Freddie Graves

 

While being escorted around an abandoned warehouse, my friend Chris remarked that there was and old photography studio in the basement. The warehouse had been home for a cleaning supply business, but had been empty for 22 years. “Yeah, the owner set it up and was running a portrait business,” he said. “Rumors have it, that there where more than portraits being taken down there. It’s from the 70’s.” We descended the stairs and entered the enormous basement. Pools of stagnant water were languishing against the side walls, trails of white powder was scattered about, and huge empty pallets filled the middle of the room. The five working light bulbs gave the basement a green cast. We walked the length of the room to a small doorway in the corner. Chris reached in with his arm and flipped on the light. Orange! Orange shag carpeting, a Garrard turntable, a “real wood” veneer table, and a couch. Old portraits, all of young women, were scattered on the couch and on the floor. In addition, articles torn from photography magazines, and cases for filters lay about. Most of his lighting equipment still worked. And, the backdrops, though a bit torn, were not that moldy or faded. I spent some time in the space and documented the room. I found no evidence to substantiate any of the rumors that this was anything but a portrait studio.