photo - Ken Gilbert

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STEVE BINGHAM
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Ruin Rules
I ENJOYED “The Explorers’ Club” (November 2009)
very much. In 2004 I went to the now-defunct Fort
Ord, on the Monterey Coast, for my fi nal project for
my photography class. I was using b&w fi lm and a
venerable Pentax K1000. Yes, I trespassed like crazy
(keeping an eye out for security) and got some great
shots. It wasn’t until later that I learned from a
classmate, a former Monterey County deputy sheriff,
that Fort Ord was used by drug abusers and burglars
to stash loot! When exploring abandoned sites:
Note the weather, especially if it may turn bad. Too
hot can be as bad as too cold or too wet.
Have a current tetanus shot. Presume everything in
the abandoned location is chock full of nasty bugs.
Carry a small fi rst-aid kit. You may cut yourself.
Take work gloves. Useful when you want to push
something out of the way or crawl for that special shot.
Program your cell phone to speed-dial the local
police and fi re departments in an emergency.
Always carry a fl ashlight. Besides serving as a tool for
light painting, it can help you see where you’re walking.
Pay attention to signs warning you of hazards such
as rotting stairs.
Take food and water. You’d be surprised how fast
time goes by when you’re snapping away.
Always be aware of your surroundings. I would have
been more careful if I had known who used the place I
was photographing. Sal Murillo
Gilroy, CA
34 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY JANUARY 2010
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