WOW, CHECK OUT THESE AWESOME BURN OUT

Grace Hospital Now only an abandoned building, but was once a home for the newborn. Grace Hospital was established in 1918 by The Salvation Army, it was Windsor's maternity hospital then became Hotel Dieu's second hospital in 1994 and then eventually closing it's doors in 2004. In 1997, I was married and my wife at the time had three daughters and one of her daughters gave birth at the hospital. A premature birth and I spent much time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Of course I always had my camera. I was taking pictures on that day and the head nurse had asked me if I could please stop because the flash was so bright, she explained that it hurt the infants eyes and wakes them when they need to be resting and growing. To me not being able to take photographs was like being locked up in a prison with no freedom, being there with so many opportunities and no camera. I replied politely and said I would stop. But this was not going to keep me from taking photos. I left shortly after that, went home and started to fill all the 35mm cassettes I had, in my darkroom, with black and white liford HP5 Plus, ISO 400 negative film, I had a brand new block of 30 meters and I used a 50mm 1.7 lens. This allowed me to get photos with the existing light that was available without having to use a flash or a tripod. I then returned to the hospital and continued to take photos. Ha, I thought to myself, try to stop me now! That night I started developing the rolls I exposed and then made 8x10 prints which I brought with me to the hospital the next day. I even taped one to the incubator stand. The head nurse had seen the photo and was so impressed with what I had done she started to ask me questions, then offered me a job taking photos of the infants with the parents. I did not take that job although today I wish I had. She had also asked if she could have a copy of the photo I brought in. I matted and framed it and she put it on the wall just outside the door of the (NICU). The photo has newborn Trever and his one year old brother giving him a hug. Today I do not know where that photo has gone, I think some time I would like to go to the Windsor Regional Hospital to see if it found it's way there. I still have my own matted and framed, exactly the same at home.