So while I can't stand "fake" explorers just as much as the next person, I have to defend instagram explorers to an extent . See, there isn't really anyone to judge them, because what's to say they are "fake" explorers? I may be on the wrong side of instagram (or rather the right side), but all of the explorers I follow and am friends with are talented, emerging photographers who take pictures of features in abandoned buildings or conceptual portraits which, more often than not, are anonymous or unidentifiable, while preserving and not exposing the location. While they might not be in it just for the sake of exploring, do respect their work, as long as they are respectful of the location privacy and preservation. I dunno. That's just how I feel about this.

It's not on instagram, but on Facebook. The only issue I have with it really is the showing off locations so boldly, and it makes the locations pretty hot. Other than that, have at it I guess?

I remember the good old days when people explored and might have brought a camera. I'd name a few people, but it seems every one of them has been banned.

Somebody must be punished! I checked out their stuff > mostly has nothing to do with urban exploration. its simply urban photography with photochop filters(very easy art). Somebody must be punished!

Posted by Air I remember the good old days when people explored and might have brought a camera. I'd name a few people, but it seems every one of them has been banned.

haha Yeah, I had no idea that this whole dealio was a "thing" at all until I randomly found this site. Then all of a sudden I'm flooded with rules ethics elitism photography and all kinds of fluff. I just wanna explore, man. lol

I hate to dig out an old thread and rekindle the flame, but man, I feel like this whole instagram explorer sub-culture thing just keeps getting bigger. The amount of accounts I have come across that use clown vomit hdr and 74 hashtags on each image, and accounts that do nothing but repost images and give "shoutouts" is insane. Now, i'm not necessarily against posting your exploring images on the internet with friends and such, but this whole thing just seems like fame seeking to me. They aren't concerned with seeing the location, they just want people to see them there. And then there is the whole other strain of instagram explorer kids that blow up inner city spots. My favorite explore in my hometown has apparently gained some recent notoriety on the internet, and now i'm seeing images of kids hanging their legs off the edge of the building in broad daylight and people doing yoga on the roof. I'm not downing people who post their explores on instagram, I've talked to some really nice genuine explorers on there that post great stuff. However, it's really clear to pick those people out from the crappy internet fame seeking kids. I hope this whole thing is just a fad that blows over relatively soon.

I think the main problem is the people who constantly post tons of pictures just to build up followers, while naming the location in the description, or having the picture make it very obvious to figure out where it is.
I've seen a lot of pictures which include #LocationName, which is a huge nono in my books, but apart from that, most of them keep the location unknown.

What really grinds my gears that I've seen on there, is the people who claim to be "Urban explorers" yet most of their pictures are of them vandalizing a pristine location with their shitty little "tag".

Personally, I really only use instagram to stay in the loop of what people I know are up to (quite a lot of people from UER are on there), and I will occasionally post some of my own UE pics, to show them what I've been doing.

Posted by nyctophilia So while I can't stand "fake" explorers just as much as the next person, I have to defend instagram explorers to an extent . See, there isn't really anyone to judge them, because what's to say they are "fake" explorers? I may be on the wrong side of instagram (or rather the right side), but all of the explorers I follow and am friends with are talented, emerging photographers who take pictures of features in abandoned buildings or conceptual portraits which, more often than not, are anonymous or unidentifiable, while preserving and not exposing the location. While they might not be in it just for the sake of exploring, do respect their work, as long as they are respectful of the location privacy and preservation. I dunno. That's just how I feel about this.

I feel exactly the same way.

I think I visited Instagram once, was underwhelmed, and never returned. I've nothing against explorers posting crappy pics there. I would hope they are cautious to avoid posting location/POE details, but it's really no different than posting on Facebook, 500px, Flickr, or even posting here.

I eschew many of these new technologies (Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest) because they are of little use to me. I like Facebook for catching photos of nieces and nephews growing up too quickly, but generally despise the meme's, life announcements, and game invites that bombard my account. At least with Facebook and Flickr, you can add some layer of security to restrict who sees your pictures.

While I enjoy seeing good, creative photographs, I prefer to read about the history of a location. If there is a story attached to the pictures (good or bad), then I'm interested. Just seeing pictures to prove you did something isn't all that interesting to me...and isn't that all Instagram does?

This whole "Instagram" thing sounds fancy! Do any of you know if my new camera would work with it?

Facebook had mobile upload and check-in capabilities before Instagram was out.

When Instagram Exploration became a fad, some people started to explore for the purpose of IG Fame and Acclaim stats. Before that was planking for e-fame which I think is pretty lame.

It's the hunger for narcissist e-ego that got people in trouble for doing stupid planking stunts as well as the Brooklyn bridge climber. They don't explore for good reasons. These are the people who probably wouldn't explore if it wasn't for the opportunity to boost their social media ego.

I think Instagram's a great platform and it's been a very helpful place to share my photos. And when I first saw this thread I figured it was a lot of butthurt whining.

But then I met an actual Instagram explorer who had a selfie stick and corporate sponsors, and yeah...ugh.

I'm not really bothered. I never even considered getting one of those Instagrams until I was in America in September and almost every explorer I met up with asked me what my Instagram name was. So I got one just for the sake of having another vessel for me to fill with crap.

While I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread, and though I agree that there are a lot of people who don't respect the locations posting on Instagram, I've seen plenty of people post the locations, names, and POE on Flickr or similar sites. just seems like this argument should be more broad. Its just another outlet that photographers have to use to get their work out there.

Posted by Intrinsic and then there's this idiot http://www.inquisi...gs-national-parks/

Taking a selfie pic with your tagged rock in the middle of nowhere... how lame.

I doubt if Casey is welcome in any national parks now. Dumb bimbo. Eventually Park Rangers will clean up her "art" for a couple grand plus. So far this creeper hasn't been charged. Others have been including out of country tourasses.
I hate tourists...
http://art-crime.b...lism-case.html?m=1

Posted by Air I remember the good old days when people explored and might have brought a camera. I'd name a few people, but it seems every one of them has been banned.

bump.
Anymore as it was in the beginnings when there was no internet, my cameras puny as they are now, are afterthoughts. Mostly I document for my pleasure and memories. As for a personal DB, no such thing. That said, high quality images of industrial, military and civilian structures are most times the only way to preserve them or to be able to ever share and enjoy them again. For those who have done or do this, kudos to you!

To me it's not the photo sharing vessel that makes someone real or fake, it's the person's character. Post your pictures for whoever you want to share them with. It's normal to want to share pictures, especially when they come out as good as some of the ones I see here. Regardless of the site's you use, If you announce to the world where you went and how to get in, you're a fucking moron. It's one thing to share privately with others, especially to explore, but to announce it to everyone is just irresponsible. I don't care if you post your explores on UER, instagram, facebook, hell I don't care if you post them on pornhub. People who are in it for the fame without half an idea of what they are doing have no place here, and their attitudes and irresponsibility that compromises places for the rest of us just piss me off. One of my favorite places is now sealed up tight because one of these dumb fucks thought it would be cool to test the fire alarm, even though the building had power. (a friend of mine knew a friend of the fucking idiot that did it.) anyways, that's more like my 5 cents.

I feel it's just like posting "urban exploring" pictures anywhere, in that, there are good ways to go about it and there are definitely some not so good ways to go about it. There really shouldn't be a set outline for whats okay and whats not when it comes to exploring posting pictures, for the most part; aside from like I mean vandalism, scrapping, arson, and blowing up a spot.

I think it's perfectly fine to post UE pictures on Instagram, just unfortunately some people are shitty about it and there's always been those shitty types of people involved in the hobby since it hit the internet. There's not much else we can do but just keep on exploring how we think is right and make Seph Lawless memes.

Posted by Leopard18 To me it's not the photo sharing vessel that makes someone real or fake, it's the person's character. Post your pictures for whoever you want to share them with. It's normal to want to share pictures, especially when they come out as good as some of the ones I see here. Regardless of the site's you use, If you announce to the world where you went and how to get in, you're a fucking moron.

This is true, although certain medium appeal to the "look at me, look at me, look at me!" type.

A better question to ask: Say hypothetically that the act planking is legal, but photographing and sharing will carry a week in jail or probation term prohibiting social media use. Would they still plank? If the answer isn't "yes", they're not planking for good reasons.

Remember the planking fad a few years back?

Posted by Deuterium Remember the planking fad a few years back? http://i.imgur.com/PZTM8xs.jpg

Sadly I remember that. Unfortunately because of my young age, a lot of my friends got caught in that. Planking is more black and white though, even most unusual people can't really come up with a good reason for doing it, besides the obvious look at me factor. Regardless I agree, I generally don't like the type that's that eager attention. We all like to stand out, it's in our nature. I just wish others could learn to be more content with who they are and take comfort in knowing what they're good at. If I venture into a field I know nothing about, I approach it with care and an open mind, talk to people that know more than me, learn it, and generally dont get arrogant about it. Near as I can tell, almost every sensible explorer I have met took a similar course to get here. If you approach a new hobby with a closed and sometimes ignorant mind, you probably dont belong in that hobby.

Posted by Deuterium This is true, although certain medium appeal to the "look at me, look at me, look at me!" type. A better question to ask: Say hypothetically that the act planking is legal, but photographing and sharing will carry a week in jail or probation term prohibiting social media use. Would they still plank? If the answer isn't "yes", they're not planking for good reasons.

Are you inferring that by posting it, if illegal, would show some sort of civil disobedience that defines or clarifies character and motive?

The little tagger Casey took down all her posts. Would it make her a hard core artist if she had left them up?

I am one who occasionally posts photos from my trips on Instagram, but I've been exploring for many years before Instagram was even around. I NEVER post locations either, of course everyone comments asking where the location is and rarely will I reply, but when I do it's vague like "northern New England".

I agree that lots of accounts have pretty poor looking photos, but on the flip side a large number are respectable urban explorers and photographers that simply use Instagram as another means to share their photos.