Abandoned Photography: How to Photograph the Forgotten
photo by Jessie Swimeley
Ghost towns and abandoned spaces offer people a glimpse of the past. It connects us back to a time and place far removed from the digital world we inhabit today. Abandoned photography helps keep history alive. Photographing abandoned buildings can also help you meet new people in your area who know the stories behind the places you are photographing. I am writing this from an American perspective, so be sure to understand the rules of visiting abandoned places in your own country.
How to Shoot Abandoned Places: Plan Ahead
photo by Sue120502 via iStock
There are many established ghost towns across America that are open to photographers. One of the most famous places for abandoned photography is Bodie, California. Bodie is an old mining town that has been persevered as a state park in California. You can see the buildings as they stood at the turn of the 20th century.
You can also visit Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park (shown below) to photograph the barns and homes of an abandoned Mormon settlement.
A quick Google search of ghost towns in your state will give you a good jumping-off point to find great abandoned places to photograph. Be sure to find out if the ghost town is on private property or public land.
photo by Jessie Swimeley
You can also plan a drive around rural areas near your home. Aside from a nice drive in the country, you can scout out locations that would be great to photograph. I personally love a good drive in the country, taking all the random backroads. There are lots of barns and other abandoned buildings and cars you can photograph from the road, especially if you have a telephoto lens. Abandoned photography is all about the journey.
If you do find something particularly interesting and you want to know more or get closer, DO NOT trespass. I have found that people are much happier to welcome you onto their property if you knock on their door and ask permission than if you hop a fence. You can note the location in your journal and try to find out who owns the property with your state’s property records.
Know the Rules of Abandoned Photography
Don't Trespass
photo by Jessie Swimeley
Abandoned building photography is full of tempting places that are sometimes just out of reach. You might think that just a quick foray onto the property won’t hurt, but you can end up in a lot of trouble or badly hurt. It is always best to find out
It can feel weird or scary to knock of a stranger’s door to ask if you can photograph their property. I like to bring my business card and samples of abandoned photography with me to show I am a legitimate artist. Most people will probably give you a funny look, but they will let you go about their land photographing abandoned buildings. People also love to share the stories of the properties, whether it is family history or events. Photography is a great way to tell stories, right?!
photo by Jessie Swimeley
I took the time to meet the 94-year-old woman who owned the crumbling barn shown above. There was a perfectly good spot on the side of the road to take photos, but I wanted to know more, so I parked my car and walked up her driveway. She let me wander around the barn and she told me the barn was once featured on the state’s driver’s license and was a historic building, but she didn’t have the resources to keep the barn up. She also told me about the flood that nearly destroyed the whole property back in the 1980s. Sadly, the barn collapsed about a year after I took photographs of it.
Safety First
photo by Jessie Swimeley
I know going inside an abandoned building is very tempting! If something looks unstable it probably is, whatever is inside isn’t worth getting hurt (or worse) over.
It is a good idea to wear close-toed, thick-soled shoes and pants when you are out practicing your abandoned photography. There can be thick vegetation, rusty nails, and all manner of debris where you are walking, so it is good to be protected. If you want to give yourself an extra layer of defense make sure your tetanus shot it is up to date.
Go With a Friend
photo by PeopleImages via iStock
Abandoned photography is something that is enjoyable if you bring a buddy. It never hurts to have extra eyes to spot amazing places along the road, or to have some backup if you get hurt.
Be Respectful
photo by broken3 via iStock
This isn’t your space. There may be all kinds of cool old treasures lying around but they aren’t yours so keep them out of your pockets. Don’t cause any damage, either. No one wants to see your initials! Also, don’t litter. Remember that old cliché: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Yeah, that applies here!
Don’t Disclose the Location (Unless It is a Famous Place)
photo by Jessie Swimeley
Disclosing your location can be a bit of a minefield. You don’t want thousands of people flocking to the location you found. Remember the poppy fields in California a few years ago?
Keeping your abandoned photography locations a secret protects the spaces from becoming overrun by disrespectful masses. It also keeps the people who agree to let you be on their land safe from those same people.
If you really want to tag a location, use a general one like the state the abandoned building is located in. In abandoned spaces in national parks, state parks, or other places the public can access, it is okay to use your geotag information.
Get Inspired
photo by Jessie Swimeley
Instagram is a wonderful place to be inspired by others who enjoy abandoned photography. There are lots of great pages that share work by photographers from around the world, so to get your abandoned photography fix, check out RAW_Abandoned, or Backraod_Visons.
Shooting Abandoned places is a fantastic way to learn more about the history of where you live. Just remember, ask before you enter!