Ascending the stairs . . .

[gahspidy]

A place I happened upon recently.
What do you think?

[SmartWombat]

Hmm very mysterious.
My first thought was the nuclear blast shadows from Hiroshima.
Does that say more about me than the photo ?

[Didache]

Very spooky - and atmospheric! I like the very subdued colouring. It makes you wonder ...

Cheers
Mike

[Nick McC]

You are always spot on with the lighting and exposure, very nice image. It is indeed spooky, and the shadows add to the image.

[Lori11]

Great shot, the shadow adds to an already awesome photo.

[Overbeyond]

Wonderful stuff. I am enjoying the stalactites and the rendering of the staircase.I am also wondering whether or not you actually put the ghostly figure there or is it a spooky coincidence and it was there all the time. Gary I'm wondering if this great shot is a little oversharpened?

[danic]

Its a good shot! It has atmosphere, it has mood. It's clear and crisp, something that lacks with my photo's when I want them crisp.

I'm not sure if there is anything for me to critique.

[LeeIs]

I agree about the creepiness. It's very well exposed as usual, even though i thought maybe a darker version could've been creepier. I also like the ghost walking ap the stairs. Very good subject and you've handled it really well!

[reverberation]

If you lit it yourself you did an outstanding job. If this is the light that was occurring naturally you certainly chose the right time to take the shot. This shot tells a story by where the light falls. There is an ashes to transcendence feel to the shot for me. I am speaking to the foreground and the light there and the way the light falls down the stairs. The shadow of the person on the stairs lends to this perception for me at least. Thats one for the wall without a doubt.

[Nick McC]

The shadow (of him perhaps) makes me think he lit it (at least partially) himself.

[jetrim]

All kinds of grimy goodness here beautiful shot!

[starriderrick]

Great find Gary.Love the mood, shadow play,and superb tones..Excellent work.

Rick

[gahspidy]

Thank you for all your comments. This was natural light coming in from several different places. Some post processing to try to balance it out. The front wall on the left was extremely bright and had to reduce it's exposure selectively. The ghosting effect was created by using a long shutter speed and myself standing and proceeding to ascend the stairs. I made several attempts with this and this was the one that hit right.
The feedback is appreciated.

[Frog]

Nice stuff, Gary. I can't add anything that hasn't been said but wanted to say I noticed the 'several attempts' statement. Photography requires, more often than not, a bunch of study and work. If you want stuff of this caliber anyway.

[jamiebug]

I love love love this shot! It is haunting and yet comforting as well. I can't figure it out, but while it kind of creeps me out a bit...i also have a sense of peace when i look at this. The coloring is spot on! Well done.

[SmartWombat]

Gary, I assumed you'd lit this and done a great job of it too.
I was trying to work out how the light had that soft natural look

[Greg McCary]

Very good Gary. You might consider a slight crop at the bottom between the the two pieces of debris, lowering the stairs. But still very good as is.

[gahspidy]

Thanks Frog, jamiebug, Paul and Greg.

Greg, I think your crop suggestion would improve.

Paul, if I used a couple of wireless triggered 580EX ll (which I always have with me in my bag when out on a venture) and had them bouncing off the walls inside I think it would give a natural effect if I needed it.
Frog, alot of luck is involved as well
jamiebug, interesting that you say that. A friend of mine always says there is a comforting mood about my shots even when they are mysterious or eerie. I always liked that notion.

[Nick McC]

I do like the mood in all of your shots. There have been a couple shots I have come across that needed that eerie mood you are so good at creating, and I think to myself 'Would would gahspidy do?', but I have no idea how you do it so I just shoot them in B&W .

[shootme]

I agree with Nick, always great shots Gary. Nick you've got a good eye yourself (checked out your Photos). Cheers. S

[armywife1984]

SUPER CREEPY!!!! but i love it. very seasonally apropriate. is the shadow yours? and if so you did a great job on givving it that lil bit extra or did it apear? i cant find any faults with it. i truly aspire to be able to take shots half as well as you do gahspidy.

[armywife1984]

Afterthought... is this the same building as the "Sealed Door"?

[gahspidy]

Nick, shootme and armywife, this is my shadow. It was a long exposure and I moved toward the stairs to create a ghosting effect.
I am not certain, but I think this was in a building adjacent to the sealed door shot