Eastern State Penitentiary

The Eastern State Penitentiary is a former American prison that was operational from 1829 until 1971. At its completion, the building was the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected in the United States. Long cellblock corridors are the reason to come here. Cellblock 7 is the one most people shoot, with its arched doorways, barrel vaulted ceiling, and a row of cell openings that pull your eye straight down the hall. Light drops in from skylights overhead, giving you pools of brightness on the floor and deep shadow in the cells. Step inside the cells and you find the good stuff: peeling paint, crumbling plaster, rusted bed frames, the occasional lone toilet. Each cell has a small skylight that throws a shaft of light onto the back wall, which works well for a moody single subject shot. Al Capone's restored cell is worth a frame too. The interior is dim and lit mostly by what comes through the skylights and gaps in the roof, so bring a fast lens or push your ISO, and brace against a wall or railing, since flash is restricted and looks flat in here anyway. A wide lens handles the corridors and a longer one isolates the texture and decay. Go on a weekday morning to get the halls without crowds walking through your shot. Only part of the building is stabilized for visitors and the footing gets uneven, so watch your step. As a bonus, the exercise yard gives you a clear view of the Philadelphia skyline rising behind the prison wall. It is a ticketed site, open year round. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)