Thursday, April 16, 2009

Red History

I am a U.S. History buff. There is a lot of history involved with these buildings which involved blood (red) and also Indians. I want to approach that sensetively, but there was a time we called them "the redman" and we looted, preyed on, mistreated and destroyed them and their culture. Now we love their ideas, culture, clothing and jewelry.
Anyone know what this building is and how it involves the Indians? It isnt the greatest shot but what it protrays is important.
cropped, sharpened slightly both with picasa, ISO 200, no flash, thats all i remember. CC welcome and needed!

17 comments:

Janelle said...

I was hoping we'd have a few photos like this, with no red in them at all.

I have no idea what this building is, but it definitely looks like it's got history and character.

Mindy said...

I'm interested to hear the history behind this building... way to think outside the box with this challenge!

Stephanie said...

I think this is a sad picture. It makes me introspective, and sorry. The "Penitentiary" sign at the bottom with the graffiti'd "Indians welcome" is the sad part. This is a powerful picture.

Lindy Lue said...

you are always too smart! everything has such meaning! i love it. i dont have cc, just a new angle idea... you could get up close to the "indians welcome" mark and have it be the focal and the rails and chains fade into the perspective. it would have great depth of field and the pic would dissapear into fuzz, forcing you to look at the words... weould feel really desolate.
i like it b, say hi to the family! love ya

George and Teri said...

I have no idea what it is but I agree with the other comments that it does look sad and you can tell there is a lot of history there.. now we are all dying to hear all about this historical building. I like how the picture is all white but the story involves "red" so hurry and tell us what it means.

B-Blogit said...

It is Alcatraz! This is actually a picture of one of the administration buildings and not of the actual prision.

Stephanie - I am proud to say that indians werent prisoners here, after the it was abandonded they "claimed" it as theirs as a form of protest. This lead to the government allowing reservations, though that still isnt fair.

Lindy Lue - thanks for the compliment and that is a great idea, i need your brain with me when I go.

If you all would like to hear a history I will write something on my blog b-blogit.blogspot.com

Jackie said...

Great pic.,...and I swear I thought for ever about a pic without red in it....couldbt come up with anything...great job Blake!

Brittney said...

I LOVE that you captured something with such an intriguing history! I can't wait to read more about it on your blog!

Katy said...

What a cool take on the challenge, I really like how your brain works... that's a weird way to say it, huh? Anyway, what a cool building and gritty, raw shot... i like that a lot. Great job!

Lindy Lue said...

i would LOVE to shoot next time our families get together! lets make it a outing!

{Alynn} said...

Thanks for the history lesson!

Rachel Holloway said...

WOW BLAKE! IMPRESSIVE! Seriously! I never would have thought about this view--but you really did a perfect take on it and thinking outside the box!

Kris said...

I knew little to nothing about alcatraz. I am even part Native American (my grandmother was full blood Tlingit, an Alaskan tribe) and I appreciated your sensitivity to the subject. I really do like the picture too. I like the angle you took it at. Very nice

B-Blogit said...

Alynn, guess the childhood idea of being a teacher came out on here, LOL!

K Harker that is really neat. What a great heritage. I have a lot of repect for the Indians. In Colorado Springs there were some cliff dwellings there where we learned a lot of their life there.

In one way of looking at it they were great thinkers and problem solvers. Think of what indians had, next to nothing except the land. And they used all of it and in very unique ways. It is extraordinary.

Erin Wageman said...

My husband and I both loved your take on this! What a great idea! I also really like the look of the building! Great Job!

Candace said...

Very cool idea.... I love learning things about Alcatraz, so that's awesome that this is a picture of that... I would've never guessed!

Charles & Amanda said...

Great job thinking outside the box. I'm not sure what the story is behind the building, but now you have peaked my interest and I would like to find out more.