Urbex.

So, I haven’t updated in about nine months. Since then, I’ve completely upgraded my gear. I traded my T1i for a 50D with the kit 28-135mm f/3.5 lens. I also got a Bower SF290 hot shoe flash, which has been a huge step-up from my ancient Kodak flash. All of the gear is a huge improvement. My T1i can’t hold a flame to the noise reduction by the 50D. The physical size and weight are all comfortable, and the image quality is great.

So, with all of this new gear, what have I been doing with it? Well, a lot. For starters, I recently got a new job. I’m a part-time photographer for the Ashland Times-Gazette now. They have me doing a lot of high school sports, but that’s about it. I’m still shooting for the university, but that’s kind of taken a back seat. Now I’m just counting down the days until graduation in May.

On the hobby side of my life, I’ve been doing a lot of urbex and cityscapes. Urbex, commonly known as Urban Exploration, building hacking (which sounds badass), or trespassing, is basically the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities such as warehouses, factories, hospitals, amusement parks, hotels, and other inactive urban sites.

It’s a rush- knowing that you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be, being alone in such a huge site. Knowing that you’re standing where, years before, people worked and provided, and that now it stands in decay. Walls where paint is peeling and collapsed ceilings once provided shelter and a place of work. It’s like a drug- the feeling just can’t be described and the high can’t be gained any other way. Nothing holds a candle to it.

Unfortunately, being in small-town Ohio, there’s really not a lot of it going on around here. I’ve been looking around Flickr and other websites, and it seems there is a large community of Urban Explorers all over the state- and the world.

Front entryway of a building in Ashland, Ohio.

Chalkboards in an old school building.

The front of an abandoned motel in Ruggles, Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides just urbex, I’ve been doing a lot of night-time cityscapes. And by that, I mean I’ve only been able to do one good set this year. I don’t know what it is, but the lights and the people make me feel…. I can’t really describe it. But it’s good. Being able to get lost in the crowds, ducking from building to building, roaming the streets of the city… It’s what young people should be doing, right? Well, maybe not. But it’s what I like to do.

Again, unfortunately, being from small-town Ohio, it’s not too exciting. Our town has a minimal bar scene, no tall skyscrapers or other cool buildings, and only about three streets to wander, most of which lead to dead ends or other non-exciting things.

Cleveland has a lot of their buildings illuminated for Christmas, and from what I’ve seen it’s pretty cool. I want to go up and shoot it, but unfortunately I haven’t had the time. I’m sure Columbus probably has some cool stuff going on this time of year too.

Downtown Ashland, Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, that’s all I’ve got tonight. Talk to you all again in nine months. As always, be sure to follow me on Twitter (brianmwells) or check out my Flickr page.

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