McDungeon shoot

(Disclaimer: Joking aside, I fully understand the risks/dangers involved in these adventures and do so in the full knowledge of what could happen. I don't encourage or condone and I accept no responsibility for anyone else following in my footsteps. Under UK law, trespass without force is a civil offence. I never break into a place, I never photograph a place that is currently occupied, like a home, as this would be morally wrong and intrusive, I never take any items and I never cause any damage, as such no criminal offences have been committed in the making of this blog. I will not disclose means of entry.  I leave the building as I find it and only enter to take photographs for my own pleasure and to document the building.)

I've always said that if I do move into portraiture then it should be kept within the established themes of this blog- locations that the public typically cannot get to. But I don't know anything about photography. However, I optimistically believe that avoiding something that one isn't good at is the fastest way to guarantee they'll always suck at it. So today is an actual photoshoot that I did with my friend Katie.

On the surface, this appears to be a series of photos of a woman taking shelter in some kind of disapidated castle. Perhaps she's chilling out? Is she waiting for someone or something? Is she alone in there? Is that Charles Darwin on one of the windows? I like to think there could be some kind of story to the shots.

But the truth is, my objective was just to see what we could make. When I realised that the famous cellar of Shrewsburys old McDonalds building was still briefly accessible, I had to do something with it. I didn't know how long it would be open for, the window of opportunity likely slim but at the same time, not one that should go to waste. However, I've already done two posts documenting it. A third would be overkill, unless I made it different.
So I decided to do a photoshoot, and began wondering who I knew who was visually interesting, badass enough to make the journey and also someone I'd be comfortable sharing my locations with. And upon considering who I knew who would look cool in an eight-hundred-year-old medieval fortification turned fast food dungeon, Katie sprang to mind instantly.

I first met Katie through our mutual friend, Emmie, who I followed on social media, due to enjoying her art and poetry. Then one day I spotted her at the pub and said "I know you from Instagram!" Unlike the old days when someone faced with this declaration might feel a little freaked out, Emmie instead accepted my compliments and upon recognising me in town on a later date, invited me to come drink with her and her friends.
Despite me being an antisocial boob, I accompanied her anyway and consequentually met Katie. The social dominoes have fallen, and here is the outcome-

That was loads of fun, even if the shots were largely experimental. It's good to be challenged, I think. It's good to look at ones comfort zone occasionally, and politely tell it to fuck off. I often refer to mine as "Mein Kampfort Zone," because the best way to repel anything is to make it remind you of Hitler.

Special thanks to Katie for being excellent to work with, and also being a master of the lost art of conversation, and special thanks to the spooky entities residing in McDonalds for being cool with us disturbing their rest. I imagine we were probably more fun to watch than 30+ years of humans consuming processed meat, thats for sure!

And of course, I hope this place eventually gets used for something worthwhile, and doesn't just continue to gather dust right under our noses. It's an awesome place.

Next blog post we're back to doing our usual thing. I'm in south Shropshire trying not to die, and then on my other blog, I've got a derelict college somewhere out there in the wider world. In the meantime, Like my Facebook page, Follow my Instagram, and I guess you could follow my Twitter in the hope that someday I use it, too.
Thanks for reading!