City of Abandonment

I got some great news today!!  The 2nd episode of “Shutter Rush” was released on Amazon Prime.  You can search for it by name “Shutter Rush – City of Abandonment” or by my name (Brook Ward).  The second episode was recorded in mid-March, right before COVID-19 hit the United States and was recorded in Gary Indiana.  I was a day late arriving because of COVID work requirements.  The guys got a jump start waiting on me.  While exploring a ton of abandoned buildings we filmed our experience and took a bunch of photographs. 

Big thanks to my Shutter Rush partners Jason Pohuski (@jasonpohuski) and Jake Mysliwczyk (@jakemysliwczykphoto) for all their work on both films.  Jason has done the bulk of the editing, while also providing tons of energy, crazy video/photo ideas and continues to drive us on these projects.  Jake helps edit while bringing great ideas, creativity and amazing photos (and some piano skills…check that out in the film).  I’m the old guy of the group, who is just happy to tag along and I hope I add a little value. 

Regardless, I’m proud to be associated with these wonderful partners.  I also want to thank Blair Ward (@fordrsfan), Mike Criswell (@mcriswellphoto) and Bob Lussier (@lussierphoto) for joining us on the Gary Indiana trip.  Their friendship and contribution to the film is appreciated.

Please check it out on Amazon Prime and enjoy!!

Capital (Day-Front)

I think this is considered the front of the U.S. Capital building.  I guess it could be the back…I don’t know.  Regardless, I took this photo about two years ago while MJ and I were visiting a friend.  Tomorrow I’ll post a “Capital (Night-Rear)” photo of the same location.  I think you’ll find it interesting to compare and contrast the photos…day vs night and front vs rear.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Allegheny Cemetery

Its Memorial Day tomorrow here in the United States.  Most Americans use this three-day weekend to travel, hang out with friends, grill out and just have fun.  It’s become the unofficial start of summer vacation season for most Americans.  It was setup as a Federal holiday to remember individuals who died while serving in the military.  So regardless of your plans this weekend, have a great time. 

Today’s photo is from the Allegheny Cemetery is Pittsburgh.  I love this castle looking structure at the entrance of the cemetery.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often. 

Thankful

Well, it’s Thanksgiving holiday in the United States today.  I’m thankful for a number of things….

My wife, son, life, work, the Neighbors (you know who you are and you know why), peers, my health, my parents, in-laws, extended family, friends, photo friends and of course the Detroit Lions.  Why am I thankful for the Lions?  Good questions, for which I have no real answer.  Maybe because I grew up watching them…  Maybe it’s the fact they give Lions fans hope every year and for which they never deliver on…..  I don’t know, but I am thankful for them.  What can I say, they’re my team.

So here is a photo of Ameer Abdullah, starting running back.  He’s been with the Lions for 3 years after leaving the University of Nebraska.   Hopefully, he'll score 4 touchdowns today.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often.

Game Day

Today was the first home regular season game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  They beat up on the Vikings during a very hot sunny day.  Here is a photo I took of Le’Veon Bell @steelerrb26 during the game.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often.

End Of A Beach Day

Sorry for the recent absence from the website.  Work has me busy right now.  I’ll get you more routine postings and longer blog descriptions in the near future.  So for now, please enjoy this sunset photo I took from my last trip to Barbados.  What an amazing island….

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Thanksgiving Day Tradition

Thanksgiving day tradition includes the Detroit Lions playing at the Pontiac Silverdome.  We tried to get tickets to the game at Ford Field, but failed.  So we went to the Silverdome hoping the teams would show up. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Machine Shop - Father's Day

In honor of Father’s Day, today’s blog picture is from W.A. Young and Sons Machine Shop and Foundry down in Rice Landings Pennsylvania.  Now I have no idea what this machine produces in the machine shop, but it’s an interesting photographic subject.  So for all the dads who like to work in their personal workshops, whether it is a garage, mill, barn, basement, or photography studio, have a great Father’s Day.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Gilbert Arizona Temple

When we booked our Hilton DoubleTree Inn hotel room in Gilbert Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix), I had no idea it was near such a cool location.  For our trip to Sedona, we booked over night stays in Gilbert on the first night and the last night of the trip.  In between we spent our time in Sedona.  But these nights in Gilbert, allowed us to attend a Cubs vs. Reds spring training game, prep for our flights home, etc…  On our first night, I saw this temple and knew I had to go back before we flew home.  So on the last morning, I got up before sunrise and went to the temple to catch the blue hour and sunrise.  Basically, I wanted good light for this photo.  This photo is the result of getting up at 530am in the morning.

A little about the temple:  This is the Gilbert Arizona Temple, which is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).  They announced their plans for this temple in 2008 concurrently with the Gila Valley Arizona Temple.  It took about two years to build and they had a formal public open house in February 2014.  It is the 142nd temple of the LDS Church and was built to ease the load of the nearby Mesa Arizona Temple. 

On a personal note, this isn’t a huge building but it is an outstanding structure and example of wonderful architecture.  I hope you enjoy the photo and video as much as I enjoyed seeing the building in person.   

Scroll down to see the 'how to' video.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Independence Day

In the United States, it is Independence Day.  We celebrate the 4th of July every year with parades, flags, barbeques, family and lots of fireworks.  I took these pictures tonight in Canonsburg PA.  I probably should have gone into Pittsburgh for the big show, but I got lazy.  Regardless, Canonsburg put on a nice show.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Day Room

This is another photo from my trip to the abandoned Brownsville General Hospital in Brownsville PA.  I think this would have been called the Day Room (or living room) in the nursing dormitory area.  I found it very interesting that when they closed this facility; they just left furniture, patient files, clothing, etc… in just about every room.  The people just disappeared and they left everything behind.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Pittsburgh Day To Night

I saw some cool photos by a New York City photographer where he merged photos from the day and night time into one awesome photo.  So I went to the West End Overlook tonight with Dave and Brad Truxell to capture some photos for this type of shot.  This is my first attempt at a Day To Night photo.  It isn’t even close to the quality I’ve seen by others, but I thought I would share it anyway.  This photo is made up of 14 exposures merged into 2 HDR images, which I blended together for the final photo.  Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Memorial Day

An American holiday, which occurs every year on the final Monday of May.  Memorial Day is a day to remember men and women who died while serving in the armed forces.  The holiday started after the Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war.   Later the holiday was extended to honor any veteran who died while serving.  Most Americans have no idea how it started or what it is about.  They just think of it as a holiday to start summer.

I spent some time this morning at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies walking around looking at the graves.  I don’t have any family, friends or anyone else I know buried at the cemetery.  I was happy to see a bunch of people arriving at the cemetery to visit graves of their loved ones.  It just seemed appropriate and it was nice to see people doing the right thing for a change. 

Daily Photos – I took these photos today while walking through the cemetery.  I don’t know these guys and I am sure they deserved more.  Zachary was 22 and Brandon wasn’t even 22 years old yet.  So sad.  I appreciate their sacrifice. 

Zachary - To view the entire gallery, click the picture above.​

​Brandon