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 MatC
     
Nobler Donor
Location: ENY
Gender: Male
Accepted everywhere
 |  |  | UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
< on 10/17/2004 5:02 PM >
|  | | | In a recent (locked) thread (which I do not intend to rehash), the question came up as to whether one should UE to take pictures or just to explore. I expounded upon my personal views of the reasons for UE'ing in a long post I made a while back, and I listed those two items separately, since it is obviously possible to explore something/somewhere even if you don't have a camera.
However, photography does seem inextricably intertwined with UE, especially here on UER (where there are "Attach an Image" buttons on every page and the ability to make galleries for locations) as well as on the hundreds of exploration web sites where people post pictures of the places they've been. I've even seen a signature somewhere on here that says, "if you didn't take pictures, you weren't there."
Is Mike Dijital correct that pictures are "only required in online dickwaving contets [sic]"? Or is photography an integral part of UE?
***
As I implied above (and in the long post I mentioned), my personal view is that exploring only for the sake of exploring is certainly possible. There is something to be said for the rush that comes from finding an unlocked door or an accessible ladder, looking over your shoulder, and then getting access to a place that you've never been in before (Ninj describes a great moment like this in the latest "Infiltration," calling it a "supreme video game moment.")
However, I enjoy bringing my camera UE'ing for several reasons. First, I like photography and I am always looking for new scenes to photograph, and whether that's examining the decay of a building over time, or the view from the roof of a downtown hotel, or whatever, the images available in UE locations are often different from those available in everyday, accessible locations.
Second, even if I don't end up taking a prize-winning photograph, I enjoy being able to show people the places I've been. I think there's something to be said for taking pictures to augment the story one tells about places one has been, rather than having to say, "yeah, then I went up this stairway that was creepy and dark and had purple stripes and the floorboards were all cracked," you could say, "and then I went up this stairway!". Certainly, this could become "dickwaving" if you took photos only to make yourself look good, or only to post as many photos as possible to prove you're a great explorer, but I don't think it has to be that way.
Anyway, I'd be interested in other people's thoughts on this.
-- Mat
"We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time."
- T.S. Eliot, excerpt from "Little Gidding" |
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Servo
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 1 on 10/17/2004 5:09 PM >
| | | | Well, to me, the way I see a location is in photos, and it's the way I remember it. For me, photography and UE are inextricably linked. However, it's not that way for everyone; this is another one of those things that depends rather strongly on the individual. But suggesting that those who take photos are somehow doing UE at a lesser level is just silly.
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The Hitman's Daughter
Account Closed
Location: ottawa, canada
Gender: Female
hot pavement.
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 2 on 10/17/2004 5:20 PM >
| | | | for the longest time i did not take any photos whenever i went exploring. It didn't seem necessary.
now i do, because i like to show people photos of places i've been.
richellesart.com
From now on and until the end of time, "Hip To Be Square" will conjure images of bloody bodies being hacked apart with axes.
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Kay O. Sweaver
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Gender: Male
Happiness is saying yes more often than no.
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 3 on 10/17/2004 6:18 PM >
| | | | I lost my camera waaaay back in Sydney while celibrating a fellow explorer's birthday in King's Cross (think strip clubs and seedy bars). Anyways I've barely taken a picture on a UE mission since, just a few with disposibles. I DO shoot a fair amount of motion picture footage on my super 8 camera but I consider that quite different from taking still photos.
I think that sometimes a camera can be a distraction. Its kind of like turning into a cyclops, you lose depth perception with that big 'ol lense glued to your face. You only see the surface of things, not the whole 3D reality of it. Sure its nice to have the record to look back at and to show other people, and sometimes the shots are truly works of art, but...
I also know that bringing a camera (especially a motion picture camera with slow ass film in dark places) introduces a whole new heap of logistical problems. Lighting, tripods, making sure people don't run through shots, getting people to pose. Often times the person with the camera can hold up the whole group while they screw around with their F-stops.
I like going on specific, photographic missions. On a few occassions me and a few others have gone out with the specific purpose of taking photos. We bring all the gear we need and since they're usually locations we've been to before and know well we don't waste time or feel pressured to "press on." These sessions usually produce the best photos with the least amount of stress.
And that's what I have to say about that.
==========================
Amy Smith is an infected slut |
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andrea
 
Location: Baltimore MD
Gender: Female
Apparently, I am heinous.
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 4 on 10/17/2004 6:40 PM >
| | | | I enjoy looking at photos of these loactions, and I like seeing places documented that most normall people wouldn't think twice about. I like taking pictures, its something I have enjoyed just about my whole life. So if you wanna take photos do and don't if ya don't. But when telling about your explorations, a few photos do help the rest of us enjoy it. I like your photos THD they are mix of fun photos that are you and your friends having fun, along with some great arty shots. So I dunno, it to each his (or her) own....
This isn't boot camp and you are not a ninja. But you sure look like an idiot in that outfit.
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Jester
Location: Vancouver,B.C. Canada
Gender: Male
Always just out of sight...
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 5 on 10/17/2004 7:10 PM >
|  | | | I explored for over 20 years without a camera (or on the very rare times I took an old point and shoot, never ever developed 1 roll of film). Now, I wish I had taken a cmaera everywhere, because the vest majority of the places I saw, no longer exist. Now, i'm quite happy to take pictures when exploring (and since I use digital now, don't worry about leaving the film to rot).
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. |
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Hogger
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Gender: Male
| |  |  | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 6 on 10/17/2004 7:59 PM >
| | | | It all depends.. you can see "art" in MANY locations... it's all in the eye of the beholder.
Me personally, I enjoy industrial age equipment, and machinery... and sort of visualize it once bustling with activity and workers.
I usually go one step further in my "explorations", and bring a whole complex camera rig, tripod, etc... and do long exposure/light effect type shots, to create "art" out of something otherwise rather inert.
Even in active locations, you can create wonderful photographs of infrastruture, machinery, manholes, passages.. anything!
So, I guess my "exploring" is two-fold.. 1- to see the inner-workings of current or former facilities, and 2- to capture it in semi-artistic photographs for personal satisfaction.
I have several walls of my apartment decorated with framed pictures of very cool sites I've visited and photographed. And yes, some artifacts and examples of industrial age antiques. (I professionally restore antique telephones, signs, and other doo-dads as another hobby).
I don't want to get too crazy setting up my place with cool stuff, otherwise I might find someone else trying to "urban-explore" my own apartment! (hehe)
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'Dukes
Noble Donor
Gender: Male
At least someone llikes me
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 7 on 10/17/2004 8:39 PM >
| | | | Mat, I think there is a bit of "dick waving" going on with photos as Mike so eloquently put it, but in a sense, exploring is the ultimate tourism; you might as well take pictures to remember the place for several reasons; 1) Only a small percentage of the population will ever be there, so record it for posterity; 2)As Jester said, many of the places you get to see aren't there any more . Frontier town, while not high on the difficulty scale, has had all it's assets sold at auction. I took a million pics and can remember it the way it was, frozen in time.
3) Half of these places are awesome! You've seen the Pines hotel; how could you resist taking pictures there?
4) It's nice to go home, dump a bunch of pictures, get a hot shower, and look at where you just went in the comfort of a nice warm house.
Nothing wrong with not taking pics; but from my perspective it's renewed my 20 year interest in photography. It's the reason I'm camera crazy again.
Especially with the internet and it's prominence today, I think photography has lended itself to the cause; the Scotland locations are pic heavy, true, but half the pics are of the people who have a good time exploring; I enjoy that and their comments most of all.
I got your tour winner right here pussies, at least he'd crash out trying. |
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Tupsumato
Location: Finland
Gender: Male
How close can you go?
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 8 on 10/17/2004 8:41 PM >
| | | | I'm trying to find a path between exploring and photographing. I could explore for exploring's sake, but I'd rather bring a camera with me. Photographing is one of my hobbies, as is UE, and I like merging these two.
I also take pictures to document the places and my findings for myself and others. Some of the places now exist only in my pictures (and memories). People want to know about the places I've visited, and explaining everything verbally would be quite difficult, because I suck at describing places etc.. And of course the dickwaving part; "I was there! I saw it!".
All information and details given in good faith but not guaranteed! |
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Arkan
Location: LaSalle County, Illinois
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 9 on 10/17/2004 8:51 PM >
|  | | | Personally, I feel I take in the surroundings and the details much more without a camera. When I have a camera in my hand I'm in too much of a rush to document every corner of a place, and as a consequence, I fail to enjoy the atmosphere.
However, it's great when I do have a camera because having pictures of a location really allows you to reflect back and also to show people where you've been. Pictures are an integral part of attracting people to UE and getting them to take the leap and explore for themselves.
In the end it's all up to the individual. I love exploring a place and taking it all in but it's also very nice to have tangible memories in the form of pictures. A fellow explorer once told me to explore a site for the first time without a camera so you can truly feel the thrill of exploration and on the return trips, bring a camera to completely capture the location.
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Roland
Location: Baltimore, MD
Gender: Male
Proud Leader of Brandishing a Firearm on the High Seas UE
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 10 on 10/17/2004 9:15 PM >
| | | | I don't think that there's anything wrong with not taking pictures, because sometimes you get more into trying to find good shots then you do exploring. I only started taking pictures of places I went too about a year and a half ago, but since then I've gotten to the point that I don't like to go anywhere without my camera.
A few months ago, just on the spur of the moment, a friend and I decided to go to a building I'd wanted to get into for over a year. It was a great experiance but I've been kicking myself since for not having my camera with me that night, and I havn't gotten a chance to go back since.
Ultimatly, though, it all depnds on the person. Just because you take a lot of pictures doesn't mean you're trying to show off, and just because you don't take pictures doesn't mean you're not really exploring.
Buildings have two natural enemies- water, and bears. |
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Caput_58
Location: Virginia, USA
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 11 on 10/17/2004 9:38 PM >
| | | | I could explore without a camera, but don't. If I did, I would still enjoy the trip, but a few things would nag me.
First, as an photographer, I would regret the opporunities I was wasting. I love photography, but I have trouble finding strong subjects in the everyday world. Abandoned buildings are full of interesting subjects.
Second, as a lover of history, I would regret the memories of a place that I wasn't preserving. Our favorite buildings are temporary, their time is limited, and we may be the last people who care enough to try and record their lives near the end.
Third, as a reasonably social member of the UE world, I would regret not being able to share my explorations with the world. I don't care if you guys think I'm the greatest ninja explorer ever or some putz with a camera, I'd like to share the neat stuff I find with those who will appreciate it the same way I do.
So yes, I'd explore without a camera.. its not necessary to the experience like a light source might be, but it does make things more meaningful and enjoyable for me.
Caput_58
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andrea
Location: Baltimore MD
Gender: Female
Apparently, I am heinous.
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 12 on 10/17/2004 10:53 PM >
| | | | Posted by 'Dukes
Mat, I think there is a bit of "dick waving" going on with photos as Mike so eloquently put it |
I have to say I am never "waving my dick" when I post pictures, I don't think most of the people here are ethier  especially the girls...
This isn't boot camp and you are not a ninja. But you sure look like an idiot in that outfit.
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Vapor
Gender: Male
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 13 on 10/17/2004 10:59 PM >
| | | | No, unless it's something from that UE porn collection I've seen on UEA
Photography at a site for me is a myraid of shots at a place I find interesting, so I can share the neat features of it with others. I for one am greatful for the UEDB because it gives me a dose of UE for when I can't go out and do it myself.
[last edit 10/17/2004 10:59 PM by Vapor - edited 1 times]
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Shane
Moderator
Location: Bronx, NY
Gender: Male
| |  |  | | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 14 on 10/18/2004 12:58 AM >
| | | | I gotta say I definately agree with what Caput had to say. I don't think that the two things are mutually exclusive.
I can and do enjoy explorations without my camera, but I prefer to have it there. I hate having some incredible opportunity to take a great picture and then missing out on it because I don't have a camera on me. The places I visit are full of all sorts of interesting subjects and things that are out of the ordinary. This generally makes for some pretty striking images, as they are things that most people don't ever see.
I also very much enjoy the aspect of sharing stories/history with friends both online and off. I'm not a great writer, so for me the best way to convey things to others is through images.
As for the "dick waving contest", I know that it's not an issue for myself. If it were, I'd post alot more pictures of the things I've found. I have something like 40 galleries worth of stuff sitting on my hard drive that I've never posted anywhere, including some of the best pictures I've ever taken. I'm in no rush to put them up and gain recognition for making some neat discoveries, I take the pictures for myself first and share them with everyone else once I am done seeing a place completely.
"Because there's no possibility of real disaster, real risk, we're left with no chance for real salvation. Real elation. Real excitement. Joy. Discovery. Invention. The laws that keep us safe, these same laws condemn us to boredom. Without access to true chaos, we'll never have true peace. Unless everything can get worse, it won't get any better." -Chuck Palahniuk |
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 15 on 10/18/2004 2:08 AM >
| | | | With me and Willy, taking pictures is a way to walk our less hearty friends through a location without having to babysit them. In some cases, it has actually inspired people to take a look at things a little more deeply than simply driving by it every day.
With photography, i gives folks a chance to see what you see. Take them along for a ride, and sure 'wave your dick' around. Why not? I'd say 98% of the locations here i'll never get to see. Ever. Pictures are a way to walk through them, virtually.
If you bring a camera, cool. See with it, but not through it. Take pictures, but don't just take pictures. This is all about the experience, not the dick waving... Couldn't Mike have found a better term than 'dick waving'?
Samurai
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Mike Dijital
  
UEDB Moderator
Location: Boston MA.
Gender: Male
UE ver. 1.0
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 16 on 10/18/2004 2:13 AM >
| | | | Dont get me wrong , I take pictures to, I made my comment at shanes " I took 300+ pictures " it was my way of saying " So what , Big F'n deal, Your the man arn't you "
I think if it were not for pictures UE would not be as big as it is.
Pictures are good, bragging about how many times you pushed the click button is just highschool
www.deggi5.com / www.mikedijital.com |
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Shane
Moderator
Location: Bronx, NY
Gender: Male
| | | | | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 17 on 10/18/2004 2:26 AM >
| | | | Posted by Mike Dijital
Dont get me wrong , I take pictures to, I made my comment at shanes " I took 300+ pictures " it was my way of saying " So what , Big F'n deal, Your the man arn't you "
I think if it were not for pictures UE would not be as big as it is.
Pictures are good, bragging about how many times you pushed the click button is just highschool
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My comment about 300+ pictures had nothing to do with bragging. I gave the number to indicate that I had just come back from a pretty lengthy/significant/enjoyable UE trip. You had suggested that people get out and explore more, and I just wanted to point out the fact that I had just come back from an awesome all day exploration.
"Because there's no possibility of real disaster, real risk, we're left with no chance for real salvation. Real elation. Real excitement. Joy. Discovery. Invention. The laws that keep us safe, these same laws condemn us to boredom. Without access to true chaos, we'll never have true peace. Unless everything can get worse, it won't get any better." -Chuck Palahniuk |
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TurboZutek
King Dick
Location: Scotland
Gender: Male
Giant octo-penised rapephant
| |  | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 18 on 10/18/2004 2:26 AM >
| | | | Posted by andrea
I have to say I am never "waving my dick" when I post pictures, I don't think most of the people here are ethier especially the girls...
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Any girls who are feeling left out and would like to wave MINE then send me a PM.
Hey!! Don't all rush at once!! :p
I agree with a lot of the points raised.. I tend to get into the swing of exploring a location a bit more when I'm camera free - but kick myself a little when I pass something that would make a great picture.
Also, as is mentioned the feeling of missing out on something is a killer too - for instance, when I was younger (14) I explored in great detail Kilmarnock Old Infirmary, I saw some amazing sights* that even today I have not bettered and how many pictures did I take of my first real UE location ?
That's right - NONE. 35mm cameras (No digital then!) were too expensive for me and I took zero pictures. On the internet today I can find no more than two pictures anywhere of Kilmarnock Old Infirmary.
I'm forever kicking myself over that one.
Chris...
* - Mortuary the size of Ireland, fever wards, full 1980's operating theatre setup, 1950s WOODEN wheelie things, dead rats the size of a dog in the kitchens etc etc so many interesting sights.
We all had ostriches. My dad had an ostrich farm! I remember one day someone came in and said the high altitude bombing of Kosovo had been a limited success, so we all went out and celebrated… by killing an ostrich and boiling it in kiwi fruit. |
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punkboy_jerm
Location: Montreal
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE'ing to Explore, or Take Pictures?
<Reply # 19 on 10/18/2004 3:20 AM >
| | | | Posted by Caput_58
I could explore without a camera, but don't. If I did, I would still enjoy the trip, but a few things would nag me.
First, as an photographer, I would regret the opporunities I was wasting. I love photography, but I have trouble finding strong subjects in the everyday world. Abandoned buildings are full of interesting subjects.
Second, as a lover of history, I would regret the memories of a place that I wasn't preserving. Our favorite buildings are temporary, their time is limited, and we may be the last people who care enough to try and record their lives near the end.
Third, as a reasonably social member of the UE world, I would regret not being able to share my explorations with the world. I don't care if you guys think I'm the greatest ninja explorer ever or some putz with a camera, I'd like to share the neat stuff I find with those who will appreciate it the same way I do.
So yes, I'd explore without a camera.. its not necessary to the experience like a light source might be, but it does make things more meaningful and enjoyable for me.
Caput_58
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I was going to post a long rant but you said everything I wanted to!
my exact thoughts...
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