Hospital Corner at Alcatraz

@bluechameleon: Thank you. After looking at your portfolio - I must say, that's strong words from a master of light and form (yourself). I have added you to my blogwatch.

@San G.: Thank you San. I aspire to keep the quality of my images high: but it takes REAL WORK to do so. Sometimes my job gets in the way of what I really want to do (be outside with my camera).

@Sarah: Thank you Sarah. That means a great deal coming from such a strong photographer as yourself.

@xavier cardell: Gracias. I am learning so much from others on AM3. I now think through the day: what will I post tonight?

@Veronelle: Avec précision, il vous saisit, doesn' ; t il ?

@Ajay: Thank you Ajay. I really appreciate you being one of the first to follow my blog. I look forward to your comments each day.

@Mandy: It's an eerie place being on "the rock" at night: as you are very aware that you are in a prison, that's also on an island surrounded by very cold water, a mile from a save haven. It really sets the mood for dark places. The light gives one much needed hope.

@Marie LC: Dans un certain sens, étant reconstitué dans un hôpital de prison prolonge la limite de la prison - est-elle vraiment fortifiante ? Peut-être that' ; s le vrai thème.

@DaveB: Dave - thanks for the cropping comment. I wrestled with the door frame in my cropping quite a bit. I tried it both ways; and I slightly like it better with the door frame in the image: only as if I didn't include it - I wound up cropping the light from the window : which is needed for the mood. I really appreciate my first real critique: and I will go back into photoshop tonight, and see if the crop you suggest is stronger for me this time. (OK, Dave - I skipped lunch today, and played with the cropping. I think you're right. Thank you for the great feedback. I won't re-post the image: as I want your comments to stand with the original image.).

@Sarito: Thank you Sarito. Glad you feel the mood like I saw it.

@mariana: Thank you Mariana. It struck a cord with me as well. DaveB above suggested cropping out the door frame on the left foreground - I love such critiques. Do you have any suggestions for me?

@Susan: Susan, embarrassingly enough, I've never taken the "traditional" tour of Alcatraz: so I don't know what's on the regular tour. We were able to go anywhere in the prison that night: as long as the groups would agree where we wanted to go: we saw the basements under the prison, in the prison, behind the kitchen: lots of places. I would imagine the hospital was pretty accessible to regular tours: they had tour signage in multiple of the rooms. Thank you for your kind words on the shot.

@mariana: Thanks for the second look. I owe you the same someday - just ask for it, oK?

@Barbara: Thank you for your real critique. I hope you're as honest when I post an image that needs real work! I went back to your portfolio earlier today: and I look forward to learning from you. If you wish, I'll be as honest with what I see in your work as you wish me to be. Please be VERY honest with me.

@Jen: yes, the emotions that this picture draws is very strong. I am glad the comments changed your perspective: but I appreciate you sharing your first thoughts with me as well. Thank you for taking the time to share these. The emotional appeal (or disgust) from a photo is what makes a picture last in our minds.

@Jen: Such images just hang with you in your memory, don't they. Long afer you forget the composition - it's how light creates the mood that lingers. Thanks for the kind words - I do hope that the feeling of depression was quickly erased (when you looked back at your cheerful flowers).

@Ron: So well said. The backstory would have been a great one to understand - I regret not seeing the attack, and how this young zebra got away. Thanks for posting a comment on the blog today.

@Jacobo: Gracias Jacobo. The color and the bars drew me to the scene: and the light signaled hope for me. I can't imagine being incarcirated on the Rock! Thank you for your feedback on this photo.

@The Dark Dude: Thanks Dude. You can tell the play on moods, light, and shadow. Even the shadows from the bars have meaning. Alcatraz is a great place - if you ever get a chance to visit, you should. Thanks for the kind words on one of my favorite images.

@Francesca: Thank you Francesca. I enjoyed shooting with available light at night for this one.

@Roman: Roman, you please me by walking through my older images on AM3. You're the absolute best! Made my memorial day weekend, really. it was a special treat to walk the halls without all the tourists. Keeble and Schuchat has annual photo shoots there at night: and I gladly signed up. Drop by sometime when you're in San Fran, and we can go there together and enjoy the mystery! Thanks for the kind words about it being a special image in my portfolio.

@paul: thank you paul - part of the reason for the variety, is that I'm still learning what I like - so I'm doing a great deal of experimentation... this is one of my favorite indoor shots taken with natural light.

@dj.tigersprout: Had to be, didn't it? Where else do you see this type of hospital room? Thanks for walking through some of my earlier posts, and placing such a nice comment on the blog.