Dirty Old Places

I take photos of abandoned farmhouses, as a hobby. Often, people who see my photos remark on how spooky they are. Spooky? Maybe some people are just watching too much TV. I like them because they are old and strong, enduring the elements long after the people have moved on. Those houses are like a mad science experiment, seeing how they erode and how they look as they become weathered. I like seeing the old workmanship, skills we are losing in this day and age.

It’s not an easy hobby. There is a danger in finding yourself confronting a peeved off racoon or property owner. There is a danger in not being careful enough and falling down some old hole in the ground, through the old floor of the building (I very seldom go inside) or just fall and not be able to make your way out through the fields or woods and back to your car.

The other hard part is finding a good location. I’ve found some near construction, where a road was being changed or something new going in. Another was one I pass every time I visit my sister. All of them are just places I noticed cause I was watching for them. You just get lucky. Keep a note pad or paper handy to write down anything you spot so you can come back later. Or just keep your camera handy if you have time to stop. Wear shoes for walking and wandering around in fields and woody areas. Plan on getting rained on, always seems to happen to me. Rainy days are good for taking pictures anyway.

I use a digital camera so I can have nearly instant gratification once I get home and upload my photos. Try Infiltration if you want to know more about urban exploration. Torontoist has an interview with Terry Murray who has created a book with gargoyles she spotted in Toronto. Urban exploring isn’t just tunnels and drains.

[tags]urban exploration, rural exploration, architecture, buildings, gargoyle, photography[/tags]