Our fascination with architecture runs deep. We pay attention to the structures around us because they shape our experiences and tell stories about culture. To truly understand our surroundings, we can explore cities by walking down the main streets and learn about history by admiring famous landmarks. But for some of us, a view from below and from a safe distance just isn’t enough.
So today we focus on people who are adventurous and take the road less traveled. We are talking about urban exploration, often called urbex, which attracts artists and thrill seekers who want to document the gradual process of architectural decay. They travel through buildings full of debris and rubble, looking for noise and inspiration in forgotten structures and the stories they tell.
Let us introduce you to “Abandoned Beauties” A Facebook page dedicated to sharing fascinating images of abandoned places and objects. Both the past and the present. We’ve put together a collection of breathtaking photos that capture the essence of extraordinary and undiscovered wildlife that the public usually doesn’t see. So scroll on, vote for your favorites, and let us know if they’ve inspired you to go on a real adventure!
Psst! After you’re done admiring the photos, be sure to check out Part 1 of this feature right here.
Janine Pendletonphotographer and creator Photography by Obsidian Urbextold Boring Panda that her interest in documenting abandoned buildings began in 2015. in August, when he took an impromptu trip to an abandoned amusement park near his hometown.
“I used to visit here with my parents as a child, so to see it in its derelict and derelict state some 15 years later shook me somewhere inside,” she revealed. “I was instantly hooked! I spent the rest of 2015 trawling the UK looking for abandoned places, making new friends along the way.” Later, when in 2016 in the spring she took her first trip to Europe, her interest escalated and she never looked back.
Janine now travels the world in search of mysterious and otherworldly places, hoping to find an opportunity to capture amazing photos and share them with everyone online. From terrible consequences of Fukushima nuclear disaster for admirers abandoned places in Pennsylvaniashe has seen everything.
“Simply put, I find a lot of beauty in natural decay. No two buildings decay in exactly the same way,” added the photographer. “It’s always interesting to see what happens to these places when they are neglected and forgotten.” [them] is like going back in time. A look back several decades.
She pointed out that even when you enter a space for a brief moment, the journey of your own journey and that of the abandoned place become parallel in the process of exploration. “When you click the shutter, you capture the state of the building in one moment.
“With digital photography, that moment can be preserved (theoretically) forever. It’s rendered as millions of pixels, uploaded to computers and servers. That single photo can be shared with people all over the world via the Internet and social media. That way, those places and moments can live on for a long time.” after the building (and even the photographer) is gone,” she said.
It was in 1900 built by Lafayette Taylor, who made her fortune mining sandstone and milling timber in the Rarden area. Only 159 people live in Rarden. The upper one was taken in 1973, the lower one was taken in 2013
We also managed to get in touch with Ola and Arekthe couple is extremely passionate about history, photography and running their own blog Urbex Travel. The duo explained that they got into urban exploration because of an old gas plant in their neighborhood. “We watched this place every day and wanted to get inside,” they said.
One day they woke up at 4 am. in the morning, took a ladder and simply climbed over the wall. They had to run very fast to avoid hitting the security guard, but when they managed to get inside the building, what they saw surprised them. “A lot of people think there’s nothing interesting about empty spaces, but they’re wrong. The well-preserved architecture reminiscent of the 19th century… made us want to see more of these spaces,” they noted, adding that this is how their love for the hobby began.
Ola and Arek explained that urbexing is a specific activity that is a synthesis of passion for history, travel and photography. “There is a story associated with every object and event.” [that influenced] the fate of their populations,” the pair added. – Nowadays, these people may no longer exist in this world, but the buildings are silent witnesses.
“We see how different styles of architecture intertwine and how former kings of industry competed in markets around the world. You can hear machines running in the halls, and the air is still filled with the smell of grease and steam. “, they continued. “It’s interesting to touch on this story that happened where we are.
Janine seems to share his dedication to urban exploration. “I spent many weekends and literally all of my vacation pay traveling and exploring the world,” she revealed. “I think there’s something inside of us that wonders what the world would look like if all of a sudden all humans disappeared and nature reclaimed the planet and went out into man-made traps. I think these abandoned places allow us to see that.”
But while breaking into dilapidated buildings is a fun, exciting and educational experience, it also comes with some risks. People often want to rush to the unseen deserts of forgotten places and forget to think about their own safety. “The most important thing when starting anything potentially dangerous, including exploring abandoned buildings, is to always be aware of your surroundings,” advised Janine. “Check and double-check the floor and ceiling for signs of instability, and when in doubt, always take another route.”
When asked about some ground rules to be aware of before exploring abandoned sites, Janine explained that different groups of people have their own code of conduct and acceptable limits for how far they are willing to enter a building. “I would (hopefully) say that the vast majority, myself included, are totally against any theft or any harm being done.”
“You’ll hear the rather clichéd quote ‘Take pictures, leave nothing but footprints’ often associated with this hobby,” said the photographer. “Basically, my advice is that whatever you do in life, you have to be prepared for the consequences of your actions and use your own moral compass.”
Ola and Arek added that those thinking about urbexing should not allow the site to be destroyed or destroyed by vandals. “To get inside the facility, we never force ourselves. There will always be an entrance, but you can’t break the windows or pick the locks,” explained the couple. “If we were to do something like that, it would be simple hacking, not urbex.”
They asked to remember that even the most spectacular places can be visited, but permission is often required. “If you see an object like Kelenföld Power Plant or Óbuda gas workss, don’t even try to get there on your own. There is always a security guard who can catch you. There is also the risk of destroying such beautiful places.”
“Many people often contribute, even unknowingly, to the destruction and theft of these wonderful places,” they said. “First of all, you can’t take ‘souvenirs’ because it’s the most common theft and losing the idea of exploring a deserted place.” We only take with us a camera full of photos and a head full of memories of a fantastic trip. “.
This is one of the reasons why some photographers are reluctant to disclose information about the exact locations of their photos. In this way, they do not allow tens of visitors to rush to the place and protect places and objects from vandalism. Janine explained she avoids sharing information about specific places with people she doesn’t know personally. “In recent years, this hobby has gained attention and more and more people are looking for beautiful places to fill their Instagram feeds or YouTube channels. The more people who visit, the more likely they are to be stolen and damaged. Also, there will be more frequent visitors. to attract locals attention,” she wrote. “When suspicions arise in these ways, places are quickly sealed.
When it comes to taking stunning photos that evoke a sense of mystery and reveal the secrets of the past, Janine explained that abandoned places are often darker than we expect. “First, make sure you bring a flashlight just to be safe (and back up!). Also, you might want to bring a tripod to steady your camera/phone. You can use a flashlight to light up a dark room, but you’ll often get a nicer photo with natural light if you use a tripod and a slow shutter speed (long exposure),” she advised.
Then the marble from the quarry was used to build St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg. From then on, the history of the factory began, full of ups and downs. After losing state orders, the factory produced decorative stone chips, lime, and gravel at various times. The owners changed quickly, for a while it was even rented by the Finns, so marble from this quarry can be found on the facades of several Finnish buildings.⠀
in 1895 the first furnaces for burning marble and collecting lime were installed here. The stone was blasted and then hammered into small pieces. The marble was lifted on cranes with trolleys, and then pushed by hand to the furnaces.⠀
In 1960, the factory began to specialize in the production of decorative crushed stone and lime. Crushed stone was used throughout the Soviet Union to decorate buildings, and lime was used by collective farms for liming the soil.⠀
At the beginning of the 90s, the furnaces went out forever, and in the early 2000s, on the site of the former quarry, which turned into a picturesque turquoise lake, Gorny Park was created, which became one of the most visited by tourists. directions in northwestern Russia. Next to the park, the same ovens remained, the territory of which is now cleaned and gradually beautified, it is planned to create a full-fledged tourist object and connect it to the park.
Note: This post was originally 72 images. It was narrowed down to the top 35 images based on user votes.
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