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November 3rd, 2009 Urban Exploration – A Quick Intro Tags: architecture, photography, urban exploration, urbex
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At one point, just before the market crashes which have brought the globe to a virtual stand still, people could walk around town freely and no matter where they they looked new buildings were being constructed. Everything from factories, supermarkets, housing developments and the odd mega structure there were no shortages of active building sites. Once completed these buildings begin to make history from the very first day they move into active use.

However, for every new building there are others whose historical significance may be deemed as being more important not just for local history but for human. These buildings, once vacated, generally fall into disrepair or are removed from the landscape altogether. Those that are fortunate will find another use. For the majority of the general population these buildings are forgotten.

What is troubling for historians and architectural enthusiasts is that some of these abandoned buildings are listed or protected… the councils of whom are charged with protecting them and the historical significance that they represent. One of the most popular examples of such listed buildings is St. Peters’ Seminary in Cardross, Scotland. A listed building and rated as one of Scotland’s most important and significant architectural pieces the building now lies in complete ruin, having suffered major fire damage and abandonment, neglected by its protectors.

There is one group of people who are taking it into their own hands to document these buildings and they can be found in the majority of all major cities around the world. Carefully documenting buildings and sites through photography and reportage they ensure that these structures are not completely forgotten. But some might say that these urban explorers are nothing more than mere trespassers violating security restrictions and risking their own lives for a photograph.

However, the Urbex movement is much more than that and as Mark Chalmers reported in a 2007 Blueprint article about Urbex in the United Kingdom, they have more in common with architects than they do with vandals. But it does not stop there. These are people from all walks of life; doctors, programmers, teachers and everything in between, and the majority operate by an unwritten code; explore, document, leave.

Newcomers to the Urbex scene can be looked upon with suspicion. There have been situations in the past where amateur urban explorers have found themselves in compromising situations, manipulated by the press and thus felt the wrath of the more experienced explorers. However these are rare occurrences and most who get involved with Urbex generally do so through people they know who are more experienced.

Of course, even for the most seasoned Urbexer there are risks involved. Often buildings are condemned for a reason and usually because the structures are no longer deemed safe. Some buildings are left unused because removing asbestos can be a costly activity. Some buildings become drugs dens often littered with drugs paraphernalia. There have been reports of people dying in storm drains due to flash floods. There are legal risks also including trespass charges and police and security enforcement.

But even with the risks involved urban exploration has become a mainstream phenomenon. The History Channel recently ran a series called The Cities of the Underworld. Urban Exploration is quite prevalent amongst the Flickr community with literally dozens of groups dedicated to it as it has moved out from a subculture status into the mainstream. Practical Photography ran an dereliction special for their September 2009 issue featuring abandoned buildings and hints on how to photograph such places but also included safety tips and other advice for budding explorers.

If you are interested in urban exploration or would like to know more there are plenty of resources on the internet to aid your quest.

28 Days Later (United Kingdom)
Urban Exploration Resource (North American)
Urbex group on Flickr
The Urban Decay Squad on Flickr
UE on Wikipedia
Infiltration Zine
LuxUrbex (Luxembourg)
Sleep City
Forgotten PA (Pennsylvania, USA)
LTVSquad (New York City, USA)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 pm and is filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.