door:



The 'G' has other meanings but essentially it means 'God'. This was in a Freemasons Cemetery. I've been to Cemeteries all over the heartland. What was unique about this one was the number of very large monuments for children, and the very different expressions of loss for these children. This was something unique for most graves I've seen with children from the late 1800's.



Would knowing this have changed your response?

Oh, and the only 'Danger' I could see was that there wasn't any Toilet Paper....



I don't advocate trespassing. It's one of those "do as I say, not as I do" things. It can be dangerous and taking risks isn't always a wise thing. However, if you come across something that looks interesting but you don't want to trespass, give me a call.

Again; thanks for playing along with this. It was very nice to be greeted so damn nicely. I really appreciate that.
:hi:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

26. maybe that is dangerous

could be the entrance point for Masonic zombies?

[postatomic]

30. Now, that would have been interesting

But no Zombies. Maybe the Holy Grail is buried there?

I usually try to research Urban Legends on the various cemeteries I visit. Almost all have some funky ghostly stories. The cemetery where I took this seems to have more credible haunting stories. Sightings of children appearing and disappearing in a grove of trees that is in the middle of the cemetery. The headstone marks the place where 3 children were buried. There were a couple of toys left on it. I only took the picture because of the Lightening Strike that carved it added a little more interest to it.



I take lots of shit for my interest in cemeteries. I won't bore you with all the reasons. The only time my SO gets nervous is when I head out by myself at night to do 'Light Painting'. This night kinda' sucked because there was too much moonlight. I think it was a 60 second exposure. I just used a flashlight to illuminate different objects in the image.



If I go back to the Freemason cemetery I'll keep an eye out for Masonic Zombies.
:hi:

[NV Whino]

28. An outhouse in the middle of a cemetery?

How interesting.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

31. you gotta go

you gotta go