So this past Halloween I took a trip to West Virginia for the photography tour that the asylum offers (which I would definitely recommend to any of you fellow photographers out there, regardless of skill level). We got to photograph all of the buildings, including the super-decayed women's auxiliary building, and the exteriors. The cost per person was about $100 I believe, and it was definitely worth every penny. For this time of year, the lighting was a lot better in the afternoon tour versus the morning tour, so if you ever do take it, keep that in mind. I'm obviously not as skilled as a lot of the people on this site, but alas, enjoy~



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And for an off-topic bonus shot...

Nice set. Pic 4 and the last one with the bird really caught my attention.

ive done the photo tour at weston twice (both times i did the 8 hour stint) and will likely do it again next year. it is well worth the money - especially since the money goes directly to the restoration and upkeep of the kirkbride. there are a few people one here who have done the tour and i think everyone has come away from it with a smile on their face. nice set - thanks for sharing!

You did alright.

A lovely set of awesomeness, indeed!

.( I'm obviously not as skilled as a lot of the people on this site, but alas, enjoy~)

What an *underestimation* of YOUR work!
You have some really nice shots here!

Nice pictures! But honestly I wouldn't pay even 1$ for exploring anything. Like if you were visiting a museum or a guided tour, since you call it "photo tour".

I guess that's the difference between being a photographer and being an explorer (who also can be a photographer at the same time of course). I respect who decides to spend money for that but to me there is no "exploring" when you get permission, free or not.

Awesome pictures, that location looks really cool to explore even if you have to pay

Beautiful photos. Looks like a great place.

I once "photo toured" an old industrial site and it sort of sucked. Our group was assigned a guide who impatiently nudged us along from room to room. It was hard to get a shot without other photogs crowding my frame.

So how does this one work? Are you free to roam without supervision? Can you linger as long as you like? I would totally sign up for the 8 hour tour if they left me alone the whole time.

they leave you totally alone to do your own thing - you are free to go in and out of every building as you so choose (not the TB building though as they keep that one locked up because it is used for their halloween festivities).
i would recommend doing the full 8 hour tour - one of the main reasons i say this is because it goes like this...shoot from 8-12 then a 2 hour "break" and then resume shooting from 2-6. that said - both times i have done the tour i just worked my way up to the 4th floor of the kirk and continued shooting through the lunch break. both times i have done this i LITERALLY had the entire building to myself. they do their normal run of the mill tours on the days they do the photo tours too but they only really take the non-photo tours on the first floor and part of the second. the first floor is where they have all the furniture (from taunton no less) set up and it looks great - but there is something truly unique and damn near spiritual about being basically alone inside of a fully intact and beautiful kirkbride.

and to the dude who says he wouldnt even pay a fucking dollar to do a tour ANYWHERE - that is one of the most ridiculous things i have ever heard. in fact - its flat out stupid and that is a word i rarely use. clearly you have never seen weston - or the ohio state reformatory - or eastern state etc etc.
you obviously are one of those LEET explorers who is just WAY too hip to EVER pay for the opportunity to see a location as historic, important and amazing as weston is.

fiftyone_eggs - i will reimburse your entry fee if you do the photography tour sometime and arent completely blown away by it. im that confident you will love it!

Posted by insulinguy they leave you totally alone to do your own thing...

That sounds pretty amazing thank you! I will def check this out!

#5 and #8 are my favs, and really digging the angle and compo of #21.

Love that the photos put a new perspective and explore the details of the details of the hospital. If this makes any scene LOL