traderjohn Loc: New York City

No. Not for me. Thankfully, "photo ops" are that high on my totem pole.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I certainly would not want to go there if it were a working institution, but since it is closed I believe the photo opportunities could be tremendous. Going there, for me, as a photo opportunity would be much like reading a horror novel and enjoying it. The literary term for this kind of experience is called “willing suspension of disbelief,” allowing one to make the experience enjoyable without immersing himself into the situation. That’s my reasoning for thinking photographing the institution could be a positive one rather than a negative.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've seen too many horror movies about places like that.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Thanks was part of my point John. It would not be everyone’s cup of tea but the artistic challenge would be to spin it positively.

Another angle could be that places like these are always viewed negatively in the movies. Where would the drama come from is Sunnydale really was sunny? 😏

TSHDGTL

Here's a video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulwnOw7E9EQ

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I've been there a couple of times and photographed it, it's really interesting. The original idea behind it was to give patients a good quality of life while treating them. When the place was started, mental patients weren't treated very well and this was an effort to change all that.

It was overcrowded and understaffed. It ran until the 90's I think.

It makes for very interesting photos.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

It didn't close. They just moved it to Washington, DC and took the locks off the doors!

gsnelson Loc: Western Maryland

Probably best not to judge it until we have seen it. It is actually a fantastic place with many photo opportunities!

(Download)

CWGordon

I used to be an Attorney-at-Law. Over the years I visited numerous mental hospitals and dozens of correctional facilities (...call’em what you will...),partly why I retired. Hopelessness, pain, loss, were overwhelming feelings so many had. Being there was like “doing time” myself. Sons and daughters missing parents funerals and sibling weddings, not seeing their children leave for military assignments, maybe to never see them again, tremendous musical and artistic talent going to waste. Awful, depressing. So few have real opportunity, high mental illness rates rob so many of free choice. A criminal record takes away job possibilities upon release. No real rehabilitation is available for most. Even less in the form of counseling, psychiatric or medical care is provided. Outrageous sentences for some, slaps on the wrist for others. Understaffed and poorly paid Public Defenders don’t have much effect on our system. Rape and sex trade as common as can be; you really should visit old prisons and lunatic asylums to see what they were like before the wonderful new prisons became available. For those who miss my tone; I am being sarcastic! Only the structures and layouts have changed. All the rest remains unchanged. Anyone interested and within reasonable distance should travel to Jim Thorpe, PA to visit the old prison there. It was no more than a dungeon. It has a fascinating history with gallows remaining from the Irish “Molly Maguire” days. There is even a hand print that comes back, seemingly unaffected, no matter how many coats of paint are applied. There are great visiting hours. That prison was closed rather recently, in the ‘80’s, I believe. You will need high ISO and wide-angle lens if you go. All of these places make you think. A lot. There, but for the grace of God...

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

If you're interested in seeing some photos (like I was) you can go here:
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x884a363ea66b5327%3A0x573031bac9b61f7e!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOsOZtexidWtx9WCAimc0Qje3LdMptgNtPz-vk%3Dw213-h160-k-no!5sTrans%20Allegheny%20Lunatic%20Asylum%20in%20Weston%20WV%20-%20Google%20Search&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNfK3nDbBZSvIonUeUD_d9qE4PvoGsR5Nz6l0WS&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwji7bDi-rjhAhVErJ4KHT5ZAfQQoiowF3oECA0QBg

Tommy II Loc: Northern Illinois

I guess I’m just thankful that I don’t have any, what I would describe as morbid interest in visiting an active mental institution. To me that would like be like taking pictures at a memorial service for a stranger. I would have no desire to be there.

CWGordon

Very few of us would want to visit any of these active institutions. I did it because it was a part of my job, my practice. Still, it was morbid, you are right. I have advocated that many people could learn a lot by visiting historical institutions, not currently housing inmates of any sort. A lot to see. Maybe your curiosity will be piqued and you will want to learn more re: what are we doing today to save/rehabilitate inmates, as well as what can we do to lessen recidivism, much less reduce criminal activity.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I suggested to my wife I go for a visit. She suggested I pack my bags.

CaptainBobBrown

Sensibilities change.

The 'lunatic assylum' in London (if I remember correctly) was a huge draw of crowds when Charles Dickens was writing. The masses were fascinated by the 'crazies'' antics in their cages and were often compared to monkey's in zoos. During 'the terror' regime of the French revolution crowds including old ladies with their knitting would set up for a day of entertainment to mock and laugh at the condemned being taken to the guillotine. They were fascinated, yet not appalled, by the sight of the heads rolling down the slide into the baskets placed at the foot of the platform to catch the heads (for later mounting on pikes placed around the execution fields).

Oh, wait. Videos of the al qaeda beheadings and right wing mass shooting videos are still 'going viral'. Maybe sensibilities haven't changed that much. My mistake.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

So very true, Bless you.🤪🙏