I had the opportunity to stop by one of BIsmarck-Mandan’s nearest ghost towns recently, and although I only had a few minutes to grab some handheld photos before dashing back to town I was able to get a couple I liked.  Naturally I want to share.

The church above, I believe, is on its last legs.  Its cinder block foundation has lost its walls on the long sides, and all four corners are beginning to crumble.  Already the structure is beginning to bow in the middle.  This is such a picturesque old church, it’s sad to see its demise imminent.

I don’t believe I have ever photographed the Arena elevator before, and as I rolled up I was given a fantastic window of light as the sun passed through a sliver in the clouds.  I took several shots from the window of my truck, but opted to go all JJ Abrams on this one and use the one with lens flare.  I don’t usually do much with lens flare, but I thought it really worked in this instance.

I’m slowly easing back into one of my favorite pastimes: sharing my love of North Dakota in pictures.  Even going back to a familiar place and revisiting it one more time presents its own new opportunity, because it seems we never have the same weather or lighting twice.  For that reason I can confidently predict that this isn’t the last time I’ll be sharing photos of Arena, ND.