ScottBroadhurst's PhotoBlog

Silver Fountain Inn-Abandoned

2013-03-13T22:34:47Z

The Silver Fountain Inn is located in Branson, MO. If you've never heard of or been to Branson, its kind of like a Midwest Las Vegas, but without the gambling. To be honest, Branson is my kind of town (in the same way Vegas is). It's just this giant, kitschy, overdeveloped place, full of larger than life entertainment options at every corner! And it is exactly the kind of place I like to photograph! So we pulled over to take a picture of the Inns sign, and its weird because the hotel is kind of set back... and there it was in all its abandoned glory! I couldn't believe it! I had left my Mom and Girlfriend in the hot car, so I had to be quick. I'm not sure when this place closed exactly.. the last mention I can find online is 2002. I took these photos on 6/5/10 (my Bday!). As of today, it still shows on Google maps, which kind of surprised me, but I'm sure they will tear this one down soon.

Capitol Records Mural- Then & Now

2013-02-19T21:45:31Z

This great mural created by Richard Wyatt in 1990 sits under the world famous Capitol Records building in Hollywood, CA. Everyone knows the building, but the mural didn't really catch my eye until a couple years ago, when wandering around Hollywood, I thought to myself, "wow, look at this sad faded mural." I took some photos of it, went home, googled it, didn't really find much, and then forgot about it. Then late last year I drove by and noticed it had been covered by scaffolding and a tarp. To my dismay, it appeared that under the tarp, the mural had been removed! I rushed home and once again went to the internet to find out what was going on. My search turned up zero info. I even wrote a letter to the LA Times demanding they investigate! No response. So fast forward to January 2013... Theres a thin sheet covering the mural and it has clearly been restored! A week later, and with no fanfair, the sheet is removed and the new restored mural is unveiled. Apparently the property owners partnered with the artist to restore it. Instead of being painted on the wall, it is now made up of painted tiles and looks really great. There's also plans to incorporate the mural into a stage as part of a larger redevelopment of the area (including 2 new skyscrapers). I'm glad the mural got the love and attention it deserved.

Wooooooooo!

2012-08-14T23:57:28Z

I've been meaning to put this photo up for a while. It was taken August 7, 1988 at The Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO . I was just 14 years old. Kansas City was a wrestling hot bed in those days, and I was obsessed with Pro Wrestling, my favorite of course being the one and only, Nature Boy Ric Flair! Somehow I scraped up the $15 for a ticket, and somehow I convinced a friends Dad to take us. I was in heaven! While the majority of the photos I took as a kid are not worthy of release, this one, taken on slide film, has always been a personal favorite. BTW- The main event that night was Dusty Rhodes, Lex Luger and Dick Murdoch vs. Ric Flair, Barry Windham and Tully Blanchard in a steel cage. This was the final night of their 27 city "Great American Bash 1988" tour, and they had wrestled the night before, 1800 miles away in Oakland, CA! This is the first time I have published or shown this photo. A great reference on the history of the Great American Bash is HERE

PANORAMANIA!!

2012-08-14T01:28:04Z

All of these were taken on my little Sony point and shoot, in panoramic mode.

Aloha #1

2012-07-12T00:52:37Z

As a photographer, the taste for what you enjoy shooting changes over time. It has to for you to become a better photographer. I've been interested in shooting strangers on the street for a while now.. mainly focusing on street performers and the such, never having a valid reason to approach a stranger and ask "can I take you pictures, please?". Well I finally found a good excuse. Seeing that I pretty much wear "Aloha shirts" everyday, I figured what better photo subject than people wearing them in public? So after warming up shooting some grocery cashiers and store attendants, I got the nerve to ask my first truly public subjects. I saw this family, all decked out in Aloha Shirts and I knew I had to shoot them. As an in, I offered to help carry their stroller down the stairs. Once at the bottom,I popped the question. The father said "yes", and after a strong reminder from me to "smile big", I snapped this photo. Taken in Downtown Kona, The Big Island.More to follow.. currently listening to "Dr. Jazz"

Abandoned in Hawaii

2012-06-28T23:06:32Z

As I sit here I should be packing my bags, for tomorrow I head back to the Big Island, Hawaii. But I love to put things off and try to get a million things done at the last moment, including this blog. So I decided to look up my photos from last years trip to The Big Island. The Big Island is a very unique place, with many different climates. There's also a lot of rust, twisted metal, and other abandoned goodies. I cant wait to get back find more goodies to photograph! In case you missed it, here's a "car in a tree" from Maui a few years ago. Copyright 2012

The Salton Sea- Part 1

2012-03-26T00:33:20Z

For people who enjoy exploring abandoned places and such, The Salton Sea is like Disneyland! Its one of those places that I had always heard about... this once tropical paradise that had dried up, the Sea turning toxic....people just picked up and left, leaving behind their mobile homes and trailers. Hotels and resorts left to rot, their old dilapidated piers and buildings a reminder of better times. About 5 years ago, I decided I had heard enough about this place,and that I needed to see it for myself. I've made the five hour round trip drive about 6 times so far. Its an interesting place, because as the old trailers slowly sink into the muddy earth, and the old trailers slowly rot, other areas sprout up with new homes and new residents. It is one of my favorite places to explore and photograph.

Dracula

2011-12-30T23:11:17Z

I live about five minutes from Universal Studios..so we go there about once a month. They have these different characters that hang around and take pose for photos with guests. I love to try and get interesting photos of them. This is one of my favorites. A sequence of an encounter between Dracula and an unsuspecting lady. Taken 8/20/11

Hollywood Christmas Parade 2011

2011-11-29T23:44:01Z

I covered the Hollywood Christmas Parade last year....it was fun. This year, I had a prior commitment, so I had limited time to be at the parade... actually, I had no time to be at the parade, and only about an hour pre-parade. So I decided to focus less on shooting the celebrities on the red carpet, and focus on other things. Its really fun getting a press pass and being able to walk down the middle of Hollywood Blvd. when its shut down to traffic! Unfortunately, I really only got one photo I liked.. so hear it is. Taken 11/27/11

30 People - #4

2011-11-25T13:11:50Z

See all of the "30 People" HERE. As I mentioned the other day.. I love taking photos on Hollywood Blvd. One of the things I love about it is the characters. There's been a lot written about them, lots of controversy and even a documentary or two. Basically they are people who dress up as various characters and pose for photos with tourists for a "donation" (usually a dollar or two). This particular Elvis is a cool guy. A couple times I've gone down there, I'll give him $5 bucks and just photograph him for 10 minutes or so. The ladies love to stop and pose with Elvis, and he loves to hit on them for the minute he has their attention.