Lauren Farmer

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

Our lives are made up of all sorts of experiences. Some big, some small. Some are purposely forgotten, many are diligently remembered. As someone who prides herself on continually seeking out and documenting the new, I maintain a dedication to bringing back to life experiences of times gone by.

I started shooting abandoned hospitals, theaters and prisons two years ago. I feel that by documenting these spaces, I am paying tribute to the patients, inmates and staff who for some period of time, may have called these places home. I see real beauty in the crumbling walls and creaky floors, in the files, letters and film reels left behind.

I have chosen these photographs to tell the story of the forgotten places, those boarded up and left to rot 30, 40, 50 years ago. Others may turn a blind eye, but the experiences of those who spent time here, their pain, victory and enjoyment, is important to me and I desire to share it.

Urban exploration is one passion of mine. Another is travel. I crave new places. There is so much to discover and so many tales to tell. I love being able to storytell through photographs.

Shooting in South Africa, where I have never been, would be a thrill. I am up for the adventure, ready for the challenge and eager to learn from one of the best. I would, without doubt, make the very, very best of this experience.