JPG: Photos: "Her Last Hurrah" by Ashley Lebedev

Her Last Hurrah

Hot! In Loneliness

by Ashley Lebedev

Uploaded 30 Sep 2007 — 173 favorites

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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 & I wouldn't have expected anything less from this structure.

She wouldn't fall without a fight. Long after the entire house was in smoldering ashes, the proud chimney still stood. It burned for 3 days after this photo in embers.

I first saw this house as a little 9 yr. old, and now at 24 years old, the loss of it was very affecting.

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

I'm very thankful that the sun was so agreeable that evening. It makes the memory of this house even more special.

please enjoy, in remembrance...

-------

UPDATE: This photo was selected to be on exhibit at the "Art of Photography Show" in San Diego. Thank you all for your amazing emails. :)

Ash

65 responses

Ashley Lebedev added a link (30 Sep 2007):
Click here for more information and pictures from this set. :) (flickr.com)
Kit Anderson said (15 Dec 2007):
Great drama. Love the sunflare competing with the fire.
Joel Aron gave props (15 Dec 2007):
Holy crap. This is beautiful. The composition is stunning, and so soft considering what the content is. I love the tone, and then delicate violence that the image holds. So nice.
Joshua Pope gave props (15 Dec 2007):
simply gorgeous.
Michelle Mogavero gave props (15 Dec 2007):
Nice capture!
A Martin said (15 Dec 2007):
Beautiful capture...sorry for the loss of your memories, must have been difficult to watch.
Christian Webber gave props (15 Dec 2007):
great shot!
Major Kelly gave props (15 Dec 2007):
Great shot!!!
Ray Ordinario said (15 Dec 2007):
just beautiful...
Karen Bradbury said (15 Dec 2007):
what a great series of pictures!
Darnell Jackson gave props (16 Dec 2007):
yes yes yse syses it is just wonderful!!!!
Olivier Vin gave props (16 Dec 2007):
just great and powerful !
Ted Daniels said (16 Dec 2007):
I'm in awe of your command, both of the medium and of your own emotions; to make such an overwhelming image at a moment of such grief has to be the most powerful healing available.
It's also a perfect evocation of the devastating impact the theme can have at moments of loss. I'm also impressed by the choice you made. As perhaps people have noted, this image is by far the strongest of the two you included here, though perhaps the comparative lightness and delicacy of the other will reward a closer look.
Catherine Hadler gave props (16 Dec 2007):
Super cool shot, and a great epitaph ;o)
Anne Mcginn gave props (16 Dec 2007):
gorgeous and sad
Tyler Banks said (16 Dec 2007):
I absolutely LOVE this.
nicholas gave props (16 Dec 2007):
spectacular!
Victoria Cornejo gave props (16 Dec 2007):
simply amazing.
andrew james gave props (17 Dec 2007):
Wow, what an image!!
Paul Lavallee gave props (17 Dec 2007):
amazing photo & story
Yannick Fortier said (17 Dec 2007):
I love it!
Gabriel Hernandez gave props (17 Dec 2007):
This is a big WOWWWWW!!!
Doug Johnson gave props (17 Dec 2007):
Fire of the answering the blaze. Awesome
judy fouse gave props (17 Dec 2007):
Thanks for sharing the sentiment and the testament to this old house. Now it will be memorialized for you forever. Beautiful photo.
Scott Manka said (18 Dec 2007):
Oh wow, this picture is so epic.
:]
Duje Antonini said (19 Dec 2007):
I skipped your comment on this one. I don't need it. And this is not my comment. Beauty is in the eye of beholder. Unbelievable. I sort of dreamed about this few days ago. And poetically, I kind of need this. Let me explain: I like title also. p.s. I'll read your comment later. Good picture, anyway. Regards. D.
Ashley Lebedev said (19 Dec 2007):
everyone: just thank.you.
I just found these comments of recent, and completely teared up.
Your kind words bring back such powerful emotion. I remember the night, and smell in the air, just reading these wonderful comments. Very bittersweet. When the sun came out in cooperation, it was a powerful moment, and I just was so proud to watch it.
Ash
Brian Heiland gave props (19 Dec 2007):
So much energy and history. Gone... I like this capture.
S. DeCyan said (20 Dec 2007):
Je vais faire un effort.. no words for describe.. just wouaa!
Martin Kristiansen gave props (20 Dec 2007):
Really good work on the title! it open this nice image for so many different interpretations.
Joshua Logan said (20 Dec 2007):
wow.
Mallory Morrow said (24 Dec 2007):
great photo!
April Parker said (27 Dec 2007):
Great picture.
I really, really like it.
:)
Jane (Janie) Barber said (28 Dec 2007):
Ashley, what a statement! A lot of the photography that I seem to hone in on are these old special houses full of memories. I guess because I am a much older person now and the fact that I grew up in the 50's with b/w television and as we get older our priorities change and we tend to go back to our memories. These old homes really make a statement and it seems this one really had a memory for you. Keep up this great work!
Tiberiu Sahlean said (29 Dec 2007):
Wonderful picture and great story for it! Congrats! I have no more words...
Denzil Jennings gave props (1 Jan 2008):
Incredible!
Becky Cote said (6 Jan 2008):
this is an absolutely beautiful shot...i spent alot of time inside abandoned places and i always get so sad when they are torn down or remodeled. love it.
Kirsten Alana said (8 Jan 2008):
absolutely stunning indeed.
Van Corey said (8 Jan 2008):
Awesome shot.
Carrie Scott said (8 Jan 2008):
WOW that is an AWESOME image and great story
Amber Blazing said (10 Jan 2008):
Incredible photo... keep up the good work!
Robin Lerios said (14 Jan 2008):
You honored her by capturing her valiant fight to the finish.
What a powerful photo.
and yes, the sun should also be thanked.
Mark Warren gave props (14 Jan 2008):
Wow. What else could I add, but, simply amazing.
Sol Hess said (18 Jan 2008):
Magnificent!
Kind of reminds me of the fire scene in Tarkovsky's mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdT_nWXjqcs
Jeff Harbin gave props (18 Jan 2008):
Great image!
Sagi Shapira said (19 Jan 2008):
what the !@#$... this is absolutely spectacular. fantastic work!
Doug Craig said (25 Jan 2008):
Wow! Fantastic shot and phenomenal photos all around. Bravo!
Drew Baker gave props (25 Jan 2008):
i can't even find the words.
Ryan Nosbush said (25 Jan 2008):
wow. . .that's just amazing. that's a great moment and a great shot.
Amanda Emme said (29 Jan 2008):
great job! I love this shot
andy said (31 Jan 2008):
WOW it took me a while to get this (when viewed small) but WOW. I'd never think of doing fire in sepia. Stunning. Well done
maria tizon gave props (7 Feb 2008):
I love this photograph for so many reasons. Your work is really amazing.
Younes said (12 Feb 2008):
Whenever I want to cmment on your photos I loose confidence beasue I see how great u capture the essence of existance in the other way I se how lost I am amoung all those admirers. Ihope u undrestand what I mean!!
Agatha . said (21 Feb 2008):
Great picture! You must be very sad...
Jenifer Nagle said (28 Feb 2008):
Such a gorgeous image!
Frederic Frognier gave props (23 Mar 2008):
Stunning picture
Martina Zancan gave props (29 Mar 2008):
Amazing. The pic speaks for itself, but the text is even more moving.
Elise Kihntopf gave props (10 Apr 2008):
what an amazing image. Im sorry to hear that you lost a physical piece of your childhood, but at least you were able to hold on to it in some way.
Ashley Lebedev said (30 Apr 2008):
Thank you all SOOO much. :)
Your words and comments mean so much to me on this piece. :)
ash
ps. To Dan: I'm so glad you made it to the show. I was so bummed i couldn't be there. Thanks for the message.
Chris Medykiewicz gave props (1 May 2008):
Awsome and powerful!!!
John Linton gave props (1 Jun 2008):
Gone With the Wind worthy.
Mack Davis said (12 Aug 2008):
Absolutely amazing shot Ashley. And the summary statement moves me. I recall similar things about my own childhood and can understand your feelings on that day. Great work capturing the image.
William McDonald gave props (5 Nov 2008):
amazing photograph!
Robert Carey said (20 Dec 2008):
OMG. This photo is nothing less than amazing. The story almost brought me to tears, seriously... and that's not easy to do. Unbelievably beautiful shot. Awesome and moving story.
J. Zbell gave props (25 Aug 2009):
what a powerful shot...