I have seen the same photo of the same places over and over again. Everything is starting to be played out. How do we be original? What sets you apart from the other hundreds of people that have been where you were?

I have a friend that always wants to come explore with me. Im always wary about bringing people that cant necessarily endure the grittiness. But she was persistent. So I brought her along with me on my trip this past weekend. Boy was It a blast.

I strived to do something a little different. Something you dont see every day. Has anyone else brought models to abandoned places? What was your experience like? Would you do it again or not?

Here are some of the photos I got over this past weekend:

[/url]You block your dreams when you allow fear to be bigger than your faith
Faith is taking the first step even when you cant see the whole staircase
Sometimes pain is the greatest motivator

Be your own model ;)

However you can have fun, be different and re-imagine I say go for it.

Glad you have a friend that wants to explore with you. The model in abandonments thing is not new or original however. The whole "Beauty Among the Decay" thing has been done to death and isn't original. That being said, it still doesn't mean that both of you can't enjoy the explore or the experience. If that's what you both like to do and you enjoy the modeling photography in these places more than taking photos of just the place itself than do it.

It's funny you should post this. I was telling Dee last weekend about a project my daughter had in elementary school called "Flat Stanley". The kids had this laminated paper guy named Flat Stanley that they mailed to a friend or relative somewhere in the world and they were supposed to take a photo of Stanley in front of something that showed the location. After the project I took Stanley with me all over the place and photographed him with my phone and after a couple of years we had dozens of pictures. I then went through a divorce and midlife crisis. Stanley's photos became a bit more obscene after that... Its amazing the places strippers can find to put a 4" tall piece of paper!

I've been thinking about getting a new Stanley and bringing him along with me on explores. In fact it would be a great idea for a running UER thread.

Posted by Peptic Ulcer Glad you have a friend that wants to explore with you. The model in abandonments thing is not new or original however. The whole "Beauty Among the Decay" thing has been done to death and isn't original. That being said, it still doesn't mean that both of you can't enjoy the explore or the experience. If that's what you both like to do and you enjoy the modeling photography in these places more than taking photos of just the place itself than do it. It's funny you should post this. I was telling Dee last weekend about a project my daughter had in elementary school called "Flat Stanley". The kids had this laminated paper guy named Flat Stanley that they mailed to a friend or relative somewhere in the world and they were supposed to take a photo of Stanley in front of something that showed the location. After the project I took Stanley with me all over the place and photographed him with my phone and after a couple of years we had dozens of pictures. I then went through a divorce and midlife crisis. Stanley's photos became a bit more obscene after that... Its amazing the places strippers can find to put a 4" tall piece of paper! I've been thinking about getting a new Stanley and bringing him along with me on explores. In fact it would be a great idea for a running UER thread.

Haha, would you bring Flat Stanley into strip clubs? Or do you work at one or what? I want to know more about how that gets brought up.

"Excuse me, Star... but my cousin is working on a school project and we need to get a picture of Flat Stanley in your g-string."

The music is thumping, the booze is flowing, the lights are flashing and out comes Stanley! Never had one refuse me the request. The final Stanley photo took place when one of the girls remembered doing the same thing for school when she was "a little girl". It felt REALLY creepy after that! I think Abandonment Stanley is probably a better idea....

I like the photos, especially love the second one!

It's funny you should post this, because I was just thinking of starting a thread on a similar topic in the rookie forum myself. I guess I'll just write something here instead.

I enjoy doing a little modeling as a hobby, but I haven't really combined that with exploring before. I was thinking of doing some modeling in abandoned places even though I know it's kind of done to death, because I think it would be really fun and maybe make for some nice pictures. I just know some of the newer members have gotten massive backlash for posting pictures of themselves and not focusing on the location itself.

Where is the line between posing as part of a composition and just showing off, do you think? Everyone probably has a different definition of where that line falls.

Posted by Peptic Ulcer Glad you have a friend that wants to explore with you. The model in abandonments thing is not new or original however. The whole "Beauty Among the Decay" thing has been done to death and isn't original. That being said, it still doesn't mean that both of you can't enjoy the explore or the experience. If that's what you both like to do and you enjoy the modeling photography in these places more than taking photos of just the place itself than do it. It's funny you should post this. I was telling Dee last weekend about a project my daughter had in elementary school called "Flat Stanley". The kids had this laminated paper guy named Flat Stanley that they mailed to a friend or relative somewhere in the world and they were supposed to take a photo of Stanley in front of something that showed the location. After the project I took Stanley with me all over the place and photographed him with my phone and after a couple of years we had dozens of pictures. I then went through a divorce and midlife crisis. Stanley's photos became a bit more obscene after that... Its amazing the places strippers can find to put a 4" tall piece of paper! I've been thinking about getting a new Stanley and bringing him along with me on explores. In fact it would be a great idea for a running UER thread.

Oh believe me, I know the whole idea has been beat to death. I know it's not original. Just something you don't normally see all that much anymore. Just like everything else, it seems to have come and gone. Its something new to me, and tends to add a flare to a place that otherwise would be pretty boring.

I as well would like to know how the topic of the stripper came up hahaha

Posted by Cryptomatic I like the photos, especially love the second one! It's funny you should post this, because I was just thinking of starting a thread on a similar topic in the rookie forum myself. I guess I'll just write something here instead. I enjoy doing a little modeling as a hobby, but I haven't really combined that with exploring before. I was thinking of doing some modeling in abandoned places even though I know it's kind of done to death, because I think it would be really fun and maybe make for some nice pictures. I just know some of the newer members have gotten massive backlash for posting pictures of themselves and not focusing on the location itself. Where is the line between posing as part of a composition and just showing off, do you think? Everyone probably has a different definition of where that line falls.

I am lucky enough to have someone who is both into exploring and a great model. I have taken her on trips before, but this time was her idea. I agree that it has been done to death, but everyone has their own style. These past few months has been a rough time in her life, which I tried to capture with the photos and the descriptions. It all tells a story rather than just a model in an abandoned church. I think if you're able to tie it all together as one piece rather than focusing more on one thing than the other youre safe. That line is a gray area, and youre right, it probably varies person to person.

Often I will take pictures of my friends while exploring but I never got into shooting models. I am just really bad at posing and directing people as subjects.
I try to keep it original by photographing places that have not really been photographed before. And/or shooting places in a different perspective.

Keep up the good work

Posted by Adv.Pack Often I will take pictures of my friends while exploring but I never got into shooting models. I am just really bad at posing and directing people as subjects. I try to keep it original by photographing places that have not really been photographed before. And/or shooting places in a different perspective. Keep up the good work

I always explore with the same group of people, so I tend to have hundreds of photos with the same people in it. Although modeling in abandoned buildings isnt anything new or original, the perspective and artistry behind it is. Learning how to direct someone takes some practice. It especially helps if you have someone that knows what theyre doing

I honestly wish there was more modeling in abandonments on this site. I always enjoy seeing the creativity and something at least a little bit different.

Posted by CatAndTie I honestly wish there was more modeling in abandonments on this site. I always enjoy seeing the creativity and something at least a little bit different.

I absolutely agree. Not that people here are bad photographers, but everything is the same. The same boring photo of the same places over and over again. I wish people would be a little more creative.

#2 is sublime
You nailed it.

What she's wearing on top hurts the other shots though...
On the first one a higher cam shot from 2-3 feet might or more angled off to the left side worked better. Shoot from many angles/heights for a few keepers.
Just saying... very good shots and model.

Posted by Peptic Ulcer Glad you have a friend that wants to explore with you. The model in abandonments thing is not new or original however. The whole "Beauty Among the Decay" thing has been done to death and isn't original. That being said, it still doesn't mean that both of you can't enjoy the explore or the experience. If that's what you both like to do and you enjoy the modeling photography in these places more than taking photos of just the place itself than do it. It's funny you should post this. I was telling Dee last weekend about a project my daughter had in elementary school called "Flat Stanley". The kids had this laminated paper guy named Flat Stanley that they mailed to a friend or relative somewhere in the world and they were supposed to take a photo of Stanley in front of something that showed the location. After the project I took Stanley with me all over the place and photographed him with my phone and after a couple of years we had dozens of pictures. I then went through a divorce and midlife crisis. Stanley's photos became a bit more obscene after that... Its amazing the places strippers can find to put a 4" tall piece of paper! I've been thinking about getting a new Stanley and bringing him along with me on explores. In fact it would be a great idea for a running UER thread.

I remember mailing Flat Stanley to my grandfather in California when I was in the second or third grade. Funny that you brought this up, I was just thinking about it the other day. I like that idea of a Flat Stanley thread.

Posted by blackhawk #2 is sublime You nailed it. What she's wearing on top hurts the other shots though... On the first one a higher cam shot from 2-3 feet might or more angled off to the left side worked better. Shoot from many angles/heights for a few keepers. Just saying... very good shots and model.

Thanks!

Yeah, unfortunately someone else was shooting the same shot directly above me. I still love the way it came out.

Frankly, there aren't many techniques that HAVEN'T been beat to death. Your particular model hasn't been shot in your particular location, so there is something new right off the top. As long as you are having fun with it, meh. Try something to put your own stamp and it and enjoy.

Posted by Peptic Ulcer The model in abandonments thing is not new or original however. The whole "Beauty Among the Decay" thing has been done to death and isn't original. That being said, it still doesn't mean that both of you can't enjoy the explore or the experience. If that's what you both like to do and you enjoy the modeling photography in these places more than taking photos of just the place itself than do it.

The above says everything I was going to say about the originality of shooting models in abandonments.

I will say that I really like what you're doing with your model friend here. She's posing, and "modeling", but it's all very tasteful. She's not scantily dressed in underwear, coated in fake blood, or wearing a gas mask, so I would say your tasteful restraint is giving you points for originality here. Keep that up!

There's one friend I always take exploring with me, and she likes to pose for photos. I find having a person in a photo can be cool, but focusing on the building is still important.

I enjoy shooting models in abandonments but when I do I make an important distinction between my 'exploring' photos and 'model' photos, I don't lump them in the same category. Different skill sets etc.

On my trip I just got back from I dabbled a bit in the modelling photos, people seem to think I'm quite good at it when I find the time to shoot photos of them, I just don't get as many opportunities as I'd like.

Fuzzy animal costumes in abandoned places, that would be fun!
Or gingerbread costumes, something really ridiculous!