Atomic Tourism

I found out only recently that there a few nuclear power plants around the country which were abandoned mid-construction. And you can go to some of them! Strictly speaking, you’re not allowed to go to them, but we are really splitting hairs. So it was that a clear winter’s morning found us traipsing through some very wet underbrush to get to this particular location.

As luck would have it, a dense fog blanketed the ground that morning, though the brilliant sunshine above was beginning to burn it off. As such, we got a great combinition of good natural light with moody patches of fog throughout. In effect, it looked as if the ground was smoking, and it lent a heady aura to the exterior shots.

Once inside, the unfinished state of the plant became obvious. Everywhere was naked concrete bristling with rebar. There would be no detritus left behind to shoot, or dramatic pictures of the former control room. There was, however, plenty of cavernous architecture relatively free of graffiti.

This is all fine and well, but it isn’t why you came. The money shot, so to speak, is going to be the core of a nuclear power plant. Of course, the cores of this plant never went online or held uranium fuel, but its unfinished state makes for arguably better photos, as the metal core container rises up from the surrounding construction and seems to loom menacingly over the plant.

Eventually, I’d like another chance to shoot this place. Strong sunlight and blue skies are nice, but it seemed to clean and cheerful, all things considered. Oh well, just an excuse for another eventual road trip…