One of my favorite things about photography is that it gives me the bravery to see things I usually wouldn’t. I’m allowed to trespass & explore abandoned buildings as long as it’s for art, right? Ever since I’ve picked up a camera it has been one of my favorite activities. Urban exploration. Exploring abandoned buildings. Accidental ghost hunting. Whatever you want to call it.

So when my friend Erin called me up & said “Hey, wanna go check out an abandoned building at the infamous Lakeshore Mental Health Institute in Knoxville that is known for paranormal activity, crazy people, and alleged human right abuses?” I was like, DUH!! (Okay, she didn’t exactly say that, but for the sake of the blog, let’s pretend)

At first, we were both legitimately scared. The back of the building is much scarier than the front, with really dark hall ways, open basement doors, & places where people have broken in. As we made our way around the outside of the huge building, we realized we weren’t dealing with a really scary rehab facility, but a school! It calmed our nerves a bit, but it was still freaking awesome & creepy. It’s so weird to think about how a vibrant school filled with kids can just be pushed aside and forgotten. Where there really no other uses for this building? I’m drawn to exploring just like I’m drawn to stories. This neglected building definitely has a story.

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These don’t really fit the mood of the others, but here’s a pretty picture of my partner in crime, Erin!

erin cagney