Art at the Bain Water Works gallery
This installation was most memorable to the eye. The entire floor of the room was covered in porcelin balls that were used in the plant water filtration process. However photographing the room in an interesting way was problematic because the room was brightly lit by daylight coming in the 4 big windows, even more so where the sunlight hit the floor balls directly. Also the balls were very similar in color to the walls. If I exposed for the room there would have been little tonal range except for the sunlit balls and rear window that would have been washed out with over exposure.
I did 2 things to make the shot more dynamic. First I framed the shot with the camera just inches off the floor to make the near balls as large as possible. Second, I set my exposure on the near sunlit balls and underexposed by 2 stops. This is the result. The balls dominate the image and have a wide range of light while the room that was way underexposed goes very dark. This way the dark room compliments the sunlit balls as opposed to competing with them. The overall dark photo looks nothing like what the bright room looked like to the eye but for me the photo better reflects the conceptual way the mind sees the ball room.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
Another grass installation: I was able to add some lighting drama with my flashlight painting.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
Scott, Ryan and I walked around the building exploring. I shot this this from below as they went to see if the back door was open.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
The Bain plant used to gorge vast amounts of electricity to run the giant pumps and motors. That power line was pulled when the plant closed years ago. For the project, the artists brought in a bit of power for installations like this one with long extension cords plugged into a temporary pole outlet.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
What else in the water works but a fountain with a continous stream of water sitting amid an island of rubble.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery.
These 3 meters became an installation with some spotlighting from one of the artists. I added a touch more light with flashlight painting on the blue door frame.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
This is not a Bain project installation--just one of the impressive dead machines still installed. Must have been something to see this place when it was running.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
Even without the art installations there was plenty to shoot at this modern ruin.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
One artist did several intallations involving turf grass. Green yes sustainable though?
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
Mid afternoon and the Bain was hopping with art experience hunters. I've had a lens baby for several months now but still find it hard to use with my style. For me it was the right choice for this scene and I managed to get the sweet focus spot I wanted. I will keep trying Sue.
Should you care, the left clock face is a water depth gauge and the right one is a wash water gauge that shows "inches rise per minute" whaever that means.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
No installation here but I made it my own for a moment with a touch of flashlight painting of the silver paper towel dispenser. I framed this from the side so that the mirror was filled with the strong window light. And I used a tripod and very small aperature to give me a couple seconds to paint the dispenser.
Art in the Bain Water Works Gallery
Visitors upon entry got processed in the office where nonsense typing and form filing took place. You had to sign a release form because there is so much peeling lead paint and safety issues.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
The giant pumps painted blue still remain in the water works--surprised they were not sold off for salvage. No new project art here but beautiful to my eye with shape, color and light. Underexposed to give deepen the blues and emphasize the shapes.
Art at the Bain Water Works gallery
Mid afternoon I came out to get the tripod out of the car and as I did I saw this scene and shot this. Later when they were closing down, I came out to leave and there was a shooter set up with a tripod in about the same spot. He was waiting for the people to leave the front so he could get a clear shot of just the building and that art deco shape--very much my approach at the time. I left and I bet he got his clean shot. But my quick one earlier is one that stands unique because of what the random grouping of people and things gave my framing.
There's a lot wrong here for my eye. Ryan, my son's buddy, is the tall guy in the front and he should be more to the left and a bit closer to the lens. And why did that idiot have to park his van right there--oh that's my van. Both these elements I could have fixed ("Ryan I want you to stand over here after I move my car a bit"). But when I looked at the total, the wrongs added up to more of right choice than a poor choice.
So while the 2 of us shooters talked, this photo caption came to me and I shared it with him. So now I've added it to my bag of tricks to guide my framing. Maybe it will help yours: Take what it gives you.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
This pump control station was renewed and shined for the Project. I shot it downwards to distort the angles and get a door reflection that did not show my legs.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
This man was one of the project organizers/artists I think. I had to shoot fast as he was walking past with purpose.
What I can not show you is the one I let get away. This room is on the top floor of the plant. There is rubble, peeling paint and dirt just about everywhere--so one proceeds with caution. Moments after this shot up the steps comes a young woman dressed for a night on the town including 4-inch heels, and this was a gal that was meant to wear them. She came over and talked for a bit and I guess it was my camera and tripod that had attracted her. While we talked I visualized several shots with her in that room--what a contrast. But once again the words "would you let me photograph you" would not come. So eventually she turned and walked away perfectly balanced in those pumps.
Art in the Bain Water Works gallery
In the afternoon this room was filled with yellow light streaming through the tinted windows, falling on paint chips arranged on the floor. I really pushed the saturation to reflect how that yellow light set the tone for this project piece.
A second take on the tub installation. I went with mono to stress the placement of the tubs in the room.