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I Turn Abandoned Spaces Into Fantasy Worlds (NSFW)

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I started shooting portraits in 2009, after having spent years dedicating my time to strictly photographing music-related "stuff" (concerts, album covers, band promos, etc). I was a poor artist with no direction and certainly no money for a studio.

Luckily, my lack of funds forced me to get creative and to use the world around me. I had seen a photo of a theater in an abandoned asylum via an internet search and was immediately enamored with the image. I was obsessed with finding this abandoned place, as it was like nothing I had ever seen before. I had no clue that places like that existed. That was the wonderful start of my marriage with "finding cool locations". But, admittedly, something was missing. Visually, my creative ideas were ok. Not TOO terrible, but I was never truly proud or satisfied with them. To me, it just seemed like something wasn't clicking.

In 2011, my father passed away unexpectedly. The whole experience was gut-wrenching. Heartbreaking. I was extremely close to him (I was an only child) and I struggled tremendously to cope with what had happened. For years, I struggled. I hit some scary, scary lows. I remember thinking "Why go on when every day is just as miserable as the next?" People kept pushing therapy on me.

"You need help."

"You need therapy."

"You need medication."

But what I REALLY needed was to connect with my photography art. And I did.

The bittersweet thing is, the death of my father was the birth of my photography career. Suddenly, my creepy photos displayed emotion. They displayed stories and purpose and a sense of beautiful dismay, which was a direct mirror of how I felt on the inside. I poured all of my feelings and struggles into my fantasy worlds. I learned how to control how I felt and funnel it all into my ideas. I finally learned how to make the connection between imagery and emotion, and for once in my life, I was satisfied and proud of what I was creating.

More info: karenjerzykphoto.com

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#1

Rails

Rails

Final score:

93points

dora sim 7 years ago

Romantically morbid in the best way!

9points

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#2

They All Left

They All Left

Final score:

78points

Yvonne Bernal 7 years ago

All I can think of is "poor thing". And I LOVE how the 'golden ratio' concept of the staircase is used in this photo.

18points

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#3

My Closet

My Closet

Final score:

73points

Yvonne Bernal 7 years ago

My Closet?? I'm glad I didn't see this as a child... I would have been frightened to ever open that closet door! Interesting composition for sure!

12points

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#4

Unexpected Visitor

Unexpected Visitor

Final score:

71points

AmStick 7 years ago

This picture is very striking to me. I feel a 'carnival' type vibe from it. I'd love to be able to find a large print and be able to have it

13points

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#5

Since The Flood

Since The Flood

Final score:

69points

Yvonne Bernal 7 years ago

I kept focusing on her unusually long feet.

19points

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#6

Black Queen

Black Queen

Final score:

68points

Yvonne Bernal 7 years ago

Looks like she could be Jack Skellington's mother

20points

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#7

The Crown

The Crown

Final score:

63points

cristy marshall 7 years ago

Wow! Words can't describe how these photos make me feel... you do an unbelievable job at mixing terrifying and beauty. Your dad would be proud of you and, I'm proud of you too! Go make some money off of this talent you have.

9points

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#8

Waking Nightmare

Waking Nightmare

Final score:

62points

Tammy Chapman 7 years ago

Oh WOW....not sure what to say on this one. It would scare me to wake up and see that. But it looks really cool too

4points

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#9

The Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Daughter

Final score:

60points

Charles Laster 7 years ago

do. not. open. that. door.

8points

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#10

Sailing Ships

Sailing Ships

Final score:

56points

Laurie Miller 7 years ago

Where is this? I swear I've been in this room!

6points

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#11

The White Queen

The White Queen

Final score:

48points

Aegea 7 years ago

She looks like a wight from Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children!

9points

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#12

Nautilus

Nautilus

Final score:

46points

-- 7 years ago

that staircase is creepily claustrophobic...

19points

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#13

Ferngully

Ferngully

Final score:

36points

Tammy Chapman 7 years ago

Tarzan

2points

#14

The White Witch

The White Witch

Final score:

33points

Tammy Chapman 7 years ago

Love it.

2points

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#15

Mothership

Mothership

Final score:

32points

Natasha L 7 years ago

Wow. That dress.

4points

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#16

World's Biggest Harp

World's Biggest Harp

Final score:

30points

CandyCorn 7 years ago

The background is actually quite beautiful. Imagine people way in the future finding these, and putting them in museums?

4points

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#17

The Book Oracles

The Book Oracles

Final score:

26points

Imagine Me 7 years ago

I find this eerily beautiful

1point

#18

Abduction

Abduction

Final score:

25points

Rodrigo de la Rosa 7 years ago

pretty cool!!!!

1point

#19

Bloodclot

Bloodclot

Final score:

24points

NWB 7 years ago

I almost didn't notice the person as the image is so visually interesting it almost doesn't need a person in it. But I do love old bulidngs....

5points

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#20

Them

Them

Final score:

24points

Magpie 7 years ago

My grandmother's sewing machine. ...* wanders off into times past, back later*

2points

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#21

Transcending

Transcending

Final score:

23points

Tammy Chapman 7 years ago

Freaky...

1point

#22

Out Of Body

Out Of Body

Final score:

23points

#23

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

Final score:

22points

Little letitia 7 years ago

Love the perception play on this one!

4points

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#24

The Littlest Dinosaur

The Littlest Dinosaur

Final score:

22points

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#25

February

February

Final score:

21points

Magpie 7 years ago

So lonely, so much pain

3points

#26

Amniotic

Amniotic

Final score:

21points

Jade Scott 7 years ago

I love this..

3points

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#27

The Wish

The Wish

Final score:

20points

Tammy Chapman 7 years ago

Way freaky.

1point

#28

Home

Home

Final score:

18points

Magpie 7 years ago

Despair, grief.

4points

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#29

Swarm

Swarm

Final score:

17points

Sas 7 years ago

Love the shadow and light here!

2points

#30

Nature Vs Nurture

Nature Vs Nurture

Final score:

17points

Rain Jones 7 years ago

@Claire Kidd Awh. You sound like a little prude!

1point

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#31

Lucid Dream

Lucid Dream

Final score:

17points

Tammy Chapman 7 years ago

The title fits so well. I love this.

1point

#32

Sunday Afternoon

Sunday Afternoon

Final score:

16points

CandyCorn 7 years ago

These rooms are so creepy and tell a beautiful story!

4points

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“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

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#33

Waking Life

Waking Life

Final score:

15points

Magpie 7 years ago

I see metaphores for grief> pain, balancing act, vulnerablity, ready to fall over but putting on an act of coping.

4points

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#34

Yellow

Yellow

Final score:

13points

#35

Slipping

Slipping

Final score:

13points

Magpie 7 years ago

Pain , out of control , loney. grief

5points

#36

The Begotten

The Begotten

Final score:

11points

Ozzy Delaney 7 years ago

Just looked at each and every photo you have created and I am in awe of your artistic work, Fantastic photography

4points

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#37

Television

Television

Final score:

8points

Karen Jerzyk

Introverted/painfully awkward photographer based out of the Boston / NYC area.IG: @karen.jerzyk.photo

Introverted/painfully awkward photographer based out of the Boston / NYC area.IG: @karen.jerzyk.photo

What do you think ?

Prashant Karnath 7 years ago

Your photos remind me of Guillermo Del Toro's movies... the visual details are very similar.. well done!

16points

Karen Jerzyk (Post author) 7 years ago

Wow that's a great compliment, I love Del Toro- thank you!!!

8points

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Dartz Bish 7 years ago

These are clever and creepy at the same time!

5points

Hoser 7 years ago

Touching and beautiful

5points

Karen Jerzyk (Post author) 7 years ago

Thank you!

2points

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Prashant Karnath 7 years ago

Your photos remind me of Guillermo Del Toro's movies... the visual details are very similar.. well done!

16points

Karen Jerzyk (Post author) 7 years ago

Wow that's a great compliment, I love Del Toro- thank you!!!

8points

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Dartz Bish 7 years ago

These are clever and creepy at the same time!

5points

Hoser 7 years ago

Touching and beautiful

5points

Karen Jerzyk (Post author) 7 years ago

Thank you!

2points

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