| Revision as of 23:16, 30 December 2014 editSeicer (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users20,321 editsm rem bad citations that no longer exist← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:19, 30 December 2014 edit undoSeicer (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users20,321 edits Rem. statement about his photos being the last taken before its demo; text was from April; demolition on the mall began yesterday. Photos are abound of it since AprilNext edit → | ||
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| ==Career== | ==Career== | ||
| Lawless began photographing urban decay around 2001. In 2012 and 2013, he traveled across the United States photographing man-made desolation, forgotten landscapes and other symbols of ], mostly in the ]. Photographing abandoned factories, churches, theaters, buildings, hospitals, houses, schools and hotels, he wound up with approximately 3,000 images and 17 hours of video footage, culminating in his first self-published book, ''Autopsy of America'', a glimpse into the old symbols of America commercialism.<ref name="gvansusteren"/><ref name="duberti"/><ref>Jordan G. Teicher, '']'', June 22, 2014.</ref> He photographed malls in Michigan and Ohio,<ref name="asmith">Aaron Smith, ], June 30, 2014.</ref> primarily the abandoned ] in ], built in 1975 and closed in 2008, and the ] in ], which was the world's largest shopping center at the time of its opening in the 1970s; it closed in 2009.<ref name="svalera051414">Stephanie Valera, Weather.com, May 14 |
Lawless began photographing urban decay around 2001. In 2012 and 2013, he traveled across the United States photographing man-made desolation, forgotten landscapes and other symbols of ], mostly in the ]. Photographing abandoned factories, churches, theaters, buildings, hospitals, houses, schools and hotels, he wound up with approximately 3,000 images and 17 hours of video footage, culminating in his first self-published book, ''Autopsy of America'', a glimpse into the old symbols of America commercialism.<ref name="gvansusteren"/><ref name="duberti"/><ref>Jordan G. Teicher, '']'', June 22, 2014.</ref> He photographed malls in Michigan and Ohio,<ref name="asmith">Aaron Smith, ], June 30, 2014.</ref> primarily the abandoned ] in ], built in 1975 and closed in 2008, and the ] in ], which was the world's largest shopping center at the time of its opening in the 1970s; it closed in 2009.<ref name="svalera051414">Stephanie Valera, Weather.com, May 14, 2014.</ref> The photos have been called "ghostly and eerie."<ref name="svalera051414"/> According to Green Street Advisors, approximately 15% of US malls will fail by 2030.<ref name="asmith"/> By documenting broken parts of the country in ''Black Friday'', Lawless intended to show the world a vulnerable side of America, and to generate awareness about poor and disenfranchised Americans.<ref name="gvansusteren"/><ref>Michael Walsh, '']'', April 30, 2014.</ref><ref> ], June 9, 2014.</ref> | ||
| In 2014, Lawless's photos of abandoned malls were featured in segments on ] and ],<ref name="asmith"/> and he was also interviewed about the photos by ] on ].<ref name="gvansusteren"/> Lawless has stated that he plans to do a photography project in ], focusing on the country's artists;<ref name="svalera020714"/> to document the US ] region; and to chronicle the lives of ] inmates in Ohio.<ref name="dlcade">DL Cade, Peta Pixel, April 28, 2014.</ref> Lawless works with charities such as Educate Not Incarcerate and ]. | In 2014, Lawless's photos of abandoned malls were featured in segments on ] and ],<ref name="asmith"/> and he was also interviewed about the photos by ] on ].<ref name="gvansusteren"/> Lawless has stated that he plans to do a photography project in ], focusing on the country's artists;<ref name="svalera020714"/> to document the US ] region; and to chronicle the lives of ] inmates in Ohio.<ref name="dlcade">DL Cade, Peta Pixel, April 28, 2014.</ref> Lawless works with charities such as Educate Not Incarcerate and ]. | ||
Revision as of 23:19, 30 December 2014
| Seph Lawless | |
|---|---|
| File:Seph Lawless 2014.jpg | |
| Born | 1978 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Seph Lawless |
| Occupation | Photojournalist |
| Years active | 2001-present |
| Website | sephlawless.com |
Seph Lawless (1978) is a pseudonymous American photojournalist, best known for his photos of urban decay and abandoned spaces across the United States.
Early life
Lawless was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and briefly raised in Detroit, Michigan, before returning to Cleveland, where he now resides. His father was a longtime worker at Ford Motor Company; through him, Lawless witnessed the collapse of the once-thriving American auto industry.
Career
Lawless began photographing urban decay around 2001. In 2012 and 2013, he traveled across the United States photographing man-made desolation, forgotten landscapes and other symbols of industrial decline, mostly in the Rust Belt. Photographing abandoned factories, churches, theaters, buildings, hospitals, houses, schools and hotels, he wound up with approximately 3,000 images and 17 hours of video footage, culminating in his first self-published book, Autopsy of America, a glimpse into the old symbols of America commercialism. He photographed malls in Michigan and Ohio, primarily the abandoned Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio, built in 1975 and closed in 2008, and the Randall Park Mall in North Randall, Ohio, which was the world's largest shopping center at the time of its opening in the 1970s; it closed in 2009. The photos have been called "ghostly and eerie." According to Green Street Advisors, approximately 15% of US malls will fail by 2030. By documenting broken parts of the country in Black Friday, Lawless intended to show the world a vulnerable side of America, and to generate awareness about poor and disenfranchised Americans.
In 2014, Lawless's photos of abandoned malls were featured in segments on The Weather Channel and CNNMoney, and he was also interviewed about the photos by Greta Van Susteren on Fox News. Lawless has stated that he plans to do a photography project in Pakistan, focusing on the country's artists; to document the US Bible Belt region; and to chronicle the lives of Death Row inmates in Ohio. Lawless works with charities such as Educate Not Incarcerate and Feed the Children.
Style
Lawless uses Instagram and Twitter to publicize his work. Lawless has stated that he has been arrested more than 50 times for his attempts to get into various spaces, Lawless has only been charged once with criminal trespass, where Lawless pleased no contest to an incident that occurred at Randall Park Mall on April 21, 2014. The case was dismissed sans court costs. He uses a Nikon D90 camera.
Bibliography
- Autopsy of America: The Journal Entries of Seph Lawless (Artivist Publishing, 2014)
- Black Friday: The Collapse of the American Shopping Mall (Artivist Publishing, 2014)
References
- ^ Eric Sandy, “The Art of the Autopsy: Photographer Seph Lawless Spends his Days Documenting Decaying Ruins,” Cleveland Scene, August 7, 2013.
- ^ David Uberti, “The death of the American mall,” The Guardian, June 19, 2014.
- Matthew Newton, "Taking Pictures Of The Dead Shopping Malls Of Our Youth: Images From Suburban America," Thought Catalog, June 9, 2014.
- ^ Stephanie Valera, “Ruins of the Rust Belt: Haunting Photos of Abandoned Buildings by Seph Lawless,” Weather.com, February 7, 2014.
- ^ Interview with Greta Van Susteren, “From bustling center of prosperity to ghost town,” Fox News, May 2, 2014.
- Jordan G. Teicher, "A Haunting Look Inside Some of America's Abandoned Shopping Malls," Slate, June 22, 2014.
- ^ Aaron Smith, "Autopsy of America: Photos of dead shopping malls," CNNMoney, June 30, 2014.
- ^ Stephanie Valera, “Black Friday: Ghostly Images of Abandoned Malls by Seph Lawless,” Weather.com, May 14, 2014.
- Michael Walsh, “Creepy photos of abandoned shopping malls highlight crumbling communities of the Rust Belt,” New York Daily News, April 30, 2014.
- "Autopsy of Cleveland: Look at what’s been left behind," Fox 8 Cleveland, June 9, 2014.
- ^ DL Cade, “Black Friday: Haunting Documentary Photo Series Captures Abandoned Malls in the US,” Peta Pixel, April 28, 2014.
- Simpson, Isaac (7 November 2014). "A Famous Urban Explorer Is Fighting Trespassing Charges After Being Arrested by the Cleveland Cops". Vice_(magazine). Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- "Case Summary". Bedford Municipal Court. Retrieved 30 December 2014.