Scott Martin: In the Absence of Light I've always been drawn to spaces in transition. Construction sites, demolition sites, and abandoned structures evoke a temporary and rarely celebrated beauty. Naked, their structural elements exposed, some seem more proud than others, ready to show their soul. After 118 years of continuous operation, San Antonio's old Pearl Brewery recently shut down. Exploring the site, one finds buildings in different stages of demolition, isolation, and construction as the area is slowly and thoughtfully redeveloped. Of the many cellars, #8 caught my attention because the large tanks were only partially dismantled, and a row of skinny red solider tanks stood tall, bisecting the room. Composing a shot was unusually difficult because the entire building was pitch black and only visible by flashlight. I knew that I would have to rely on added light to make an image. I started by taking several test exposures to get a feel for the composition, crudely illuminating the room each time with a flashlight while standing at the camera. The first photo is one of those first exposures, which gives you a feel for what this scene looks like to the viewer walking around with a flashlight. When I had determined the composition, I was eager to start lighting the scene in a more captivating way. I wanted to light the solider tanks from the sides using a warm, incandescent SureFire flashlight. For juxtaposition, I decided it would be fun to move throughout the scene