Anyone here ever shot Clinton Valley Mental Hospital in Michigan?

[JClishe]

I used to live in Michigan, not too far from where Clinton Valley used to be in Pontiac. I always wanted to go exploring in that place. I moved, and they tore it down, before I got into photography.

Curious if any TPF'ers ever went through there and got any photos. I'd love to see them / hear about your experience.

 

[paul85224]

Shot....no.
Former inmate....yes.

 

[JClishe]

Shot....no.
Former inmate....yes.

Really? Was the inside as spooky as the outside looked? My father in law worked there in the early 70's but he wouldn't talk about it much. My wife thinks he saw stuff that he didn't want to talk, or even think, about.

 

[paul85224]

Shot....no.
Former inmate....yes.

Really? Was the inside as spooky as the outside looked? My father in law worked there in the early 70's but he wouldn't talk about it much. My wife thinks he saw stuff that he didn't want to talk, or even think, about.

I was sedated most of the time and had no idea what the inside decor was like.....

 

[D-B-J]

Shot....no.
Former inmate....yes.

Really? Was the inside as spooky as the outside looked? My father in law worked there in the early 70's but he wouldn't talk about it much. My wife thinks he saw stuff that he didn't want to talk, or even think, about.

I was sedated most of the time and had no idea what the inside decor was like.....

Sarcasm or sincerity?

 

[paul85224]

Really? Was the inside as spooky as the outside looked? My father in law worked there in the early 70's but he wouldn't talk about it much. My wife thinks he saw stuff that he didn't want to talk, or even think, about.

I was sedated most of the time and had no idea what the inside decor was like.....

Sarcasm or sincerity?

Sarcasm.....seriously. Although I'm sure at some point the nice men in white uniforms will be hauling me away to a nice padded cell.

 

[Netskimmer]

It was probably not very spooky at all when it was in use. Most places like this are meant to look as peaceful and calming as possible. Spooky doesn't typically go over well with folks who are unstable. After it was shut down it probably just looked like and old building. They wouldn't have left much behind like we would see in horror movies. There wouldn't be gurneys with restraint straps, straight jackets or electro-shock machines laying around. The best you probably could have hoped for would be to get a few shots of the padded rooms, often referred to as seclusion rooms or quiet rooms. You could shoot them in b&w in high ISO to add grain to make them look spooky.

 

[paul85224]

I agree, B+W would be a smart way to shoot, using different angles, giving the place an overall feeling of cold and desolation.