Over the past year, I’ve stumbled across stunning images of forgotten places, remnants of abandoned beauty scattered across the globe where I’d least expect it. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just visit out this Pinterest Board and prepare to be awed at the breathtaking images of mankinds’s cast-offs overtaken by nature. Although there is a sadness to the thought of once-functional structures given over to nature, sometimes the results yield unexpected, everyday beauty lurking in the decay. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes eerie, but definitely fascinating. Welcome to the world of Urban Exploration.
In fact, there is an entire group of photographers dedicated to exploring these locations around the globe. Called Urban Exploration (UrbEx), these intrepid photographers uncover a treasure trove of ghostly images reminding us of the places where man once thrived but turned his back on and walked away. There was even a documentary made about them called Urban Explorers or “an international subculture of fearless thrill-seekers who lurk beneath city streets and trespass into long-abandoned buildings, defiantly searching for unseen treasures of modern civilization.” My first introduction to these types of images was through the amazing Miss Aniela who shot a series of her self-portraits in several different abandoned locations. And last year at the NY and Philly Flickr Meetups, I met Kora and Angel, both talented UrbEx photographers, who invited to me to join them on an expedition, and although I have yet to take them up on their offer, I find myself drawn to their streams time and time again.
While not on quite the same scale of these grand Urban Explorations, I’ve had unexpected encounters with abandoned places and abandoned objects while walking around my 100-year old neighborhood. From the expected to the surreal, we have a little bit of everything just around the corner.
Sometimes, I will find forgotten details that can only be seen from one angle.
And homes that I’ve walked by dozens of times slowly crumble and then reveal their treasures in the most unexpected places.
Last fall while on a desert Road Trip with Debra, we came across a crumbling old shack on the side of the road.
And last month, my flickr friend Adrian took me on an UrbEx experience shooting in an abandoned greenhouse.
If UrbEx gets your heart racing and wanting to get there and explore, you can check out these flickr groups to learn more about shooting in abandoned spaces:
Urbex Junkies
Urban Exploration
Abandoned
The decayed and abandoned
One last thing to keep in mind, if you are going to take off on an Urban Exploration, remember that most of these sites are technically off-limits, as in you will be trespassing while shooting there. Be sure to learn as much about your location as possible before jumping in with two feet…literally. You never know how bad the decay may be so be ultracareful where you step and take many precautions while shooting. Broken glass, jagged edges and rotting wood are most certainly to be expected. How about you? Shoot any abandoned places lately? Share your experiences and links to your images in comments.
Until next time,
Holly ~ Soupatraveler
Beautiful images! What is it that draws us to these types of places?
thank you Lee Ann! I know! It’s hard to keep away 🙂
Wonderful Work. Maybe I need to take a closer look at the old forgotten places here where I live. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Definitely look around you for interesting locations, the textures alone will have you excited.
Abandoned places always make me ask questions about the whys and whos, I want to know what happened.
Here’s one I found
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9970083@N02/8656797907/in/photostream
thank you for sharing sue! beautiful example of what “used to be” that fills me with emotion and questions just like you posed. I want to know what happened too! thanks for sharing today 🙂
I love these, Holly. There are places around here, but I haven’t felt safe exploring. I need a partner. And I don’t seem to be able to capture discarded things as well as you. I think you have two fantastic gallery exhibits right in this post. Seriously.
Thanks deirdre! I agree, you should definitely explore placed like these with a partner. Maybe we’ll grab Christy and shoot a little UrbEx together sometime.
love that idea!
Holly, I LOVE this post! I too am drawn to the beauty of abandoned places–unfortunately I don’t have many obvious ones here in NYC. I need to dig a little deeper or head out exploring somewhere else…maybe I’ll road trip up to see Deirdre 🙂
Oh Christy, I’ll have to virtually introduce you to Kora and Angel, most of the abandoned places on their streams are shot in NYC and surrounds! There is also this flickr group that you might like too http://www.flickr.com/groups/1485459@N22/
Holly, you always come up with super posts! Your first diptych image is my fav. The strong values, rich color, and contrast of subject matter really grab me! I’m looking forward to checking out the links. I haven’t explored this type of subject, but find it appealing especially for its emotive possibilities. Thanks.
Thank you Anna! I really appreciate your kind words and look forward to hearing about your own UbEx adventures. You never know what might be right around the corner.
Holly, I love this! Remember our glee when we came upon that shack in NV? There was no question we were getting out of the car and shooting! I would so love to do more of this… The link to Mis Anelia’s work makes me think I should put the tutu in the car and go off hunting for some abandoned beauty!
YES!!! That was so cool! Thank you! I think you should definitely start planning some abandoned beauty tutu selfies. Now why didn’t we think of that while we were there?!!
Oh, these are wonderful, Holly. In my daydreams I leave the PTA behind for the life of an UrbanEx renegade.
haha! i can totally see you knee-deep in dirt getting the full scoop…i look forward to seeing the results 🙂
Love it HOLLY! Well said. . . So interesting to read and an enlightening perspective into the day to day.
xoxo – Cindy
Thank you Cindy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
So fascinating, Holly. I’ll have to investigate to see if there are similar groups in the UK.
thanks kirstin! i know there are several flickr groups for the uk and all over europe too!
I’m a sucker for shards of broken glass!! Loved this one Holly.
The lone chair, the discarded head…this is the stuff that has always made me stop. I have to stop because somewhere in the image is a story. Thank you for drawing attention to this genre of photography. Sometimes it seems that we are alone in our photography, what we are drawn to, our styles, etc., it is almost a relief to know that others are out there sharing the same interest.
Very intriguing Holly. Places like this fascinate me. I live not far from an old abandoned state mental hospital that I often “sneak” in and explore. You are right about having to be careful in these areas. Great images!
Holly, these photos are so wonderful. I love places like this. I don’t get to them often but I am always filled with questions when I do. That abandoned greenhouse is so intriguing. Imagine the stages of beauty this place has seen. So glad I read this today.