A Step Out Of Time - Photographing in Abandon Silos

I recently returned from attending a photography workshop in Buffalo, New York, hosted by my friend Mark Maio. The workshop takes place at Silo City and is one of the most unique photographic experiences you can find. Participants have access to six acres and more than a million square feet of silos, flour mills, and support buildings. Many of these structures have been abandoned for years—and in some cases, decades—creating incredible opportunities for HDR photography and light painting. The resulting images can be truly spectacular. Many attendees also bring models to photograph within these historic industrial spaces, a tradition that has continued since Mark first started offering the workshops.

Silo City is located along the Buffalo River near Lake Erie. The first morning begins before sunrise, photographing the silos from across the river as the rising sun bathes them in beautiful golden light. After the sunrise session, we head to the American Elevator Office Building, where participants store their gear and attend a safety orientation before exploring the property.

As I mentioned earlier, many photographers return year after year because it's impossible to photograph everything in a single workshop. One of those returning photographers is Mike Broomfield, who generously guides newcomers through the Lake & Rail Flour Mill and silos, areas that have only been accessible during the past few years.

Walking into the Lake & Rail Flour Mill feels like stepping back in time. It appears as though the workers simply walked away one day, locked the doors, and never returned. Offices still contain paperwork in filing cabinets and scattered across desks. Throughout the mill, you'll find abandoned machinery and equipment that offer endless photographic possibilities. Mike also led us to the top of the Lake & Rail silos, where we were rewarded with breathtaking views of Buffalo, Lake Erie, and the surrounding area from more than 25 stories above the ground.

The workshop provides access to five primary structures: the American Elevator, Marine "A" Elevator, Perot Malting Elevator, Lake & Rail Elevator, and the American Elevator Office Building, which has since been converted into a restaurant. In addition, numerous smaller buildings connected to the silos are open for exploration and photography.

If that isn't enough, optional side trips are available throughout the weekend. Several attendees visited Concrete Central on Saturday afternoon to photograph Buffalo's largest grain elevator. Later that evening, I joined a small group to create a light-painted image of this massive structure. The photograph turned out wonderfully, but I have to admit I was exhausted afterward since I was the one running back and forth illuminating different sections of the building!

If you're looking for a truly unique photographic adventure in a location that is generally closed to the public, Mark Maio's Silo City Workshop is an experience I highly recommend.

For more information about the workshop, visit:

http://markmaio.com/workshops