Abandoned Buildings

Abandoned buildings are nearly everywhere and in some areas they’re plentiful. Places where economies have changed or been lost are most often the easiest to look. Although cities surely have abandonments for urban exploration, my approach usually means the back roads and small towns for interesting finds. Usually, I’m in locations where an economy was built upon natural resource extraction or some type of bypassed manufacturing.

Across the rural lands, farming areas have their share of places left behind. Family farms that heirs don’t want or it’s been too difficult to keep financial heads above water. Sometimes I feel there’s not much sadder or alone than an empty farmhouse with a falling down barn beside it, with everything grown up around them.

So, what’s left behind are abandoned buildings and other remnants of the past that can be explored. It’s always in decay and some of it near collapse. Of course, there are always questions as to the who, why, and when of it all while looking over leftover pieces of what once was. Generally, much of it stays a mystery despite some good clues that can be found at the sites.

In exploring these places, often there are more questions than answers that spring up. Beyond some mystery, abandoned situations can offer a look at a deeper local history and perhaps a way of life that doesn’t often come up. It is simply passing away unnoticed, but it can be revealing to show some of the histories that aren’t really disconnected from us. They are what brought us to now.

When going around abandoned buildings and such, I generally only do so with permission and always ask if there’s anyone to ask. Some abandonments are very abandoned while others may have someone looking out for them in some way. I’ve run into more than one ancient caretaker who was very hard of hearing, believe it or not.

All these pictures are available on super high gloss, as stretched canvas, or matted paper prints with free shipping to the USA. ~Andy