Bodie, CA is a gold mining ghost town dating back to 1877 when small amounts of gold were found and about 20 people lived there. Then there was a big strike and the town grew to approximately 10,000 people. The end came in the 1920s when people just picked up and left. When they left, goods, dishes, furniture, etc. were left in place. It became a state park in 1962 and it is maintained in an "arrested state of decay" as it looked when the last people left.

The ghost town is now a California State Historical Park. Bodie State Historical Park is located about 18 miles NNE of east entrance to Yosemite NP and well worth the time to visit. The link is to the official park web site for anyone who is interested in getting more information for a possible visit to Bodie.

There are some absolutely great shots to had there. These are the first two that I've processed - so many photographs, so little time.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Click on the images for EXIF data:

It's a great place to visit. The cemetery, the cars scattered about.

Great place. Nice captures.

My dad was born just over the hill from Bodie in Aurora. I really love the area. #2 is very nice, #1 seems oversaturated to me.

Mike

Bodie, as well as the whole surounding area, Mono Lake, Yosemite is interesting.

Here is one from the grave yard.

Sam

I especially like that shot of the church! The textures are great in both shots. Thanks for sharing more of your work!

Originally Posted by Dixie Bodie, CA is a gold mining ghost town dating back to 1877 when small amounts of gold were found and about 20 people lived there. Then there was a big strike and the town grew to approximately 10,000 people. The end came in the 1920s when people just picked up and left. When they left, goods, dishes, furniture, etc. were left in place. It became a state park in 1962 and it is maintained in an "arrested state of decay" as it looked when the last people left.

The colors in the first shot are natural if saturated. Did the autowhite balance produce the green cast to the old Methodist Church or did you add it while lightening the shadows? It's a different interpretation of the weathered wood at Bodie.

Dale B. Dalrymple
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Thanks to all for your comments.

Dale, the greenish cast comes from hurry-up processing while I was on the road. I haven't started the real processing of the Bodie pics, but will probably replace these once I do.

Those are very nice images!

Thank you for sharing

Those are some really nice images of Bodie...definitely going to add this to my list of places to go.

Thanks, Jason.

Argyle, IMHO, plan for at least two days minimum. Start as early as they'll let you and shoot as late as you can. There is a lot to shoot there and don't forget to move in close on some of the detail as well. Much of the place looks just like people got up from dinner and left the place which is practically what happened. It is literally frozen in time. Regretfully, park hours don't really lend to sunrise and sunset shots. I didn't check while I was there, but some parks do have special guided photography tours which will take in sunrise and sunset shoots.

Bodie State Historical Park