Love

I Love Mr. Motts' photos!

OK, so how is everyone going to interpret this one? ;-)

Another stunning gallery - thanks!

You are a truly excellent photographer. You make me feel as if I were there.

great gallery mr. motts waiting patiently for the next one

So, Motts, what's the deal with the demolition on this place?

Motts, thanks for the info. If they really are going to demolish it, they're out of their minds. :( AND I LIVE IN VEGAS! Anything more than 20 years old and they blow it up!

Oh it's always over too quickly..... thanks Motts, these were incredible, and I'm looking forward to the next ones. :-)

Mr. Motts, Left this for last, I love what you name the pic gallerys, Mental floss, that rules!!!

would be different if i was there
i like the rush that is felt when entering a place like that

so pal whats this photo all about? I think its a terrible angle. and a terrible subject. Hows about you get some brains pal?

This link may help put some things in perspective, Mr. Douglas.
http://www.opacity.us/image2006.htm

Im not quite sure what you are trying to show me with this photo because im still lost on what this picture really is? I mean if you know can you tell me i would really like to see what the rage is all about. this picture is way too proscenium!

It's like a fleeting glimpse of what once was. I'm not sure what you don't understand about the photo, so if this sounds elementary, don't take offense. You read the comment right under the photo, right? What its showing is a wall with badly peeling paint, with the word "LOVE" eitched into the wall. Apparently this was a patient room. It's basically something to ponder. Who etched this? Why? Were they actually a patient or was this someone who came by later? Was this done while the hospital was still open? It basically brings to light some of the questions explorers and those of us who look at these photos have. Who was here last? What happened here?

kevin, its totally pointless for people with no imagination, or the ability to appreciate beautiful, thought provoking pictures to even visit this site. The sesame street page is down the hall and to your left. Thank you for stopping by

Have a good now :-)

LoL Motts, I went to dictionary.com with that word and I'm like wtf? Some people just don't appreciate fine art *sigh*

bravo, motts, bravo!!!

i almost wish i had caught the "genius's" post before you did. thanks for saving me the trouble.

kevin, can you understand the implicit significance that lies beyond the simple photograph of the wall now? barbara explained it beautifully and anna has a point. or is it still too "the part of the stage in front of the curtain'" (noun) for you? whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.

Well I do believe proscenium can also mean a direct or "straight on" approach to a subject, i.e. Wes Anderson. But I suppose dictionary.com didn't go to film school.

True Kevin, it means a straight on approach.. when refering to a subject being filmed. This comes from the design of a proscenium stage. However, it is a malapropism to use it when talking about photography.

Since we all know what trouble you have with big words I did the leg work for you:

http://www.answers.com/malapropism&r=67

jackass

I think Motts should delete all of the jackasses posts. I can understand opposing points of view, but you dont have to be insulting , and make yourself look like a moron, which you have done quite well kevin.

I am positive that Motts doesn't mind constructive criticism. If kevin has anything intelligent or helpful to say I am sure it would be appreciated. Going onto someone else's site and making cheap shots for no observable reason is a little childish, but then I am sure we are all recognizing that fairly clearly. :-)

lynne, you are correct, as usual.

~actual quote by motts~
"Thank you for the critical comments, I always take them into consideration and look forward to reading any well founded opinion."

but there is a difference between polite/constructive criticism and using criticism as a means to insult and taunt (with what borders on senseless babble, i might add) people and ideas one might be unwilling to, of incapable of, understanding. those with such a low empathy rating, imo, are mildly amusing, at best, but then again, perhaps these pictures hit kevin a little too close to home and this is the only way he knows how to lash out. you never know....

I'd LOVE to have this on my computer...use it has wallpaper. Great shot. I feel like I was there.

Excellent photo, puts a human touch on an otherwise decaying structure.

love is in the air

thank you!

The internet is filled with little trolls,people that do their best to make chats and forums and other things unpleasant for others.Why do they do this?Who knows.Perhaps they have unhappy lives?Perhaps they are just dickheads?Sound familiar Kevin?

does any one know the room number this is in????

LOVE is in the air.

I looked at this photo long and hard. Peeling paint, needs a paint job and the word, uh?

the word is love

My father has a contract to take off the roofs of a few of the buildings they are demolishing. My bf (works for my dad) got a bunch of pictures from inside...it's pretty neat.

sometimes some comes inside a forum just to make snide comments and then leave never to be heard of again. It is best when one insults is to ignore. Since we read the forums and not listen, it best let it in one eye and out the other!!! That is my moto since by the way I am profundly deaf.

I know a Kevin Douglass, but there's also a last name thrown in.
Oh well!
Gods I love this picture. I'm always one to try and get into the minds of the people who would have been in such a place and this one is just...wow...what if it was a patient? Someone sitting there staring at the walls for god only knows how long, thinking of a lost love, maybe one who put the patient into the hospital, the reason the patient was sitting in that one room...Love. Such a powerful emotion to be put into 4 letters...

Thomas Story Kirkbride was behind building this thing theres a whole history on him at http://www.uchs.net/Hi...ricts/kirkbride.html

omg i love your pictures they are the best i have ever seen they are soo awsomee i lovee them!!!<3333

I needed that! Beautiful absolutely beautiful

alls i gotta say is Motts has more brains than kevin could ever hope to have, not to mention social skills!

my advice to you kevin: quit being such a jerkoff!

sorry, im not usually mean but if you're rude to someone that i admire, you'll get your head bitten off

And the title of the picture is LOVE; which is what everyone needs or longs for. Thank-you, Motts.

seriously, every time i go here, i think i'm going to wear my respirator the whole time...i'm god damn scared of this asbestos business now...

"She scratched his letter
Into a wall made of stone
Maybe someday another child
Won' t feel as alone as she does
It's been two years and counting
Since they put her in this place
She's been diagnosed by some stupid f*ck
And mommy agrees yeah...

What you taught me
Putting me here
Don't come visit
Mother, mother

Why go home...
Why?" Ten - Pearl Jam

If you look closely, the "love" is peeling away along with the wallpaper (part of the "O" is actually hanging off a bit, at a slight angle) which would probably add weight to the assumption that this was the work of a patient, and not some later explorer. (And it leaves you with the strange effect/fact that the patient's very words are peeling away along with the wallpaper which was once a part of his/her home).

Incredible shot.

By far my favorite picture on this site.

okayy thatss wicked wierd

It's a very touching photo and even though you were about to leave, it still was able to catch your attention. Nothing is left to chance...

Anyone that has been a regular on Opacity knows that Motts' is fascinated with anything that he finds from the former patients. great picture motts.

This is one of my favorite galleries Mr. Motts! (I feel like I say that all the time...) Anyway, how sad that this beautiful institution is gone. Thank you for sharing these pictures with us!

And Lynne, I always enjoy reading your posts, this gallery had some very informative ones. Thanks! :)

This is my first time visiting your site. I have to say have to say having been an employee of the former Northampton State Hospital, I found most of the comments, from people visiting the site both ignorarant and appalling. I found you as a photagrapher brilliant. you captured the devastation of a once beautiful building and it's architectural design and use of light. This building should have been maintained, updated, obviously there was equipmnet that would no longer have been in use. The building clearly would have been have been more beneficial to the treatment of the patients during the time of their stay, with the conjuction of medication, which I am sure you discovered. I really hope you still read your posts so you know how much I appreciated seeing your pictures after all these years. Just alittle insight, I grew up with a family that worked at the State Hospital, I remember the Main building when it was a functioning building, when I started at the hospital, it was still in fair condition, and in my teens we too used to sneek in. Only at the time we never thought it would close so we never thought to take pictures. Thanks

I think this is such a powerfull picture. It almost makes you see a patient who wants nothing more than to leave the hospital calling out for love.

WHOA. Fascinating.

Beautiful. The simplest things evoke the greatest emotion. Glad you saw this on your way out!