The old west saloon | Limited Edition of 10
Vintage Western Ghost Town Scene in Monochrome
These two buildings, side by side, could’ve come straight out of a dime novel—but they’re real. Still standing. Still watching the wind blow across the dust. I photographed them in Bodie, California—a true ghost town and now a protected State Historic Park. It’s one of the most intact and eerie remnants of the Old West that still exists, preserved in a state of “arrested decay.”
There’s something deeply poetic in the contrast. On the left: solid brick, arched windows, a sense of elegance and order. On the right: weathered wood, fading signage, glass doors that once welcomed strangers and regulars alike. A saloon? A hotel? Probably both. You can almost picture the clatter of boots across the boardwalk and the murmur of poker hands upstairs.
What I love about this scene isn’t just its symmetry—it’s how uneven time has been to each structure. One still whispers of prosperity; the other sags under the weight of every storm since. Together, they tell the story of a town that thrived on gold rush optimism, boomed hard, and was left behind when the wells ran dry.
I shot this in black and white to honour the era, yes—but also because colour would’ve distracted from the textures: the cracked woodgrain, the crumbling mortar, the light bouncing off dusty glass. It needed to feel timeless. It needed to be quiet.
Bodie isn’t a theme park. Nothing here is rebuilt or restored. It’s real. The buildings remain as they were left—preserved only from further decay. The silence is thick. Curtains still hang. Rusted tools remain where hands dropped them. And in that stillness, the past doesn’t feel gone. It feels paused.
This image is part of my Bygone Era Photography Collection, where I explore places shaped by history, industry, and the slow passage of time. It’s also featured in my Ghost Town Photography Collection, which focuses on the remains of once-thriving communities scattered across the American landscape.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2009
Edition Information
This photograph is released as a signed and numbered edition of 10 prints across all available sizes. Each print is individually signed and numbered by the artist on the reverse and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Once all 10 prints have been sold, this work will be permanently retired, and no further numbered editions will be produced in any size or format. A small number of Artist Proofs may be retained by the artist for archival or exhibition purposes.
Museum Quality Fine Art Prints
All prints are produced by the artist using archival pigment inks on professional photographic paper with a subtle luster finish.
This paper offers a balanced surface that enhances tonal depth, preserves fine detail, and reduces glare under typical indoor lighting conditions.
Each print is carefully inspected prior to dispatch to ensure consistency of finish and presentation.
Free Worldwide Delivery
Each print is personally produced, signed, and packaged by me at my studio in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada.
Orders are shipped worldwide via Canada Post at no additional cost. Delivery times may vary based on destination and local customs processing.
During periods of travel for on-location photographic work, dispatch may be delayed until I return to the studio.
