14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Altered Images
Morning Nap

An hour before dawn brings back colours to the streets we arrive at our destination. A house once loved, filled with laughter of precious children now abandoned; nobody seems to know for how long the house has been derelict, who owned it and why it hadn’t been either sold or demolished. Entering an abandoned building causes an adrenaline rush. Every step into this forbidden place gives you a feeling of excitement and sometimes even fear. You are entering the world of the unknown, a world of darkness and shadows, peeled off paint and rotting wood. The air is thick with the smell of mildew and mould. Your heart skips a beat as cobwebs brush your face. Your eyes, adjusted to the dark, scan the room. All around are artefacts once treasured. Claire knows what to do, pretending she's asleep as if the owners forgot about her when they left about 35 years ago. The first ray of lights fill the room; 65 seconds is needed to catch the atmosphere of this room. Sixtyfive seconds in which Claire can't move to avoid turning into a white blur.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Luxembourg
Camera: NIKON D800
Copyright: © Alice van Kempen