Shadows & Secrets — CLAUS PHOTOGRAPHY

To document my exploration of an abandoned car dealership near my home, I decided to work only in black and white, to focus on contrasts, textures, and abstraction. I began shooting in fall, and always returned to the dealership in early evening, when the sun cast long, sharp shadows.

Since all the doors, gates, and windows of the dealership were boarded up, the project soon became all about hidden spaces, and carefully managed decay. Every time I returned, I either found new scenes or details I had missed earlier, or decided to revisit areas previously photographed in order to work from a new angle.

Because I was technically trespassing, I worked in short stints for about 15 minutes at a time. Using a pocket-sized camera with a pancake lens let me move swiftly, and discreetly. This allowed me to gradually build up a photographic narrative that that grew and evolved over time.

I live in an area where housing is expensive, and scarce—and homelessness is at an all-time high. To see this sprawling property mothballed purely for speculation seemed outrageous to me, so I chose this minimalist and almost expressionist approach to express my anger and frustration.

Empty Lights by the Forecourt

Empty Lights by the Forecourt

Broken Lighting

Broken Lighting

Southeast Corner of the Service Bays

Southeast Corner of the Service Bays

Back of the Southern Service Bays

Back of the Southern Service Bays

Broken Fencing by the Service Bays

Broken Fencing by the Service Bays

Empty Forecourt

Empty Forecourt

Open Invitation

Open Invitation

Broken Window on the Managers' Floor

Broken Window on the Managers' Floor

Boundary Shadows

Boundary Shadows

Peeling Paint on Cinder Block Wall

Peeling Paint on Cinder Block Wall

Torn Rat Screen

Torn Rat Screen

Closed Door

Boarded-Up Window, Detail

Boarded-Up Window, Detail

Window Cover, Detail

Window Cover, Detail

Spillage in the Service Yard

Spillage in the Service Yard

Stairs to Nowhere

Stairs to Nowhere

Boundary Wall

Empty Lights by the Forecourt

Empty Lights by the Forecourt

Broken Lighting

Broken Lighting

Southeast Corner of the Service Bays

Southeast Corner of the Service Bays

Back of the Southern Service Bays

Back of the Southern Service Bays

Broken Fencing by the Service Bays

Broken Fencing by the Service Bays

Empty Forecourt

Empty Forecourt

Open Invitation

Open Invitation

Broken Window on the Managers' Floor

Broken Window on the Managers' Floor

Boundary Shadows

Boundary Shadows

Peeling Paint on Cinder Block Wall

Peeling Paint on Cinder Block Wall

Torn Rat Screen

Torn Rat Screen

Closed Door

Closed Door

Boarded-Up Window, Detail

Boarded-Up Window, Detail

Window Cover, Detail

Window Cover, Detail

Spillage in the Service Yard

Spillage in the Service Yard

Stairs to Nowhere

Stairs to Nowhere

Boundary Wall

Boundary Wall

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