25 Evocative Images of Abandonment and Urban Decay
Today I found myself surfing through flickr admiring a growing number of images on the theme of abandonment and urban decay. While perhaps not an every day kind of subject for most of us – there’s a growing number of photographers exploring a theme that can produce striking images. Here’s a few that caught my eye today. Click these images to be taken to their home where they can be viewed larger and where you can learn more about the stories and the wonderful photographers behind them.
![Lee Plaza [3]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2428/3691522967_fb58b08305_z.jpg)
42 Responses to “25 Evocative Images of Abandonment and Urban Decay” - Add Yours
February 11th, 2012 at 2:31 am
Hi
I love Urbex – it is great to do them in HDR! Here is one from a trip to Texas of an old Ford…
http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/ford-built-tough/
February 11th, 2012 at 2:31 am
Some fabulous shots there Darren, I guess I’m going to have to up my game a little.
I have a love hate relationship with urban decay. Sometime it can be beautiful, as above. Other times it can be a blight on our communities: http://wp.me/p268wp-9s
M.
February 11th, 2012 at 2:50 am
Assembly line
http://instagr.am/p/mPGI-/
Broken piano
http://instagr.am/p/mVs4M/
Graffiti reflection (two inches of ice on the floor in the building)
http://instagr.am/p/mV3n8/
Broken door in an abandon school
http://instagr.am/p/mO30X/
Pump room in an old factory
http://instagr.am/p/jOpmy/
February 11th, 2012 at 3:01 am
As when photography comes to picture, every one tells about portrait and nature.
This article gives us a new perspective.
Here’s mine
http://raghavendra-mobilephotography.blogspot.com/2010/12/narrow-path.html
February 11th, 2012 at 3:13 am
Hi Darren, I blogged about this subject last week and it was very popular, the best site I found for help, locations, tutorials and galleries was Talkurbex http://www.talkurbex.com/ Keep up the good work, Keith
February 11th, 2012 at 3:16 am
These are all fantastic images. I love that HDR is being used.
I love mixing urban decay with light painting:
http://jeffejensen.blogspot.com/2011/09/light-painting-at-temple-of-birds.html
February 11th, 2012 at 3:31 am
Urban exploration is one of my top favorite things to do. I love the feeling of stepping back into history. Not many people get to say that they have. It may sound weird, but I do become attached to certain buildings. And that “abandoned” (more so moldy) smell that hits you when you first walk into an access point? I love it.
February 11th, 2012 at 3:53 am
There’s a fine line between urban decay and urban blight. Sometimes, like with a Starbux on every corner, the line isn’t so fine.
February 11th, 2012 at 4:14 am
Great fan of urbex and this selection is beautiful. But why on earth does it have to be always in HDR ? I love it too when there a natural feeling and when the photographer made a real decision regarding the exposure.
Ex-USSR must be a heaven for urbex…
February 11th, 2012 at 5:15 am
dok, it depends on whos shooting. hdr is the easiest way to get all available light into the shot. I shoot a lot of hdr but I also strobe while exploring.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22176685@N07/6838691799/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22176685@N07/6832853209/in/photostream
Strobe + hdr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22176685@N07/6819319221/in/photostream
A lot of the above images in the original post are from Detroit, where I shoot.
February 11th, 2012 at 7:46 am
Wow! There are some gorgeous shots in there. The Black and white photo of what appears to be a hospital gurney with light streaming trough the open window. Great tones and composition and not over processed so that I feel like I am looking at an actual photograph.
February 11th, 2012 at 7:48 am
An old one from me; a picture of neglect at the edge of an English beach
http://thegirlbehind.com/neglected-99-of-365/
February 11th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Very nice collection of what I call “haikyo” images. That is the term for urban explorying shots in Japan where I did a majority of this type of photography. It is not easy to find such large scale abandoned sites in Florida, but I did discover this cement plant:
http://jasoncollinphotography.com/blog/2009/12/27/cement-plant-haikyo-at-day-and-dawn.html
Anyone in the Tampa Bay area reading this and up for urban ex shooting contact me.
February 11th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Anyone in the Seattle area with experience in urbex, let me know. It’s definitely something I want to get in to.
February 11th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevel3o7/5052824459/
Interesting photos!
February 11th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Going along with Nathan…
Anyone in the Chicago area who’s into urbex, hit me up!
February 12th, 2012 at 5:44 am
Really moving stuff, nice
February 12th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Beautiful images of urban decay. One of my favourite photography subjects.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:16 am
Well i use to get high and be out there on the street many years ago, but have been clean for some time but the picture of “furnished room for rent” reminds me of the rooms i use to stay in during my time of addiction. that is so crazy how things are so true you just don’t see it until your mind is clear.
February 13th, 2012 at 8:33 am
Hi Folks,
Here are a couple of pictures I took that will fit this topic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photorookie1/4802860312/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photorookie1/4802847830/in/photostream
Thanks
Rookie SLR
February 13th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Some of the examples are really stunning! Personally I am a bit tired of seeing all that HDR in abandonment photography, but that is just a matter of taste.
Here in Italy we have a lot of abandoned places and I often go exploring them with my friends. Many times this also proves to be a great occasion for visiting places that we otherwise wouldn’t even know existed!
abandoned factory:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stila_rebel/5727129920/in/set-72157625654072423
church in an abandoned mental hospital:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stila_rebel/5067703857/in/set-72157625133561790
February 14th, 2012 at 3:18 am
Awesome collection of striking photographs
February 14th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Another one for you, a flickr member I have followed for a long time, especially check out his Neverland photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelbug/
February 16th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Interesting! Very nice compositions! Though, those photos reminds me of Silent Hill.
February 16th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Hi everyone, i am a belgian photographer. I am doing a lot of urban decay Photography. Take look at my portfolio website http://www.debackermichel.be (flash required) and would love to see you all at my Facebook fanpage http://www.facebook.com/debackerphotography
Bye
February 17th, 2012 at 3:38 am
Growing a bit weary with HDR and super saturated colors.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:10 am
These are just amazing images!
February 17th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
A fantastic set of images! Thanks for sharing these!
February 17th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
A great set of images.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Very nice pictures from everyone. Thank you all for sharing! Here is some of my work.
http://kdmimagery.zenfolio.com/p482283219/h39a59c1d#h286067fb
http://kdmimagery.zenfolio.com/p973057582/h2b46c8cf#h2b46c8cf
http://kdmimagery.zenfolio.com/p482283219/h39a59c1d#h39a59c1d
February 17th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
I LOVE Urban Decay photography !! This is a great share. I have a question. I live in Columbus Ohio and was wondering if there are/is a site that compiles urban decay places in different cities and publishes them?? It’s hard to find abandon buildings in a big city. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Doug
February 17th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Great shots but I am sorry I am not at all a fan of HDR – for me it loses the atmosphere
February 17th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
These are really great photos…and very sad as well….I’m learning how to play the piano and it really saddens me to see a photo of an abandoned grand piano in some scary building…
February 17th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
These photos are wonderful! I am curious about where these photos were taken- do the buildings have names? Why were some of them abandoned with furniture and equipment still in them? Thank you for sharing.
February 18th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
these shots are great
February 19th, 2012 at 3:01 am
Excellent photos, the HDR photos are a little overcooked for my tastebuds, would like to see the originals to get feel for the reality.
February 19th, 2012 at 3:12 am
I was out the other day and found this image
http://www.flickr.com/photos/egoins43/6883960359/in/photostream
February 19th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I have always loved this subject.
I just wish I had HDR back when I did most of mine.
Thanks.
February 24th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
MY GOD! I absolutely LOVE these photos. VERY inspiring to me, and the locations….WOW!
February 27th, 2012 at 1:06 am
these are almost all HDR! seems the new norm.
December 28th, 2012 at 8:01 am
Urban exploration is awesome.
This reminds me I should post some of my rubes photos on to flickr
January 10th, 2013 at 11:28 am
I LOVE these type of shooting style. I am always looking for this exact thing. I made it my final in school and made a A++. I like try to think if these could tell their stories. At one time these were al brand new and clean, cars that at one time shined. I love trying to find old farms too. Lots of fun
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