abandoned

Shadows & Light

As a photographer, shadows and light (along with maybe color) are your paint and paintbrush. You are a recorder of light, or the absence of light.

It’s what I love about taking urban exploration photos: finding those areas where light meets dark, and creates mystery. What’s in the corner? What lies waiting in the shadows? What can’t I see?

I found a great abandoned warehouse in mid Michigan where these big, bright windows let in a lot of light. But as usual with window light, it falls off in such a great way. There’s just enough illumination to highlight details on the interior, and just enough shadow to make some mystery.

I’m drawn to these areas when I find something to photograph. Where just enough light leaks in to make something magic.

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Hell’s Kitchen

It’s one thing to risk heading into an abandoned house. You could step on a rusty nail, or get attacked by a mongrel dog.

It’s another thing to walk into a kitchen and find the floor missing.

One whole half of the house, in fact, was either caving in or on its way into the basement. With big holes in the roof, there’s nothing to stop Michigan’s chaotic weather from seeping in. It takes time, but eventually nature does its thing.

The only thing keeping the kitchen intact was the underlying structure – load-bearing walls as saviors.

Devastating. And a rich environment for photo making.

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