Photo Essay: Floating Life

So this is the world famous Alcatraz Island, I thought to myself while on the grim ferry with over zealous tourists. Who one by one pulled out their point & shoot digital christmas presents and asked their loved ones to take a picture of themselves with the growing island behind them. It was an eery feeling as I quietly admired the hundreds of seagulls that plagued the banks. It was almost as if the seagulls were all of the ex-prisoners eternally displaced on the island. It made me think what those prisoners must have thought arriving to the island. In time I know the emotions and feelings would arise. Once you step foot onto the hallowed grounds, you quickly feel a sense of confinement. As I walked around freely admiring the moss and the massive corroded concrete structures that have aged with years of existence. I found myself photographing hundreds of little stories that gave light to what this island was really about. Many called it their work place, some called it hell, a few made it a movie set, and most call it a tourist destination. Whatever you call it you will walk away with memories and stories based off your own stay at Alcatraz. I like to call mine "Floating Life".