If you enjoy ruins...

[hvp05]

... check out this place.

They offer 3 galleries: The ruins of Detroit; Eastern Germany industrial vestiges; Forgotten theaters of America. My favorite is this one from Detroit.

They're French so parts of the site are not in English, but I did like their "About" description:

Ruins are the visible symbols and landmarks of our societies
and their changes, small pieces of history in suspension.

I only wish they had larger versions of the photographs available; you can tell there is much detail within those small photos.

 

[BoyGenius]

Wow, I knew Detroit was a mess, but Jesus.

 

[Sonsie]

If you like that you'll love there images too. Very industrial and surreal....

 

[hvp05]

surreal

Effective use of HDR and given elements like water (reflections) owe to that. Good stuff.

 

[forceofnature]

Thanks for the links. Very depressing to see detroit is such a way. Its not getting any better is it.

 

[hvp05]

Very depressing to see detroit is such a way.

I watched an episode of "Life After People" on Discovery a couple nights ago and they were projecting what a city might look like 30 years after the disappearance of humans.

They showed one real-world example in Gary, IN. The town was established by US Steel in the early 1900s then abandoned (at least in part) in the mid '70s.

The coolest part to me was the Methodist church. One guy did a walkthrough and has several galleries here.

I would love to get in there myself if it was closer - and not crime-ridden.

 

[Beelzebaby666]

This is my favorite site for urban wonders and decaying cities... YOu can spend hours on this site looking at all the crazy stuff :

7 Wonders | WebUrbanist

 

[Roberta]

This is my favorite site for urban wonders and decaying cities... YOu can spend hours on this site looking at all the crazy stuff :

7 Wonders | WebUrbanist

Great site! Thanks.

 

[dustin]

Cool links! Thanks!

 

[mentok]

These are some awesome links, I love the Web Urbanist a lot, they do a nice feature of some collosal abandoned structures.

I've actually been to a few of the locations they note in this one:

7 More Abandoned Cities and Towns of America | WebUrbanist

The seminary in DC and Kings Park in NY are the ones I've been to, I've also been planning a trip to Fort Carrol, but still have't gotten around to that one. If you're interested in these kinds of things there are a lot of places in Maryland and DC, especially in Baltimore.

 

[hvp05]

These are some awesome links, I love the Web Urbanist a lot, they do a nice feature of some collosal abandoned structures.

Then there is one of my favorites, and the one that comes up first in Google (for good reason): Opacity.

I wish I had some old industrial sites around me; mostly just old barns.

 

[mentok]

Then there is one of my favorites, and the one that comes up first in Google (for good reason): Opacity.

Yeah, Opacity is rather nice, he's a good photographer, and he's gone overseas to explore some too. He also usually has some good info on places.

I wish I had some old industrial sites around me; mostly just old barns.

hehe, yeah, thats true, there are far too many out there around SOMD, I kinda feel the same way. There are a few things around though that are not barns...that its taken me years to find, but if you're ever interested in some interesting places to shoot let me know, I get out quite often to some neat abandonments.

 

[hvp05]

he's gone overseas to explore some too.

Yeah, that is dedication. He must have an excellent network that can first make him aware of sites, then get him inside.

there are far too many out there around SOMD

I have long thought there were too few in SoMD; there are many, many more where I am now. Unfortunately, there is little to no [abandoned] industry near me, which is a downside.

 

[Tomcat]

There are a few things around though that are not barns...that its taken me years to find, but if you're ever interested in some interesting places to shoot let me know, I get out quite often to some neat abandonments.

Here's a link to all sorts of somewhat local places, mostly DC and Baltimore
Urban Atrophy - Home

They also have a forum, Urban Exploring - Urban Atrophy Forums pretty interesting stuff. It doesn't take much reading to figure out the "code" names they use for different places around here.

By the way Mentok, you've posted some very interesting photos, are you still shooting medium format film? or are you using a digital back on your camera?

 

[mentok]

Here's a link to all sorts of somewhat local places, mostly DC and Baltimore
Urban Atrophy - Home

They also have a forum, Urban Exploring - Urban Atrophy Forums pretty interesting stuff. It doesn't take much reading to figure out the "code" names they use for different places around here.

Ah yes, UA, can't have a discussion about abandonments in Maryland w/o UA A lot of the descriptions on the main page can be C&P'd into google and then easily figured out, unfortunately, with the attention that UA has brought to some of these sites they've seen a lot more traffic and destruction.

I'm a fan of Opacity a lot more, Mott's photography is much more interesting. If you are interested in any of the places on UA I'll gladly go check them out w/ anyone.

By the way Mentok, you've posted some very interesting photos, are you still shooting medium format film? or are you using a digital back on your camera?

thanks

I shoot both digital and film, but unfortunately I don't have the $$$ for a digital back, so I shoot w/ a Canon Rebel for digital. I've been using my Mamiya RZ67 for night shooting mostly, but have been trying to use it more in general for my photography.

Yeah, that is dedication. He must have an excellent network that can first make him aware of sites, then get him inside.

Yeah, I think he's connected up with this guy at least once:

http://www.urban-travel.org/

 

[Tomcat]

Ah yes, UA, can't have a discussion about abandonments in Maryland w/o UA A lot of the descriptions on the main page can be C&P'd into google and then easily figured out, unfortunately, with the attention that UA has brought to some of these sites they've seen a lot more traffic and destruction.

The original UA I first found was not a group effort, no forums etc. It's changed over the past several years. Looks like it's a bunch of teeny boppers making a game out of it now. I think with a little research and some phone calls to the right people, you could get permission to enter and photograph some of the places. Cumberland and Western Maryland have some neat old railroad warehouses and buildings I'd like to explore and photograph.....someday when I have time.

 

[mentok]

The original UA I first found was not a group effort, no forums etc. It's changed over the past several years. Looks like it's a bunch of teeny boppers making a game out of it now. I think with a little research and some phone calls to the right people, you could get permission to enter and photograph some of the places. Cumberland and Western Maryland have some neat old railroad warehouses and buildings I'd like to explore and photograph.....someday when I have time.

Yeah, I was involved over there a while back, but they weren't too fond of me. Your assessment is pretty correct though, a lot of teeny boppers and flame wars.

Anyhow, there are some interesting things out there, some places it is best to call for permission, while some places are not so stringent.

I'd be interested in seeing some of those railroad warehouses out in Cumberland sometime, I have a few free weekends coming up if you're interested.