Alcatraz Travelogue


The second day I was in San Francisco, I photographed for my work on Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz is now a national park. We went over with my gear on the staff boat. It started out as a gray windy and cold morning. One thing I saw very soon after I got inside was that Alcatraz is a place of numerous converging lines.
~ click pics to enlarge them ~

On the Island, I was given access to a large number of off-limits areas, including: the hospital, where they had a shower that had locking cage bars on it, a bathtub in which the birdman of alcatraz used to shave his entire body while chained to the wall, and a variety of ominous medical and dental tools.
~ click pics to enlarge them ~

One thing to understand about alcatraz is that it's a phenomenally textured environment. entropy has hit hard. peeling paint, rusted metal, distressed wood, words from riots and protests painted in paint the color of blood, shattered glass, and an infinity of geometric forms and shapes. by the way the picture of the cell with the toilet was apparently Al Capone's, who lived here until his syphilis drove him to make puppets out of his own feces (if you don'y know, syph untreated ultimately makes you blind and insane).
~ click pics to enlarge them ~

I didn't know this but apparently 'the Rock' was a military fort as far back as the Civil War. There are archaeological remains, and vestiges of the old fortress, including 'dungeons' or pitch black underground passages, where occasionally incarcerees were left to fend in the dark, up to the maximum of 19 days, as allowed by law. are there ghosts at alcatraz? look at the 3rd picture and decide for yourself. . .
~ click pics to enlarge them ~

It also belonged to Native American peoples and they returned, in angry protest. I think gunmen were cornered on the now rusted looming water tower. Hollywood created the public image of Alcatraz more than anything. Posters like for the Ann Sheridan film below: "They'd even bust out of Alcatraz to get to dame like her!" or the countless others. These posters, btw, are not in public view at the penitentiary.
~ click pics to enlarge them ~