Abandoned

schmoo · March 16, 2007

I've noticed that a lot of people comment about liking abandoned stuff, but there are very few posts about it. I have been doing mostly photos of abandoned urban locations in the last year or so but never posted any because I wasn't sure if it fit the "Street photography" theme.

Well, here are a few from one of the more recent locations. Enjoy! The ones I've processed so far are in their own gallery.

pahl · March 16, 2007

Interesting photos,
I like the third one down the most.

Dramatapix® · March 16, 2007

Being an actor/director the image of the abandoned theatre is sad for me. So many of the theatres today are in disrepair and it's so hard to stay afloat financially in the arts.

Albert Dickson · March 16, 2007

Extremely interesting!
Art in the land of dying arts.

Owen · March 17, 2007

Oh, how I would love access to locations like these...

gavin · March 17, 2007

WHOA!!! that theater looks so nice! wow i love the curtains. Such a rich blue. Where is this? it looks pretty awsome to be abandoned. Obviously i am a thetre neard!!!

Great shots!

DRabbit · March 17, 2007

I love these types of locations and don't get to them often at all. We have an abandoned mental hospital here on Long Island (actually a few of them, but one in mind I'm thinking of) that is so fun to shoot, when you're not being chased by security -

You got some nice shots there. I'd love to see more, and I bet some would convert to b&w real nicely.

David_S85 · March 17, 2007

Jealous. I have not yet found a place around here like that I could have access to without being arrested. Endless photographic possibilities in places like that, aren't there? The last one with the row of theater seats...

schmoo · March 17, 2007

Wow I was not expecting this many comments. Thank you! I have not yet settled on a type of photography yet, but I do love the thrill and documentary aspect of abandoned locaations. I cannot give what and where this place is (as explorers know, that is faux pas to keep these places preserved as long as possible!) but this was the first building of this type that I have done.

I have heard that states such as MA and NY are crazy for abandonments, but I have not gone up there to do any exploring yet. I think you are right about the security, DRabbit

Most of the others I have been to so far have been factory/industry based. I will post more in the future, as they are great for b/w conversion practice, too.

DRabbit · March 18, 2007

schmooo wrote:

I have heard that states such as MA and NY are crazy for abandonments, but I have not gone up there to do any exploring yet. I think you are right about the security, DRabbit

If you want to see some really cool ones check out www.LIoddities.com -- it isn't a photography site per-se, but there are a LOT of Long Island/NY locations documented there.

Very cool, just remember to be careful

If you want to see a location I shot, check out: http://www.dangrabbit.com/photography/KPPC

schmoo · March 20, 2007

DRabbit wrote:

If you want to see some really cool ones check out www.LIoddities.com -- it isn't a photography site per-se, but there are a LOT of Long Island/NY locations documented there.

Very cool, just remember to be careful
If you want to see a location I shot, check out: http://www.dangrabbit.com/photography/KPPC

Ah yes, very familiar with the story of King's Park. I have seen a lot of great photos coming out of that place, but I think I could take a whole month to travel around NY/MA to hit up all the great old hospitals there! But MD/PA has been keeping me busy as of late.

Great set, yourself

annnna8888 · March 20, 2007

You captured the feel of the places well. I like the closer shot of the chairs a lot.
I've found that abandoned locations are quite photogenic, but at first sight most people say just the opposite - what is there to photograph and admire?
Show us more!

Ana

Marc Muench · March 21, 2007

Interesting place and group of images. I believe the second image is the telling shot, well composed, lit and had staying power. I wanted to figure out why something had fallen from the ceiling in what appears to be a working theatre, at least at first glance. Then, I began looking around and understood why the "canoe" or what ever it is was lying across the isle. Great image

dogwood · March 21, 2007

Owen wrote:

Oh, how I would love access to locations like these...

That was my first thought too! Get a model in one of these buildings... do a fashion shoot... where are places like this in my area? All the abandonned buildings I see have barb wire topped cyclone fences around them!

Aaron Bernard · March 22, 2007

Nice work. I like #3 best. Im a big fan of the subject also. Not a lot of it around SoCal but Ive found a few locations...

schmoo · March 22, 2007

Wow again, thank you folks. I feel loved indeed!

I have never explored on the West Coast but word on the street is that the East is where you find most of the abandonments. And because of population density and urban sprawl, most of these buildings are on a short time limit before they are renovated to condos. But that is part of the thrill, getting to photograph something before it goes poof! forever.

I may have posted these a while ago (not sure), but here is fine example of one place where I managed to capture it right in the nick of time. This behomoth is soon to be a casino:

And this one was a difficult shot to take... I think I will ask Marc for his help re-processing this one in Utah!

Oh, and Pete I have seen models being photographed in such places. Nothing of your caliber (so not sure about the ease of lugging the equipment), but I think with some persistance you could do it and raise the bar a few yards.

(That said, this is a very dangerous hobby so I am, of course, by no means endorsing anything to anyone)

Abandoned

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