URBAN DECAY

URBAN DECAY is…

Urban Decay is catching on with certain Urbanists generally out of consequence more than out of interest. This extreme form of Urban photography is risky, can be illegal and at most times dangerous due to the structures entered.

I enjoy Urban Decay and am often inside buildings taking photos of the rot and de-concretion that is taking place within. For me I find this form of art photography and urban photography both expressive and enjoyable and a great challenge too.

For those who do not know enough about Urban Decay here are some brief explanations of what exactly it is.

Buildings that have run into disrepair.

Factories laid empty for years.

Empty hospitals and institutions that have become vandalized.

Metal items used by Man for engineering, transport, machining, storing, furniture etc and have become rusted and somewhat decayed.

Furniture that has been dumped here and there.

Disused accommodation.

Public pollution of human materials be them industrial or domestic.

Tunnels vandalized.

Collapsing bridges.

Industrial dumped waste in an urban environment.

The focus of Rust.

The focus of material Rot.

Mildew growing up the side of an old door in all its colours etc.

The decay needs to be from abandonment not from forced decay. what I mean by this is: a smashed plate on someone’s kitchen floor is not urban decay, whilst a stack of plates in a cupboard that has sat for a few years laying untouched in an abandoned house or institution will have mildew and fungi and assorts of gunk on them.

Often the places photographed have no-entry signs, security guards, rights of prosecuting trespassers and more often than not, they are dangerous due to the weak structures, dodgy floors, sharp objects, spilled chemicals, unsecured stairways and the occasional scary (sometimes friendly) dweller.

Graffiti is not a main theme of urban decay but a consequence to the scenes themselves. I have often gone to places to photograph where great graffiti exists and have ignored the urban art for the better looking grunge that lies beyond it.

Portraiture that has been held in abandoned abodes, factories etc is portraiture and the rest is merely a backdrop for the photographers subject regardless of whether the person is clothed or not. Either way it is not urban decay.

I found a lot of material online for those who wish to expand their knowledge and I highly recommend a visit to the great photographer Matthew Merrett http://www.thephotomat.ca/ who produces some stunning Urban Decay works.

Here are some other sites of interest to, the examples are simply stunning!

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/18/the-beauty-of-urban-decay/

http://digital-photography-school.com/20-beautiful-examples-of-urban-decay-photography

http://www.opacity.us/

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/

http://www.urban-exposure.com/black-and-white-photography-urban-decay.html

http://www.thephotomat.ca/

http://photocritic.org/urban-decay-photography/

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/100-captivating-examples-of-urban-decay-photography/

Tech n Tips

When going out on a “crawl” or UD (urban decay) shoot always try to have the following items with you. They will help in many ways as well as get you out of trouble, keep you out of trouble and harms way. And of course assist you in getting the shots.

1. site boots or steel toe capped shoes. I use these http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=18932 by Dewalt.
2. loose but heavy pants. Black army pants etc are great.
3. a jacket with a mid chord and big pockets. Makes carrying stuff easier.
4. a hat. You don’t know what’s dripping from the ceiling and gypsum dust makes your head itch for days.
5. a sling bag for your equipment. Don’t take a carry-all style bag otherwise you’ll tire quickly and getting in and out of places sometimes requires a bit of climbing so you need both hands free. This a great idea from the DA shop http://deviantwear.deviantart.com/art/dAPRO-Camera-Bag-144764711
6. torch and spare batteries. most places are dark. I use an LED torch as the last SOOOOOOOO much longer than conventional torches.
7. facemask (like the swine flu trend) for dusty areas.
8. Brush for the lens. you’ll need it every 5 minutes!
9. lens cloth. Just in case of drops etc or moisture build up on the lens.
10. mobile phone. Set to vibrate only. Nothing worse than just as you are avoiding the security your mom calls to see how you are!
11. small first aid kit. You’ll hardly use it but its just sense to have one just in case.
12. blu-tac for propping things up, sticking things to place, etc.
13. a versatile camera stand that is light and folds up small. Nothing worse than having to drag around a heavy bulky camera stand, it will get on your nerves and put your mood off.
14. hands free shutter release, be it RC, IR, or bluetooth. when photographing dark areas a tripod and the hands free shutter release will be your best and most welcomed allies.
15. mineral water and some wet wipes.

TAKE CARE

Always inform someone where you are going to and the time period you expect to take.

Always research your area before doing a serious shoot; you might come into big troubles if you fall upon some illegal activities or worse.

Be safe.

Be sensible, common sense is your best friend, your eyes and ears are your guardians.

Don’t wear bright clothing, but I do advise you to take a thin fluorescent vest with you, as you can always slip it on when security come and say you are shooting for the architect who is proposing a design on the land etc.

Carry an ID.

Carry business cards, the more professional you seem the less trouble you will get.

At one shoot I photographed the security guard. He was pleased and I was pleased too, I was simply honest with the guy.

Have fun, and don’t add to the chaos, try to leave the place like you was never there.

Lastly here are some of my own Urban Decay photography.

Enjoy.