Saint Ignatius Hospital, Colfax, WA

[Dennis_Plank]

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

One of the members of our camera club had toured this place in the past and set up field trip to it. Here’s the blurb from their web page:
“Saint Ignatius Hospital was built by Mother Joseph Pariseau in 1893, and served as Whitman County’s hospital until 1968 when it was decommissioned. It has been unused since 2003.”

St. Ignatius Colfax

They run tours and play on the ghost tour business to try to raise funds to restore it. They finally have funds to fix the roof and keep most of the water out.

Specific Feedback

This is the second floor hallway running the length of the building. There are no lights in the building except what comes in the windows, and I wanted to capture that feeling of darkness., while revealing just a hint of detail. Right now, I’m fairly happy with this presentation, but suggestions are more than welcome.

Technical Details

Sony a7Rv, Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 @ 28 mm, tripod, f/22, 0.5 sec, iso 3200. Noise reduction with DxO PureRaw 5, Further processing in LR (highlight and shadows adjustments). Taken October 18th at 3:48 p.m.

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Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:

[Diane_Miller]

Wonderful!! Plenty of detail in the darks and the door at the end being off center adds a nice element of strangeness. These old buildings are so cool!!

[Paul_Breitkreuz]

Dennis, this has a chilling effect regardless of the known locations long history. The depth of the scene gives that feeling overall IMO. @Diane_Miller’s point on the darkness allowing muted but nice detail makes this really work…
Imagine walking in here on Halloween night…

[Jim_Gavin]

Great shot. Love it. It reminds me of the opening of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone”. Did you need the key to your imagination to unlock the door at the end of the hall?
Did you visit the Codger Pole? The painted bus in Washtucna?

[Dennis_Plank]

@Jim_Gavin I missed hearing about the codger pole. The Washtucna bus was a hit with several of the people, but they were the nighthawks and it was too late in the evening for me. They got some very nice shots of it while I slept. I spent my time roaming the countryside early mornings and visited the Palouse newspaper and typesetting museum. I went to Wazzzu 40 years ago, but have only been back a few times.

[Bill_Fach]

Dennis: This is marvelous. I’m actually at a loss for words (something really unusual for me) wondering about the stories hidden in these old walls. A brilliant capture IMO. Bravo! >=))>

[glennie (Glenys Passier)]

A great, somewhat creepy image. The derelict textrues of the wall and the shadows and light cast by doorways are top notch.