Abilene - Back Street Scene Needed

[MicWayWal]

My daughter is on the Hardin Simmons Dance team. I am photographing the team tomorrow. I thought they wanted normal dance team photos. But after talking to them last night they were wondering if I had any unique ideas. I told them we could go off campus and photograph in a good 'grunge' area. They got excited about the idea. Now I am looking for a place to photograph.

I live and work in Plano just outside Dallas. I have visited Abilene a few times and have seen some great areas to photograph there while driving around the area. But of course now that I have to find a specific place I can not put any good places in my mind, much less know where they are located.

Are there any Big Sky Country photographers that would like to help point me in the right direction to find a good urban 'grunge' spot to shoot 12 girls and 2 additional people? I am looking for places that are a back alley kind of place, old torn down warehouse, that may be marked or painted up, with worn brick walls, rusted pipes, dilapidated stairs, exterior fire escape.

If you recommend a good place and want to tag-along you are welcome to meet me there. Just let me know you are coming and I will keep you informed when we will be there.

[CaptainTom]

Sounds like your average Abilene Photo Studio.......LOL ,, just kidding of course...gotta build up that posting number somehow.

[MicWayWal]

Somehow I knew you would be the first to respond.
Meanwhile I am back to waiting for a response. Hope someone reads this tonight.

[CaptainTom]

I'll try to be more useful.

I would give Mike and Holly a call in Abilene.

http://www.bellesphotography.com/

[MicWayWal]

Thanks, I thought of them. I sent her a PM. But now I can call them.

[rockpics]

What about the parking garage next to the Grace Museum. It's really just a gutted old building which has parking spaces marked in the cement floor. Mike and Holly took me and some other folks there for a pretend senior session. Also, the alley behind the garage and the Grace has potential. In fact, all of the alleys around there near the newspaper building and the Grace have potential. The Grace Museum is easy to find
The address is 102 Cypress. I'd love to come out.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by rockpics

What about the parking garage next to the Grace Museum. It's really just a gutted old building which has parking spaces marked in the cement floor. Mike and Holly took me and some other folks there for a pretend senior session. Also, the alley behind the garage and the Grace has potential. In fact, all of the alleys around there near the newspaper building and the Grace have potential. The Grace Museum is easy to find
The address is 102 Cypress. I'd love to come out.

Jill,

Thanks. I saw a little of that place in a thread and thought it might have potential but didn't know for sure. I will go check it out in the morning. The director found an old barn and rodeo arena that the school used in years past and wanted me to look at that too.

We will be shooting around mid-day. Would love to have you tomorrow. PM me your phone and I will let you know where we decide to go.

[HeatherLou]

Hey Micheal,
I don't know Abilene AT ALL! I know how to get to Mike and Holly's, the Art Center, and that's about it. But I will offer up my studio here in Bwood if you all want to travel! Sorry I can't be more help!

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

Hey Micheal,
I don't know Abilene AT ALL! I know how to get to Mike and Holly's, the Art Center, and that's about it. But I will offer up my studio here in Bwood if you all want to travel! Sorry I can't be more help!

Thanks Heather, but we need to stay in Abilene. Appreciate your response.

[HotHolly]

Hey - I just got your message. Crazy day.

Jill is right. Up behind the Grace are a series of interconnected parking garages. And they are really strange - they have tin ceilings, tiled floors, and one has a fireplace. They look like they had been a house at one point. You also have the alley way behind McLamore Bass (now Alley Cats) and Minters. They have old signage back there that is kind of fun. Those parking garages and the Minter's alley way connect. You shouldn't get mugged over there really either. And its quiet on the weekend. Downtown is mostly businesses there on M-F.

That is the spot that has the most diversity in walking distance. You can cross the street to a little park by the train station too. Here is a link to the blog post from when we were in the alley. As you can see - no muggers with bats hanging around. And Mike's jacket was pretty awesome. Im sure some of the local pimps woulda wanted to take it from him. (That little ha ha is for you Jill).

I took these while we were considering compositions and where to place the model. They kind of suck. I wasnt using off camera flash. Jill may have some better shots, but you can see lots of textures and depth around. And totally grundge. The 1st shot shows the broken tile floors. The 2nd is just a parking garage. The ceiling is painted tin. If you fire off camera, it would be cool background textures. It has the allure of a condemned building without the peril. lol.

[Cornbread]

I'm from Abilene. They pointed you to the right place. The area around the Grace is a little run down and dirty. You might be able to find a good spot there. Otherwise, try looking on the south side of the tracks. Maybe Oak St, by the new courthouse. A spot you might like to try is the pedestrian underpass by Anson Elementary School. It goes under I-20 between Grape and Old Anson. There used to be a ton of graffiti inside.

[MicWayWal]

Holly & Corn,

Thank you for the suggestions. I will arrive somewhere around 10 and will check out these spots. I appreciate the help. TPFers are the greatest.

[MicWayWal]

I will be leaving very early Sat morning. I will check this thread before I leave. Thanks for all your help.

[MicWayWal]

Thank you all for your help. We used a old store front and alley just behind the Grace Museum. I appreciate the quick responses.
Thought I would give a shout out to Jill who came and helped me with the shoot. I hope it was interesting for you.
We had about 20 minutes to take the group pictures and it was 35° with a gusty 20mph wind. They were troopers. I will have to smooth out a lot of 'goose-pimpled' skin however.

Thought y'all might like to see what I produced for them OOC.

[rockpics]

I really enjoyed watching you work with the girls! Thanks for letting me come along! The dance team should be really pleased with their photos. They look great!
I visited the site again today with some relatives of mine. I got some good shots, if I do say so myself!