After nearly a year away from Northern State Hospital, I decided to make a trip yesterday. Has it been a year? Wow, time flies. David and I used to go there all the time with our cameras (or, rather his cameras) while I was learning to use a DSLR. The dilapidated buildings make great material!
Since we first started visiting, the site has become really popular – not that either of us can necessarily take credit for that. But, there’s a lot more graffiti than there used to be, and more visitors – more photographers running around with their cameras. Yesterday, there was a group of about 20 boys running around shooting each other with rubber bullets.
I miss how peaceful it used to be.
Anyway, I focused on a more quiet area yesterday and got a couple of shots from an old apple tree I found last year.
Here are some links to old Northern State Hospital Posts:
Jolene's Life in Focus 
Thank you for visiting, Threeark! This is one of my favorite decrepit places to take pictures (if that weren’t completely obviously, ha). 🙂
Those apples in the second pic make it an incredibly unique and interesting shot! New life in such a decrepit place, perfect!
The beautiful green makes such a contrast to the actual setting. Mother Nature appears to be reclaiming and spreading life in the face decay and disrepair.
Yes, Mother Nature always wins in the end and makes something beautiful in the decay.
Nice shots Jolene. I especially like the last shot. Love the reflection. I haven’t been out there since I saw those ghostly faces in my photos. Not sure if I can be brave enough to go there again.
It’d been a while for me, Emily. David still goes out there all of the time, but I’m sure you read about his ghostly experience the other night! He’s so brave – going all by himself.
The apple photos are lovely and, yes, the second one is creepy but also strangely beautiful. I’m a big fan of your NSH series as you know. I’m thinking you may have enough for a book by now? 🙂
Thanks, Caryn! You know, I probably do have enough photos for a book and a few good stories.
VERY cool, Jolene. Maybe one of these years there will be a few apple trees shooting up through the building!
I wouldn’t be surprised. This building has been abandoned for about 30 years now, so it won’t be long before nature reclaims it completely.
Beautiful! Have you ever walked along the creek there? Right now, there are pink salmon spawning, and the coho should arrive soon. There’s a bridge over Hansen Creek that affords a decent view, but if you’ve got rubber boots, I recommend a nature walk down stream. 🙂
Hi Kari – I actually sat on the bridge and did some writing on Saturday. Every now and then I’d look down and see a salmon swimming upstream. It was really peaceful. If I could rangle me some rubber boots, I’ll definitely do that! 🙂
Great shots Jolene! I can’t decide if I like the first or the third better!
Thanks, Jim. I’m partial to the first one – something about the way the sun is shining on the apple.
Amazing! I like the high creepiness factor of the second one!
It’s really creepy being down there too, Sherry! Especially when you’re all alone!
That’s a lot of apples! Nice photos.
Thanks, Nigel!