SEAN SULLIVAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Eighty-Sixed explores images of a former state hospital, an old-school barber shop, and several private residences photographed at night in various stages of decay. These and other forgotten places represent a loss of identity, family, and time. I've always wondered how these properties came to be eyesores, abandoned, and cast off by society. Taking the time to stop, view the buildings, and learn something about them, I see life in a bygone era. 

Photographing at night emphasizes the silence and humanity missing in the buildings. By using an artificial light source, I paint my subjects with light. This transforms the scene to reveal colors, textures, and details that lurk in the shadows and suggest the depth and history of each place. The property's background history, which I've researched through interviews, newspapers, and historical records, is paired with each image.

- Sean K. Sullivan