Very nicely done. You've got tonnes on dynamic range into that scene without making it look the slightest bit unnatural. How did you manage it?

*tonnes OF dynamic range... I should really learn to preview my text before posting.

This is just fantastic, I think the plank of wood sitting in the room just gives it a slight surreal effect to it, which works wonders.

Great image Dave

Personally, I prefer this shot over and above the previous two. Putting aside the difficulties you explained about presenting images as a series I think that you have framed the context of this room well.

Knowing you personally, I know you have a tendency to produce perhaps a more graphic type photo, and that usually manifests itself with a tighter crop on your subjects. This image sees you pulling back and letting the image breath.

Well, thats my opinion, and I for one would like to see more of this type of shot. It's probably not quite a trademark chromasia photo, but you know, this kind of image actually says a lot to me about an area that was once so thriving that hotels had to be booked months in advance.

Keep it going Dave, this is good work, and I for one appreciate it.

I like this one because I can feel the life that once was, the memories, the activity that took place here. This one needs no back story, it's a strong shot in it's own right. For me photography is far more about the feeling that comes from looking at a photo, or what it conjures up in my imagination, rather than the technicalities or actual story that goes along with it. Nice one.

if you want to see actual GOOD photography of places like this, you should check out someone who knows what they are doing. http://www.dobi.nu

Wow, I love this one.

Simple, but powerful, and the lighting sets the scene splendidly.

yes, david after a long time of watching your images this is one that draws my attention ... i love the light in here and quality of colour. well done :)

One word: Magnificent!

Love this very much. This room has a story...

Like that disturbing light!

This one is really impressive! I love the cyan fridge! And the light... I's incredible! Where it comes form?

Jamey: the original scene was more uniformly lit than this version which used a reasonably strong S Curve to accentuate the darker areas of the scene.

John: thanks, and you're right, I often tend to focus in on a component of a scene rather than the scene as a whole. More often than not I think this is because I'm often not sure about how to capture environments such as this as whole scenes. It's something I'm working on.

khk: I'm always puzzled when people leave anonymous remarks, especially when they've previously commented with a real email address and url. In this case, I'd much rather you'd offered something by way of constructive critique, especially since your website contains a lot of work on this theme.

Skenz: there were two sources of light: an open doorway in the left, and a hole in the roof on the right.

I like it a lot. It stands by itself, which is more than I can say for the previous two. This one tells its own story. Not so convinced about the long piece of timber, it seems to distract from the composition to me, but you've processed the light beautifully. Nice work Dave.

oh, and khk: that was a real cheap shot. Inferring David doesn't know what he's doing (behind a lens) is pretty pathetic. Just look at his archives. That web site you referred to did have some awesome photography of this type, but so what? Trashing chromasia to get a few visitors is pretty poor behaviour.

Wow, really like this shot. I'm one of the been-looking-for-a-while-but-have-never-commented-type and I agree with J Washington's comments; it's tempting to hone in on a part of a scene for effect, and especially for the purposes of a photoblog, it seems. I agree also that while I prefer this to the previous two (beautiful letter), they helped to put it in context - effective, given that you might expect this one to be the establishing shot, I guess.

I agree with John W - this is the best of the set so far. The dynamic range and tones are great.

Hi David,
I would like to introduce myself -I'm Alistair's son Andrew.
May I quickly say how much I admire your work. I feel extremely underqualified to post comments on your site, but I felt had to say something; firstly about khk. Not only is it unacceptable behaviour to badmouth someone's work in that manner, not offering any constructive criticism (a little professional jealousy I suspect), but to then place a link to one's own site immediately after is down right bad manners. Glad I got that off my chest.
I have visited the aforementioned site, and I see very little to rival this shot, apart from that perhaps some depth and atmospheric is missing a little on these latest images you have offered us. I sense that you may be struggling to find your "angle" so to speak, regarding this project. I look forward to seeing how things develop though!

For what it's worth, I know Rob Dobi and I can guarantee that he wasn't the one who posted that comment

I'm just about to go to bed but wanted to post a quick response to Andrew and Jeff: I can also confirm that the comment wasn't posted by Rod Dobi. I suspect I do know who did post it - the IP address of the comment matches a previous one, and the url that was left with that comment points to a gallery of shots on this theme, but that site was a different one to the link in khk's comment. My apologies if I didn't make that clear in my previous comment.

And Andrew: you're probably right about me trying to find an "angle" - it's a type of photography that I'm not all that familiar with so probably need a bit more practice.

Andrew I absolutely agree with your point. This image feels very un chromasia-like to me. It's not something I would expect to find here (although I'm not sure I can explain in words what I would). I enjoyed "Dear George" greatly, but these two most recent shots don't have quite the same appeal.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can offer up a single fix that would allow this image to succeed in my eyes, but I certainly believe that you can be sucessful at this type of photography. I do have one nitpick, which is the light is rather odd (I'm not sure how this scene has been lit, but I think that if you can find naturally lit rooms with one or two windows you will be able to do great things with it). Regardless, I look forward to watching your progress in this.

For the first time in a LONG time, I finally see one of your photos and think, "Now this looks natural; it doesn't have an over-processed look to it." And for that, kudos.

c'mon, you can do better! it's nothing creative, inspiring, worth remembering - and so much not your style!

Certainly is a doer-upper. Light is ok in this. I shot similar and produced images like this. Not really all that pleasing really.

Interesting palette and shadows.

I like this photo and the colors in it. The angles of light entering the room makes for some interesting shadows.
I recently went through an old hotel in the town where I grew up. The hotel has been closed for over 20 years. However, many of the same colors that are in this pic were in the hotel.

totally wasn't me! i swear! i like david's photos and wouldn't knock someone like that. (my girlfriend introduced me to this blog awhile ago)

Thanks all.

i usually do not comment on the "non-current" photo, but with this i had to. david, this is fantastic for so many reasons. the lighting and texture are obvious reasons, but the subtle color tones in the shadows and detail in the highlights are amazing. this image breathes a story for anyone. very nicely done.

This could be shot in a pro studio the lighting is so good.

I am amazed by the quality of the light here.

I just love the blue on the furniture here, it all just fits so wonderfully together as a whole.

Fantastic stuff!

nice. very nice. reminds me of some of the interior shots of new orleans after katrina. what is left when we leave when we don't want to leave. the most effective (for me) post in this series.

it definetely does tell a story