5 Ways To Bring Spring Indoors

Orange Grove Lofts by Brooks + Scarpa

Located in a neighborhood characterized by traditional bungalow style single-family residences, Orange Grove is a new landmark for the City of We

Visit Brooks + Scarpa

Book Tower House by Platform 5 Architects

Book Tower House is a typical late Victorian mid-terraced house in Hampstead, London. The original property contained some Arts and Crafts influe... Read More

Visit Platform 5 Architects

Kawaii Boom Wall Decals

Especially for small humans PIXERS has prepared a wall decals collection called Kawaii Boom, with the main motif of Japanese kawaii, a unique quality of cuteness existing in the culture of Japan. It seems that it has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture, entertainment, clothing, food, toys, personal appearance, behaviour, and mannerisms. The collection of sweet and lovely bunnies and bears will be attractive not only for kids, but also for older aficionados of anime and manga.

Ocean Beach Residence by Aidlin Darling Design

A translucent glass bridge connects this 1,820 square foot pavilion to a mid-century modern house designed by Bay Area architect Ernest Born. Gen... Read More

Visit Aidlin Darling Design

This Old House, Barn, or Silo

While Nature Photography has been my main focus (pun intended), there are other subjects that attract my attention as well.

For example, you may have seen the results of my photographing my jewelry creations (“Rings & Things”), but now we turn to old, falling-down, abandoned structures on the way to being re-claimed by Nature.

Some of my earliest memories involve exploring and checking out new houses under construction. Now, as a “Senior Citizen,” I find myself drawn to and poking amongst the rubble of those situations where the encroachment of Nature into the decaying works of Man can make for some exciting, dynamic, and novel juxtapositions.

I guess what I find most fascinating about this subject matter is that if the “re-configuration” of Nature by Man hasn’t been too severe, how Nature eventually overtakes the puny works oi Man and “wins” in the end.

Often there will be fences to be climbed (or as my old man used to say: “A fence can’t stop you; it can only slow you down”), or “No Trespassing” signs to be ignored. If you’re challenged, the fact that you’re doing photography may help to keep you out of trouble.

Falling-down farm buildings are an obvious choice, but just about any type of structure will do. The “Silo Interior” is a good example of this.

After checking outside possible compositions, see if it’s possible to enter the structure without risking life or limb; sometimes doors will be locked and windows boarded-up. More than once I’ve had to gain entry by climbing through a window. Recently I had to work out a way to get to the second story without stairs.

Once inside, be damn careful: it could be more than embarrassing to go through rotten flooring. Sometimes you might encounter animal occupants. Move slowly and carefully, always keeping an eye on where you’re stepping. Not a bad idea to be up to date with your Tetanus shot. Afterwards, check yourself for ticks. For the most part I’m looking for door and window compositions that frame the outside world. My camera (Canon G-12) has a built-in level and grid and I use them. All hand-held.

Warren Krupsaw, a one-time student (and house guest) of Ansel Adams is a nature photographer concentrating on landscape & detail. After participating in the first year of a new graduate program in Photography at M.I.T. with Minor White, he earned his M.F.A. in Photography under Harry Callahan at the R.I.S.D. in 1968.
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/thekrupgallery
Book: Portraits of Passion and Other Dalliances