Comments on: Capturing Urban Decay

By: Markus

Markus — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:22:47 +0000

Permission? That’s interesting…
Where do you get such a thing these days, actually? As a photographer, aren’t you usually treated as a danger for society? A suspect? The irony in it is, that honest photographers with big, black cameras are frowned upon on and treated as if they are a potential danger, but people don’t realize, that even simple cell phones can create quite sophisticated images. And, I mean, the times when spies photographed things are over. They use google Earth today ;)
So, yes, that’s my two cents worth about the “get permission” part.

See my own urban decay work (at least part of it) at
http://www.photonopticum.com/Gallery/decay/decay.html

By: Jason Grubb

Jason Grubb — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:47:10 +0000

Great stuff. Thanks… Love shooting in urban areas (great photowalk times)

By: dash

dash — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:36:41 +0000

great list, putting models in an old scene works nicely too :)

By: Sick Britain

Sick Britain — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:15:33 +0000

Nice tips, much appreciated – I put my own together a while back here: http://www.sickbritain.co.uk/2009/03/urbex-photography-tips/

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:25 +0000

Decay is one of my favorite subjects. Bwwwaaahahahaha

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pycpoet/sets/72157607892229400/

By: Trevor Holms Petersen

Trevor Holms Petersen — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:32:10 +0000

WOW, thank you. I never thought about the morning light being the best, but I suppose ill sent my alarm now!

I really like to get low to the ground like:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22465334

Capturing some tags are really inspiring:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22459968

Some of the natural colors on in the city are stunning too:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22415647

By: Nigel

Nigel — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:23:08 +0000

The streets of Terezin, a WW2 concentration ‘fortress’:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3342376860_f1f2e49dae.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3341545619_86e3932946.jpg

The showers:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3342406082_dc61b35d3d_b.jpg

Hospital of death:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3341574247_e1b660a5b3_b.jpg

More:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nigelator/sets/72157615035637608/

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:18:19 +0000

My stuff is mostly from the Chicago area…

http://www.chucksphotospot.com/html/abandoned.html

By: DC

DC — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:22:47 +0000

Very good advice. I live in an area which is no longer urban — once there were huge urban areas surrounding all of our copper mines, but when the mines closed, so did the urban areas. We’re left with a few towns, and the decaying ruins of the mines (lost in the woods and no longer urban at all).

Here’s a random tip to add to it: Use that sunrise/sunset lighting for silhouettes. Decaying urban areas often have fascinating shapes — exposed beams, broken wood, crumbling concrete — which look great against a setting or rising sun.

Of course, I’m a fan of abstractness and geometry, so I tend to see what I look for. Here’s one example from right next to my house (god I love living here!):

http://blog.dcclark.net/2008/09/sunset-silhouette.html

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:08:07 +0000

Here are a couple of photos I have taken:

Warsaw
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35351552@N03/3277513036/

By the Sea (not quite urban, but definitely decay)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35351552@N03/3277529982/

By: Leigh

Leigh — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:10:47 +0000

How could I forget these!

Wandering around downtown Detroit at night…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ticker1999/sets/72157612989586525/

By: Leigh

Leigh — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:10:06 +0000

Not really “urban”, but decay nonetheless…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ticker1999/sets/72157605882194547/

By: Robert Donovan

Robert Donovan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:32:33 +0000

Here’s a couple from this past weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertdonovan/3301773217/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertdonovan/3302605282/

Abandoned / CLosed RJ Reynolds Tobacco warehouses and factories

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:32:33 +0000

@anna b – ooh, this sounds like a really cool project. I’m glad you’re Flickr’ing it!

By: anna b

anna b — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:34:12 +0000

I’ve got a mini project – ‘dead’ bicycles – there are so many of them in Oxford and people just leave them to rot. I’m not sure quite how this works as you never see it happening, but over time bits of them vanish (wheels, saddle etc) until you’re just left with a wonky frame chained to a lamp post. :( Poor bikes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/evie_z/2846019143

http://www.flickr.com/photos/evie_z/2275607956

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:43:51 +0000

How DARE you suggest that you wouldn’t need permission? I always write to the council when I want to take a photograph in a public space. It normally only takes them six to eight months to approve my application, which means that I can then send a letter to the Police for permission, which takes about three months.

By: George L Smyth

George L Smyth — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:25:08 +0000

Good tips. If you are going into an abandoned building then you will want to take a flashlight. Not only can this come in handy for the obvious reasons, but light painting can bring some real interest to your images.

My favorite location for this sort of photography is the Henryton State Hospital, abandoned about 25 years ago and in the process of decay, and unfortunately, vandalism.

My Henryton images can be found at http://glsmyth.com/Gallery.asp?G=Henryton

By: Seinberg

Seinberg — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:08:25 +0000

“3 – Get Permission”

;-) Wink wink, nudge nudge. I know you’re required to say it because you’re posting this entry publicly and all, but nobody ever gets permission – well, almost never, anyway. The reason to get up extra early is to avoid detection when you enter.

Tripods are absolutely necessary indoors too, if you don’t bring a flash.

Here is my soon-to-be-exhibition of Urban Decay photography, in case anybody is interested!

By: Drewe

Drewe — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:18:24 +0000

Just one of many you can find on my flickr set – http://www.flickr.com/photos/piston9/sets/72157605097926091/

Great article BTW. I love Decay because it is full of color, texture and character. So much more to see if you can get it right!

By: Matt Preston

Matt Preston — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:26:39 +0000

What a great article! Decay works so well in photography. What would usually be ugly to the naked eye becomes mysterious, thought provoking and strangely beautiful.

Here’s a few Urban Decay shots i’ve taken.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattprestonphotography/sets/72157614357854936/

One of the shots is of what was one of the finest decaying buildings in England. The West Pier in Brighton. A Victorian Pier that’s been closed since the 60’s, ravaged by fires and collapses in recent years but still stands looking ominously beautiful.

Hope you like.