The Last Hurrah

Hot! In Transformations

by Ashley Lebedev

Uploaded 30 Sep 2007 — 62 favorites

© Ashley Lebedev

This abandoned house sat on my mothers property (many acres) for over 120 yrs. This was taken on the day it was demolished due to disrepair. I spent many long hours inside each of those rooms.

The fire was amazing, and I wouldn't have expected anything less from this rickety structure. She wouldn't fall without a fight. It took her nearly an hour to fall, and the chimney stood alone after the rest was ashes. I first layed eyes on this house at 9 yrs. old, and now at 24, seeing her fall was very affecting.

I'll miss her, dearly. She was my childhood.

I've decided to enter this piece in the category 'transformations'.

I can see three transformations in this photo.

1.) The house was burning down

2.) The sun was setting

3.)...the lesser known transformation was myself changing behind my camera lense as I watched this demolished.

Hopefully that's a good fit. ;)

Ash

25 responses

  • Chris Wesseling

    Chris Wesseling gave props (9 Oct 2007):

    Impressive, even without your version of the story.

  • marley taylor

    marley taylor said (10 Oct 2007):

    reminds me of that jack johnson song
    "do you remember"

  • David McClymont

    David McClymont said (15 Dec 2007):

    Ashley-- I can hear and smell this-- all the way from up here---what a great one---I can only imagine what it must have been like for you to experience this ----will be back for more--:)

  • Kadesha Blanchett

    Kadesha Blanchett said (15 Dec 2007):

    I love the way the light is shining through the trees... and the flames are awesome.

  • rory cobbe

    rory cobbe gave props (17 Dec 2007):

    this is one of the best shots I've seen

  • Antje Sommer

    Antje Sommer gave props (17 Dec 2007):

    great capture and even more touching story. Must have been truely hard to see this house go

  • Serena

    Serena said (19 Dec 2007):

    wonderfull color

  • Ashley Lebedev

    Ashley Lebedev said (19 Dec 2007):

    everyone: just thank.you.
    Your kind words bring back such powerful emotion. I remember the night, and smell in the air, just reading these wonderful comments. Very bittersweet.
    Ash

  • Judy Sebesta

    Judy Sebesta said (19 Dec 2007):

    How sad to see her go...but you captured her last hurrah beautifully!

  • Kevin Eatinger

    Kevin Eatinger gave props (20 Dec 2007):

    Wow, intense, great capture!

  • Tristan Zand

    Tristan Zand said (21 Dec 2007):

    I'd love to see that fight in a bit of color, are there any?

  • Julien Le Bas

    Julien Le Bas said (27 Dec 2007):

    Wonderful shot, guided by the story.

  • lindsay mccallum

    lindsay mccallum said (8 Jan 2008):

    Amazing..

  • OLIVER W-PHOTOGRAPHY

    OLIVER W-PHOTOGRAPHY said (8 Jan 2008):

    Nice tone and highlight areas. Greetings.

  • Benjamin Peacock

    Benjamin Peacock said (8 Jan 2008):

    Amazing. Very powerful. Angle is fantastic, as well as focus. Contrast and blends of light are breath-taking. Bravo!

  • John Adams

    John Adams gave props (17 Jan 2008):

    Ahhhhnazing!!!

  • Paul Collins

    Paul Collins gave props (18 Jan 2008):

    Wow. The intensity of this is incredible!

  • Chelsea Hamilton

    Chelsea Hamilton said (31 Jan 2008):

    hey,
    i'm a newbie, you just added me so i thought i'd check ouyt your work. that is probably one of the most amazing photos i've ever seen (the sun and fire juxtaposed just do something i really like). coupled with the story it's beautiful and haunting. great stuff for novices like me to go by :)

  • jamielynn ryan

    jamielynn ryan said (2 Feb 2008):

    wow. beautiful story and photographic composition.

  • Ashley Lebedev

    Ashley Lebedev said (21 Feb 2008):

    Thank you!

  • Clay Lipsky

    Clay Lipsky gave props (21 Mar 2008):

    wow

  • Frederic Frognier

    Frederic Frognier   gave props (23 Mar 2008):

    Brilliant picture!

  • Laurel Johnson

    Laurel Johnson gave props (13 Nov 2008):

    This is an amazing picture... so much intensity and emotion

  • Chelsea Rising

    Chelsea Rising gave props (3 Nov 2009):

    amazing, voted

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