Hindsight is 2021 (a year in review) - Thread

Only three months into this year and I'm ready to post this, that's pretty good by my standards...

2021 was fucking insane for me. Not because of exploring, unfortunately. More because my life got jacked the fuck up and then suped the fuck up. I just got my year sober a few days ago...which probably gives you a picture of my 2021. Early into the year my fiance left, a childhood friend died, and I had couple stays in the psyche ward. All of this, actually, within my first week of sobriety. Needless to say, things looked bleak, and I was planning on checking out by my birthday. Somehow I decided to give a fuck. Within six months I had quit nicotine, finished my bankruptcy, and enrolled in school to major in sociology. Shit's good today!

I say all of this because there's a lot of emotion behind last year's photos. I was going through a million stages of a million types of grief; sometimes the photos are a joyous rebellion and sometimes they're glimpses of personal isolation. The year sucked and the year was great...to me the photos suck and they're great lol. But idk, you tell me...

I went to this many places last year!

1.

I've Been Everywhere by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

Not really, I just saw that at an alligator farm (yes, Colorado has those) and just had to shoot it.

When I was starting to go bonkers from withdrawals, I started scouring the plains for homesteads and found some romantic litte spots. Maybe it's odd, but at the time I really identified with these places.

2.

Chronic Feelings Of Emptiness by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

3.

Stuck In The Middle With You by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

4.

On The Edge Of Your Seat by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

5.

Shadow Box by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

6.

Black and White Thinking by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

7.

Have you ever TRIED to relax!? It is a paradox!! by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

8.

Netflix and Chill by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

9.

Hidden In Plain Sight by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

10.

In The Wind by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

11.

A Better Door Than A Window by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

12.

Stepping Out by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

13.

Flying Colors by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

14.

Power Behind The Throne by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

15.

Brought To Light by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

16.

Flat Broke by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

Eventually I started to feel completely empty. I was out of dopamine, and beyond that I was just pissed. So one day I was like...why the fuck am I not in this mill right the fuck now? So I drove a million miles into nowhere, only to find that everything fought me. Like everything. Even when I got there, a train was passing the entrance so I stopped and waited...and the train just stopped eventually. Blocking the building. It added like an extra mile to walk around it, god was I mad. No idea why the parking lot was paved with manure. Falling down the stairts hurt like hell too, and I was pretty freaked out when I dropped my vape three stories down into a pile of muck...sticking straight up, upsidedown, like the sword in the stone. But either way, this circa 1911 sugar mill was well worth the bullshit!

17.

Evil R2-D2 by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

18.

Multi-Tiered Support System by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

19.

Out Of Control by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

20.

The Twelve Steps Aren't Working by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

21.

Golden Gate by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

22.

Gutter Mouth by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

23.

Pandora's Walk by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

24.

Despite All My Rage by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

25.

Overworkers Comp by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

26.

All The Bells And Whistles by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

27.

Shelf Help by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

28.

Are These The Droids You're Looking For? by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

29.

Tubes Tied by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

30.

Don't Chute by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

31.

Chrome Dome by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

32.

Third Wheel by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

33.

Step Right Up by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

34.

Walking On Air by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

35.

A Poorly Oiled Machine by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

36.

They All Got Canned by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

37.

2 GET HELP ! by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

38.

A Hose Of A Different Color by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

39.

Nerves Of Steel by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

40.

Bursting At The Seams by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

Next came a gold mill after a friend came up from Texas to see the local scene. I had no idea this place existed, but the cops very much did. We met a homeless dude on acid who came in with us, chatted for a bit while shooting. While moving from one part to another, we saw the cop car outside the fence and bailed. Poor homeless dude is running down a steep hill with a little red wagon full of his stuff on acid. Turns out the cops just wanted us out...didn't even pull me over on the way out. So fuck it I guess. The whole ride home I was coughing to death...since the entire west was on fire, it was like trying to breath inside a muffler. The one exterior I took turned out like shit because it wasn't just the sky that was clouded with smoke, it was the fucking air.

41.

Grey Lung by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

42.

Industrial Illusion by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

43.

Ahead Of The Curve by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

44.

In A Round About Way by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

45.

Industrial Society And Its Future by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

46.

Means Of Conveyance by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

47.

Seized Up Means Of Production by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

48.

Slippery Slope by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

The next day we checked out my first military location, an Atlas missle site. Upon entering, I realized we were passing right in front of a trail cam and we weren't sure how to handle it. So we just walked back out, pretended to return to the car, and then re-entered the base through a ten foot wide hole in the fence that was immediately to the left of the camera watching the entrance. Who the fuck knows why there was a train in there, but at that point I heard dirt bikes outside and kinda panicked. The entire complex was within a fence within a fence, so I figured maybe it was the caretakers or something. But then...they were gone as quick as they came.

49.

Jeepers Creepers by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

50.

Invasion Of Privacy by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

51.

Train Of Thought by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

52.

Cold War Camp Out by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

Why was this hall covered in hubcaps? Because why the fuck not.

53.

UFOs by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

54.

Down At The Hub by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

55.

Crew Cut by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

56.

High Maintenance by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

Next, I ended up on a vacation to see a remote ghost town, yet stumbled on this interesting hotel first. I was really only expecting exteriors...then I saw the pool surrounded in seemingly indiginous stained glass.

57.

Walk The Line by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

58.

Lower The Bar by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

59.

Don't Keep Me Wading by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

60.

Burned Out by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

61.

Outreach Program by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

62.

Dry County III by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

63.

Better Window Than A Door by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

64.

Dry County II by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

65.

Under cover by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

66.

Where's The Fire? by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

67.

The Long Way by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

68.

Don't Throw Stones In Stained Glass Houses by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

69.

Sink Or Swim by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

70.

Rot Tub by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

71.

Fireless Place by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

72.

Dry County I by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

73.

Bar Fly by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

The last place I explored was actually last August, right before school began. I was excited and kind of terrified for that opportunity, but first was a treat for about six months of "good behavior". The location is pretty fascinating with a great history and even scancal, but I posted that last month under the title "Cabin Fever Ghost Town". Check that out if you're curious...for now these are the ones I liked.

74.

Cabin Fever by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

75.

Losing Sleep by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

76.

Breakthrough by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

77.

A Home Truth by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

78.

Hermit The Frog by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

79.

Old As The Hills by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

80.

When The Bottom Drops Out by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

81.

Shotgun Shack by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

82.

King Of The Hill by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

83.

Bottles Down by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

84.

The Staircase Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

85.

Pickup Sticks by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

86.

Ducks In A Row by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

87.

All Aboard by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

88.

Shacking Up by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

89.

Clouds On The Horizon by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

90.

Back To Basics by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

91.

Two Of A Kind by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

92.

Hammered Home by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

93.

A Place In The Sun by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

94.

Gone Ass Up by S⊙ph̷̤͝ia Dange̴͍̠͆r, on Flickr

So there you have it...worst year of my life, best year of my life. I have no idea. Probably the most important year of my life and I got some good shots out of it, so what can I say, I'm happy.

And a side note, I contacted a local author, Kenneth Jessen, who writes the local ghost town books, and he'll be including a number of my photos in his book next year. So yeah, pretty rad.