(1 to 100 of 207 replies)
(1 to 100 of 207 replies)
Great thread... I'll start.
1) Turret
This building is quite special to me. Located just blocks from my home, the 120-year-old Ransom-Gillis home is the epitome of Detroit's urban decay, and the symbol of Brush Park's olden glory.
2) Front Row
This is in an area not too far from Detroit's downtown district, and is formerly an industrial park. Scary place, even in broad daylight. There was something about this chair, sitting and watching the building rot - waiting for an occupant.
3) Arson
This might be less about Urban Decay than crime, but frankly, this old church has stayed this way since the February fire, and I can promise that nothing will be done with it for years. Located kitty corner from the spot where the old Olympia Arena stood, this church's embers were still aromatic when I shot it.
I have plenty more in my photostream if you're interested, and doing a simple search for 'Detroit' and 'urbandecay' (or similar) will produce some other wonderful Detroit-based photogs.
1) Turret
This building is quite special to me. Located just blocks from my home, the 120-year-old Ransom-Gillis home is the epitome of Detroit's urban decay, and the symbol of Brush Park's olden glory.
2) Front Row
This is in an area not too far from Detroit's downtown district, and is formerly an industrial park. Scary place, even in broad daylight. There was something about this chair, sitting and watching the building rot - waiting for an occupant.
3) Arson
This might be less about Urban Decay than crime, but frankly, this old church has stayed this way since the February fire, and I can promise that nothing will be done with it for years. Located kitty corner from the spot where the old Olympia Arena stood, this church's embers were still aromatic when I shot it.
I have plenty more in my photostream if you're interested, and doing a simple search for 'Detroit' and 'urbandecay' (or similar) will produce some other wonderful Detroit-based photogs.
Ok, my first one is of an overgrown building in the middle of downtown New Orleans:
Second is of the same building from above:
And, third, is of some steps leading to an oddly abandoned building just outside of downtown New Orleans. There are flourishing businesses and fairly plush office buildings on all sides of this:
This is an interesting group. Cheers.
Second is of the same building from above:
And, third, is of some steps leading to an oddly abandoned building just outside of downtown New Orleans. There are flourishing businesses and fairly plush office buildings on all sides of this:
This is an interesting group. Cheers.
1. Abandoned Chair
This pic inspired me to start the new group Visual Poetry.
2. Broken Window with Bars
I made a pencil drawing of this same window about 4 years ago and it has changed little since then.
3.Sand Bags
These sand bags were just begging me to shoot them!
This pic inspired me to start the new group Visual Poetry.
2. Broken Window with Bars
I made a pencil drawing of this same window about 4 years ago and it has changed little since then.
3.Sand Bags
These sand bags were just begging me to shoot them!
here goes...
the door behind the movie theater:
My office building is next door to the theater, so I pass this every day.
someplace that is now nonexistent:
I'm not sure if I like this one because I like the picture so much, or if it's just because I liked that spot in town a lot (it had quite a bit of photo-worthy stuff) and I'm nostalgic because it's since been demolished.
house of shine:
It's been like this for as long as i can remember, but I hear that once upon a time, it was pretty cool.
the door behind the movie theater:
My office building is next door to the theater, so I pass this every day.
someplace that is now nonexistent:
I'm not sure if I like this one because I like the picture so much, or if it's just because I liked that spot in town a lot (it had quite a bit of photo-worthy stuff) and I'm nostalgic because it's since been demolished.
house of shine:
It's been like this for as long as i can remember, but I hear that once upon a time, it was pretty cool.
a disused nurses' accommodation block, now demolished.
people seem to like this one, and i do too. disused rail tunnel, see the photo page for the full story
3rd choice was hardest, but this one was quite recent so it'll do for now. St Peter's Seminary, a disused er, seminary (teaching college for priests). This is actually 2 photos, one normal that was too dark, one at a 1 second exposure that was too light, combined them together to get this.
It was difficult to decide on just three but I think that these images are really great. The first is a picture of one side of the somewhat famous steeple in Athens, Georgia. The church was torn down long ago but the steeple still remains standing.
The second image was taken in downtown Atlanta. I like that it looks like a building is there, but in reality only two walls actually remain standing. The third is from an abandoned turn-of-the-century powerplant in rural eastern Georgia. It was truly an amazing place to explore.
The second image was taken in downtown Atlanta. I like that it looks like a building is there, but in reality only two walls actually remain standing. The third is from an abandoned turn-of-the-century powerplant in rural eastern Georgia. It was truly an amazing place to explore.
special, you do challenge me. choosing my best stuff is weirdly tough. but, thanks! and, wow, what fun to see all of these shots.
i like
"when barbie got evicted," because of the bitter humor of the trashed toy home and the peculiar clock in the store window at knee level;
"window to lost industries," a sort of cathedral of decay that is probably a historic san francisco industrial building but will undoubtedly be allowed to rot until it has to come down, and
"mural: going, going..." for the beauty of the chicano mural characters and the sorrow of their disinegration.
i think i like the pix that piss me off.
i like
"when barbie got evicted," because of the bitter humor of the trashed toy home and the peculiar clock in the store window at knee level;
"window to lost industries," a sort of cathedral of decay that is probably a historic san francisco industrial building but will undoubtedly be allowed to rot until it has to come down, and "mural: going, going..." for the beauty of the chicano mural characters and the sorrow of their disinegration. i think i like the pix that piss me off.
York 'sells' itself as a city of heritage and culture but although a wonderful place to live, the city fathers often forget the local people...
rubbish is illegally dumped on backstreets
... old buildings, often associated with long-gone industry or transport, fall into disrepair,
and areas become almost no-go areas that are difficult to escape from...
rubbish is illegally dumped on backstreets
... old buildings, often associated with long-gone industry or transport, fall into disrepair,
and areas become almost no-go areas that are difficult to escape from...
Urban decay is a major feature of many (most?) cities of India. Even buildings in good repair may look a bit moldy after a good monsoon. Old buildings/ neighbourhoods rarely get a facelift but they may get a coat of paint or some floral decoration. I like the colour and life amidst decay in these three pictures. They were taken in Ahmedabad, Old Delhi and Jaisalmer.
the first two are details from buildings in red hook, brooklyn. red hook has many deteriorating factories and warehouses, as well as numerous regular ol’ still-in-use dilapidated buildings.
the third is from the eldridge street synagogue which, after decades of abandonment, is currently being restored.
Here are my 3 favorites:
seal of approval
This is from the door on the side of a box car in Oakland, Ca.
meander
This is from what I believe used to be the control rooms of a set of drydocks in Richmond, Ca. I'm not sure how long they've been out of use, but all of the rooms are in an amazing state of decay.
hyperventilate
This is from the side of either an air-conditioner of some kind of ventilation system at the abandoned navy base in Alameda, Ca.
seal of approval
This is from the door on the side of a box car in Oakland, Ca.
meander
This is from what I believe used to be the control rooms of a set of drydocks in Richmond, Ca. I'm not sure how long they've been out of use, but all of the rooms are in an amazing state of decay.
hyperventilate
This is from the side of either an air-conditioner of some kind of ventilation system at the abandoned navy base in Alameda, Ca.
this is found just next to the ultramodern and controversial frank gehry-designed paul allen-owned e.m.p. in seattle. part of the pathetic run down amusement park of the seattle center, site of the 1962 world's fair now very much neglected. the juxtaposition is a bit unsettling...
this is found inside one of the many preposterously large buildings the navy left behind at sand point in seattle on lake washington. its surroundings of desolation and isolation give the text added weight - as though you might be lucky to read it and still live.
this is found in portlands chi-chi district. formerly an area of printeries and warehouses it is now home mostly to financially overleveraged condo dwellers with small dogs and expensive taste and the fussy shops that service them. Again, the juxtaposition is striking.
this is a kind of hotel in my neighborhood. they rent rooms for students. or, at least, they try to do it! i always wanted to take a picture of this place, but i have never gone there with my camera untill that day.
one day i was feeling really bad and i took my camera for a ride in the city center. there, i found this beautiful beauding. there is a shop on the first floor (wich sells pans), but the second one is abandoned. this isn't the picture i took that day. a couple of months later, i went there another time and took this one.
this one is one of the first pictures i took with my camera. it shows two buildings that are tagged really bad in brazilian style of tagging. i love it. there's also a red bus, which is very common in my town (belo horizonte - brasil).
Elevated train in chicago shot with my TtV contraption.
I shot this photo inside an abandoned housing project called Cabrini-Green in Chicago.
I shot this photo outside an abandoned housing project in Chicago called Cabrini-Green. There was another housing project next to this building but it was occupied so we had to always look over our shoulder while shooting. The place was completely abandoned and we mainly hung around the outside and the first floor -- very surreal. The area reminded me of that movie 28 Days Later. Clothes, furniture, other items were scattered everywhere outside. Inside it was as though people just got up and left everything in 5 minutes.
The following three are my current favorites. A big part of that assessment is their scale and iconic nature, although they also match my current mood:
1. Auditorium Memorial Theater Lobby. Gary, Indiana.
2. Robert Taylor Homes, Public Housing Project. Chicago, Illinois.
3. R. Lavia & Sons, Inc. Building. Chicago, Illinois
1. Auditorium Memorial Theater Lobby. Gary, Indiana.
2. Robert Taylor Homes, Public Housing Project. Chicago, Illinois.
3. R. Lavia & Sons, Inc. Building. Chicago, Illinois
This is certainly my most popular, but for a reason. The lighting, composition, framing, all just came together nicely. The mangled machine in the foreground is perfectly balanced by the rusty walls in the background. I have another shot taken just before this one from a slightly different angle, and it doesn't work at all. New York, NY.
I like this one for the colors, the water drops just about to fall, and because nobody can figure out what the hell it is (detail from a NY subway station). New York, NY.
It's the little bit of life that makes this shot for me. Decay and renewal. Washington DC.
I loved the colors from the rust, to the brick to the fresh green paint to the burnt brick. Alley in Pontiac, MI
Car abandoned at the Sears and Roebuck Warehouse in Pontiac, MI
The house is on the East Side of Detroit, most of the neighborhood has burnt down, crumbled or is in various states of neglect. The beauty and size of this home kept drawing me to it.
These were taken in beautiful old Ybor City near Tampa, Florida. The city was originally a cigar manufacturing center, but now is home to trendy shops, boutiques and night clubs. However, many of the old buildings still remain, and there is still much urban decay to be found just off the main avenue. These are all closeups that I liked the details in, but I have some street scenes that I can upload later.
1. 
This is one of my favorite because the skyscraper, though beautiful is competely vacant and has been for decades. I hear they are restoring it though.
2.
Same building, different shot. When I was admiring the building I realized that someone made the effort to get to the top floor and graffiti'd the crown. I was impressed.
3.
This is what happens when a car factory shuts down in the rust belt.
This is one of my favorite because the skyscraper, though beautiful is competely vacant and has been for decades. I hear they are restoring it though.
2.
Same building, different shot. When I was admiring the building I realized that someone made the effort to get to the top floor and graffiti'd the crown. I was impressed.
3.
This is what happens when a car factory shuts down in the rust belt.
This is a series of pictures I took of the old West Pier in Hove, the pier had fallen into disrepair, and during a drive to restore it, caught fire. More of it fell into the sea in subseqent storms. It's present condition has mystery and sadness to it, which I hope my pictures capture.
Hope you like
Glenn
Hope you like
Glenn
The Temples of Angkor.
This Khmer city had 1 million inhabitants around 1000 A.D. All wooden buildings are long gone. The rainforest conquered the remaining stone buildings thus slowing their decay. The 'discovery' by western archeologists and subsequent clearing of the temples of their plant cover put them to the elements and accelerated their disintegration. One temple was left as it was found, with all the trees growing through the site, supporting many walls and buildings.
See these images of Ta Prohm in the large version, there is much going on in the images that is lost in the thumbnail, small and medium versions!
Wondering what THE three favourites are would be torturous for someone as anal as me, but here's three OF my favourites :-D:
Everything just came together..
Because it's cute and existential at the same time ;-)
Because it's this decaying building at its most sensational -- though the scan quality is bad, apologies for which.
Everything just came together..
Because it's cute and existential at the same time ;-)
Because it's this decaying building at its most sensational -- though the scan quality is bad, apologies for which.
Nothern wall of Mould Loft in Versatile Shipyards. I love this one because of the instructions on the alarm. Pull way down and let go. Such wisdom and beauty in degeneration.
This was the oldest building on the same shipyard in 1994. The wood was absolutely gorgeous to behold. Long gone again. I took this shot from the stairs at floor level. The building was built late 1800's. I love old wood.
Again, in the Versatile Shipyards, which have now made room for condos and a hotel. I really discovered the beauty to be found in ruins and decay.
This was the oldest building on the same shipyard in 1994. The wood was absolutely gorgeous to behold. Long gone again. I took this shot from the stairs at floor level. The building was built late 1800's. I love old wood.
Again, in the Versatile Shipyards, which have now made room for condos and a hotel. I really discovered the beauty to be found in ruins and decay.
Homeless addict in Vancouver's downtown East side. I think that this portrays the juxtaposition between the 'well' and the 'not so well to do' in the city of Vancouver, which is fast losing it's middle class...
Alley in the Downtown East side of 'Vancouver the beautiful'. I love the way that this shot turned out! It looks exactly the way I wanted it to when I took the shot. Simply put, 'Vancouver ghetto'.
Tenement in the Downtown East side (Vancouver BC)
I like this one because the fence is such a thin and flimsy barrier between me and this life...again, Vancouver's middle class is quickly dissolving. It's FAR too expensive for most people to live here comfortably any more.
new guy, here are my 3 faves:
Unfortunately, I had to shoot this from about 150-200 feet away because the area is all fenced in. I would have loved to get closer but it's smack dab in the middle of a small downtown area and next to the courthouse. I love the simple geometric shapes in this image.
Same downtown area as the first image. Again, the simple shapes please me.
Again, I am drawn to the simple shapes. I also love the color of the building. i debated between this photo and a close up shot of the bottom right corner window but decided this photo better illustrated the urban decay. By the way, this building is for sale and I wish I could buy it! Three floors and over 10,000 square feet! and windows galore!
Unfortunately, I had to shoot this from about 150-200 feet away because the area is all fenced in. I would have loved to get closer but it's smack dab in the middle of a small downtown area and next to the courthouse. I love the simple geometric shapes in this image.
Same downtown area as the first image. Again, the simple shapes please me.
Again, I am drawn to the simple shapes. I also love the color of the building. i debated between this photo and a close up shot of the bottom right corner window but decided this photo better illustrated the urban decay. By the way, this building is for sale and I wish I could buy it! Three floors and over 10,000 square feet! and windows galore!
All three of mine were taken in New York City during the mid 1980s. M y reasons for liking these have nothing to do with urban decay...but the fact that this was an incredibly magical time of my life, many changes were happening in my life...and a still dirty, slightly dangerous city was the visual backdrop of that time of my life.
Not sure this is really decay...these buildings weren't in bad shape. However, they are gone now. This takes me back to a time when this part of NYC (what is now called the Flatiron district) was dark and desolate. So much has changed, I miss that New York.
I lived on the opposite (good) side of Tompkins Square Park in NYC's East Village during the mid 80s (in a storefront). I paid next to nothing in rent...but I had bedbugs and rats. I lived across the street from a bar called Aztec...the kids would hang out in my doorway, I used to love to sit in the workspace in the front of my store and listen to their conversations. I also watched how everything to the east of the park was destroyed between 1977 aind 1989. This was not one of the best blocks to be whipping out a camera...but I'm glad I did, wish I had taken so many more. Hindsight is 20/20.
Lower West Side of Manhattan...not too far from Chambers St. At the time this was taken, there were maybe 3 buildings on this block...and in one of them you could see a sole light on...the entire block is now gone. I remember the year prior to this, my best friend Lisa and I would go to take care of her brother-in-laws dog while he was away on tour. I haven't see her since she moved to LA around 20 years ago...makes me wonder how she's doing.
Not sure this is really decay...these buildings weren't in bad shape. However, they are gone now. This takes me back to a time when this part of NYC (what is now called the Flatiron district) was dark and desolate. So much has changed, I miss that New York.
I lived on the opposite (good) side of Tompkins Square Park in NYC's East Village during the mid 80s (in a storefront). I paid next to nothing in rent...but I had bedbugs and rats. I lived across the street from a bar called Aztec...the kids would hang out in my doorway, I used to love to sit in the workspace in the front of my store and listen to their conversations. I also watched how everything to the east of the park was destroyed between 1977 aind 1989. This was not one of the best blocks to be whipping out a camera...but I'm glad I did, wish I had taken so many more. Hindsight is 20/20.
Lower West Side of Manhattan...not too far from Chambers St. At the time this was taken, there were maybe 3 buildings on this block...and in one of them you could see a sole light on...the entire block is now gone. I remember the year prior to this, my best friend Lisa and I would go to take care of her brother-in-laws dog while he was away on tour. I haven't see her since she moved to LA around 20 years ago...makes me wonder how she's doing.
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