c/abandoned-places-photos

Got called a 'vulture' for taking pictures of an old farmhouse near Springfield. Changed my whole approach.

Finally got a decent shot of the old mill in the fog after six tries

I used to just show up at an abandoned spot, snap a few pics with my phone, and call it a day. Last year, after my shots of the old paper mill in Dalton were just flat and boring, I decided to actually learn about light. I started checking weather apps and going at dawn, and I bought a basic tripod for like forty bucks. This morning, on my sixth visit, the fog rolled in just right and I finally got the moody, spooky shot I'd been imagining. Anyone else have a spot they had to keep going back to before the conditions lined up?

Got called out for using a drone at the old mill site

Someone in this group said it felt like cheating and took away from the 'found' feeling. I still bring it for scouting, but now I make sure my main shots are from the ground with my old Nikon. Anyone else get flak for their gear choices?

A park ranger in Flagstaff once told me my 'urban explorer' boots were leaving prints all over a fragile 1920s dance floor.

Now I keep a pair of clean, soft-soled moccasins in my pack to swap into for any delicate interior shots, which has saved me from a few more stern talks since that Arizona trip. Anyone else have a specific piece of 'gentle exploration' gear they swear by?

Found an old farmhouse near Spokane that was almost gone last month

I drove past the Miller place off Highway 2 back in April and the barn was still standing, just really weathered. Went back this past weekend and the whole roof had caved in, it was just a pile of splintered wood. A big storm rolled through the valley about three weeks ago with crazy winds, so that must have been what finally took it down. It's wild how fast a place can go from standing to gone, has anyone else seen a spot collapse that quickly?

The old man at the Parma Drive-In told me I was the first visitor in ten years

I was taking pictures of the old ticket booth last fall, and this guy just walked out of the woods. He said he used to run the projector and that the last show was 'The Dark Knight' in 2008. He just stood there shaking his head while I shot the crumbling screen. Has anyone else met someone who used to work at a spot they were exploring?

I think people get way too careless in old factories

I mean, I was in this shut down textile mill near Albany and saw a guy try to climb a rusted catwalk just for a photo. The whole section groaned and I had to yell at him to get down. Anyone else get nervous watching folks ignore clear danger signs for a shot?

Appreciation post: I just realized I've visited over 50 abandoned places in the last decade

It hit me while I was sorting old photos from an old mill in West Virginia. Has anyone else kept a rough count and been surprised by the number?

Everyone says to always go into abandoned places alone for the 'pure' experience, but I got stuck in a factory basement in Gary and now I bring a friend.

I was exploring the old Republic Steel plant last fall, trying to get a shot of this massive, rusted furnace. I went down a set of stairs that looked fine, but a piece of concrete gave way behind me and blocked my way back up. I was alone, my phone had no signal, and I was down there for almost two hours before I found another way out. It wasn't spooky ghosts that changed my mind, it was simple physics and bad concrete. Does anyone else have a hard rule about never exploring solo anymore?

My brother said 'it's just a broken building' about my favorite spot in Cleveland, and I can't stop thinking about it.

Vent: People keep calling the old mill in Riverton 'haunted' just because it's empty

I've been out there maybe five times over the last two years, and it's not ghosts, it's just rot and weather. The real story is in the machinery left behind, like the big 1928 stamp press still bolted to the floor. Anyone else get tired of the spooky talk and just want to talk about what was actually there?

Ignoring no-trespassing signs almost got me arrested last week

Most folks think skipping past warnings is fine for a cool picture. I had security show up and it turned into a huge hassle. You really need to check if you're allowed to be there first.

My team's visit to a shut-down mall for a work activity was pure chaos

Our department head thought it would be fun to have our monthly meeting at an old, empty mall on the edge of the city. We were supposed to take photos and discuss creativity, but it went sideways fast. The escalators weren't working, so we had to hike up three flights of stairs, and Karen from HR got her heel stuck in a crack. Then, we heard this loud banging noise that turned out to be a loose sign swinging in the wind, but half the team thought it was a security guard. My coworker brought a selfie stick that broke when he tried to take a group shot, and we spent twenty minutes looking for the pieces in the dark food court. Our manager kept saying this was 'thinking outside the box,' but everyone just wanted to go back to the office. We left without any good pictures, and now we have a new rule: no more field trips to spooky places.