Urban Ex Photography

Urbex (or Urban Exploration) is the exploration of abandoned and derelict places. It is often seen as a risky affair, which on times involves trespassing, unsafe structures,broken glass and asbestos to mention a few. For many this is as far as it goes, but for a growing number it is also about photography. Many urbex photographers like to document the decay and dereliction that they find in various places, but for me it's about creating a dark image of a place that once was and that spooky atmosphere that can be achieved.

Talgarth  by Ross Summers

Due to this, my favourite locations tend to be asylums and hospitals (which becomes rather strange when you try to explain to people that you enjoy taking photos of abandoned mental asylums!). I personally shoot a lot of my urbex shots using a wide angle lens, tripod and HDR. The reasoning behind the HDR is that quite often, windows are boarded up or overgrown and natural light can pose a problem. HDR allows me to bring detail into what would otherwise be underexposed areas of my shots. 

 The Haunted hall by Graham Hazeldon

There are many websites out there offering forums and locations for urbex (28DaysLater, UrbexForums and SickBritain to name a few), but urbex locations can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. If you are thinking of trying urbex, I'd recommend that you take a friend with you or at the very least, let someone know exactly where you are going to be. Accidents do happen and safety should be your main concern, so I also dress for the occasion with
appropriate footwear and clothing.                                                       Talgarth Stairway, by Ross Summers

Talgarth Mental Asylum by Ross Summers

Also be aware that you may be breaking the law by visiting some urbex sites and with the rapid increase in interest in urbex, attention being paid to some of these sites has also risen. Many urbexers follow the ethos of "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints".

Ross Summers ( View Ross Summers' website )