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Freedom's Behind You!!

© Laura E. Swan

Freedom's Behind You!!

Uploaded: April 03, 2017 | Entered: March 28, 2018 22:12:37

Description

Old Historical Yuma, Arizona Prison.
(Near The Mexico Border)
Est. 1875

This image depicts how a new inmate might have felt as he looked back to freedom, one last time. It would be a very long time, if not forever, before he saw this courtyard next to the river again. The gates would be closed behind him, by mean guards, to seal his fate.

Note: The grounds are pretty out there now because it's a museum and tourist attraction. But back in the days it was just hot and dusty and dry. Almost like hell already. I bet old John Wayne shot a movie here? I should check!

Comments

Teresa Burnett level-deluxe April 03, 2017 1

Wonderful image and story, Laura!! Love the treatment!! #1683245

Laura E. Swan level-classic April 03, 2017

Hi Teresa. Thank you!! :D It was quite an experience. Once a person passed this area, (away from the pretty courtyard and giftshop), and into the prison itself, it all started to hit me. The dred. It's pretty much left in it's original form with a little museum in there that likely used to be the guards office. It's hard to believe the conditions were so poor but they were. This is when prisons were PRISONS! Now they get decent food and beds and get to use exercise equipment and have TV's and many comforts of home. Not THIS place!

-Laura :) #11579591

Gord MacEachern April 04, 2017 1

Awesome capture and info Laura, great job! #11579667

Ujjwal Mukherjee level-classic April 05, 2017 1

Wonderful perspective, capture and presentation, Laura! Like your narration here, great info. too! #11580033

Laura E. Swan level-classic April 05, 2017

Hi Gord and Ujjwal. Thank so much! I was just re-reading the history of the place. Originally it had 16 or 18 foot high walls that were 8 feet thick!! Wow! AND to top it off the Prison was used for others things over the years. Not just a prison. It was a SCHOOL! Hospital and more!! I'll share more on that later!! Yikes! Can you imagine this?

Thanks for the visit and comments! :D
-Laura :) #11580047

John Connolly April 05, 2017 1

Your last view of the outside world would fill you with dread and foreboding Sister Swanee! This is a stunning image beautifully produced and presented!
It is so good to have you back on BP again! #11580209

Amalia Sylvia Arriaga Salinas level-classic April 07, 2017 1

Very impressive image and story Laura!,
Amalia #11580980

Laura E. Swan level-classic April 07, 2017

Hi Guys. Thanks for the visit and great comments! --- You know, I chose that rock wall to represent the feeling of not being able to turn back and be free. I've been meaning to work on these images for some time now and I lacked the programs to help me convey my feelings about this prison....In the other images of the person standing alone in solitary, I actually created the person there. By hand. I had my husband stand there but is shadow was only a small blob where his torso was. So I took my smudge tool on the little blob and built the head, arms and legs! :D that sure took a while to get right and maybe it still wasn't perfect...? BUT I stopped when it felt right to. DDR is rewarding but sure can take a long time sometimes. Good to see you both!
-(Little Sister) Laura :) #11580995

Kirsten Kiki Kjaer level-classic April 09, 2017

Oh, this is GOOD, SSSLala. The symbolism is fantastic!!! #11581521

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