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Ive seen quite a bit of photography from a lot of different explorers. Given they all have their own style and what not, what are the limits.
For example, some will bring props, or will bring certain things to physically change some locations. (paint, furniture, etc)
Or some will move around furniture of a location or break things to create an aesthetic.
I was wondering what the general rule/thought of breaking/"vandalizing" is among everyone.
[I know i explained this weird and bad but I hope you know what i mean.]
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Personally I won’t bring anything I don’t intend to also take back with me, and paint or anything that would alter the location from the way it was when I got there is a no go. I enjoy using props or furniture or whatnot, but I much prefer to use things from the bando. I don’t see any harm in moving things from one spot in a location to another, for the sake of a nice set of photos. I absolutely refuse to break or otherwise damage the property on site, in any way.
I recently posted an explore in the Mid-Atlantic board where I used some dishes I found on site for some of my photos
[last edit 8/29/2020 2:49 PM by SageExplores - edited 1 times]
Memphian | Photographer | Amateur Urbexer | Traveler |
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If I touch something, it's probably going to be a railing while going down stairs, or pushing a door open if I can't slide through. Some explores the only thing I touch is my camera. Just once, I moved a wheelchair from a dark hallway into a room for pictures.
I don't partake in or condone vandalism of any kind. I have seen one instance though that was admittedly kind of cool: The guy went to a psych ward that was in tremendous disrepair, picked one small room, and completely restored it. Like, new paint on the walls, a bed with fresh sheets, pictures and a mirror on the wall, even cleaned out the dust and put down a carpet.
Just one room. Imagine coming upon that.
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Also I would like it to be known, that i don't support vandalism in any way. It was just for sake of the question.
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I never bring anything to use as a prop because I prefer to travel light. My camera, tripod, and flashlight is enough. I also never do anything that would permanently alter the location just for the sake of a picture. I have moved objects a couple of times just because I couldn't get a good picture of it in the position I found it. Stuff like turning over a facedown doll or photograph or moving an object into a room with more light.
https://www.flickr...tos/131085384@N06/ |
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People who bring props into locations usually end up making incredibly cringe-worthy staged photos that end up looking beyond fake and frankly hilarious.
I won't 'stage' a photo but I will move some rubbish out of a shot to clear things up a little, or move something to get a better look at it.
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I see no ethical problem with bringing certain props, and have probably brought more costume changes than anyone on this site.
The bottom line to me is making sure every action taken is reversible. You can flip a doll back around or put pictures back; you can't unpaint a tag or unsmash a window. And this is more a question of ethics than photography.
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I don't take photos of naked dudes!
In all seriousness, I tend to approach everything "as is".
Everyone has a dark side, mines just a little more illuminated. |
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I like to think of my photos as a sort of documentary work, so no moving things, bringing stuff, and especially smashing stuff. I have moved things a few inches for a picture but never more than that.
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I'll move around objects to set a scene, but it's always small things that can be picked up with one hand. I don't move around furniture or bring props of my own. I suppose I approach it urbex photography primarily from an artist's perspective instead of a documentary perspective, so rearranging things to make a better shot is as authentic as post process editing is in my mind.
That being said I don't have anything against bringing props or moving furniture as long as it's put back when you're done- everything I move around is easily reversible.
[last edit 9/1/2020 6:51 AM by Aran - edited 1 times]
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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When I find a spot that isn't in terrible disrepair due to vandals but made a mess by them, for example; finding a control room with papers thrown everywhere and maybe one broken glass due to vandals, I might clean it up. I'll find a broom somewhere and sweep it up and pick up the papers because it was likely in this better state before stupid kids came along.
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Why bring stuff or change stuff. Just enjoy the bando for what it is. Abandoned.
But Im lazy and have been identified as a slacker with no artistic photo skills so...
Also I tend to do live locations. Not gonna be bringing props to a hotel workspace or off-tour area of a county court house but its fine with me if you do.
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I would never bring anything to a location, i think the people that do that are not explorers but use the places as backdrop for their attention seeking photos.
Set ups are cringe overall... depends, i have moved a chair or a desk a couple of time but that's it.
95% of the time i will leave the places as is or clean some of the vandalism and shit thrown around that ruin the original setup of the room.
It's the first time i heard fucking up a place to get a better shots tho!
Il y a toujours un moyen. |
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sometimes it works
"Aint nothin' to it but to do it"
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How do I delete someone else's image?
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Posted by Steed
I see no ethical problem with bringing certain props, and have probably brought more costume changes than anyone on this site.
The bottom line to me is making sure every action taken is reversible. You can flip a doll back around or put pictures back; you can't unpaint a tag or unsmash a window. And this is more a question of ethics than photography.
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Steed,
You have a very distinctive photo style with the masks, so of course you would need to bring along props. By the way, I always like your photos because of your style.
Abby
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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I don't consider myself a photographer in the artistic sense. I take pictures to capture interesting features at the sites we explore. Also I try to capture a series of photographs that support the story I want to tell about the location. Of course I want them properly exposed and have decent composition, but my goal is not art.
There are some amazing photographers on this site. I feel so inadequate...
Abby Normal
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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My friend and I growing up always joked that we don't like traveling much to popular tourist destinations, not in the sense that Paris or Berlin aren't amazing places, but because when you grow up without an abundance of wealth it feels like you pay a few grand all said and done just to look at some nice architecture and say "okay, what now?". So, he and I pretend going to faraway abandoned sites is like our vacation, get just as psyched as if it were a real overseas trip with all the planning and prepping, and have an absolute whale of a time when we get there.
Point being however, all we bring in preparation for photography, aside from our cameras, are outfits that are practical but we feel good about being documented for the rest of eternity in - favourite CBRN gas masks that are definitely overkill or thrifted/bargain binned Blues Brothers ensembles. Its silly as all get out, but we have no social media and only close friends/familys opinions to care about, so we act like this is our trip and the backdrop is something as good as posing infront of the Louvre; so no props are brought to block that, just us snapping some photos inbetween having a good time in a strange but memorable place.
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Posted by Abby Normal
I don't consider myself a photographer in the artistic sense. I take pictures to capture interesting features at the sites we explore. Also I try to capture a series of photographs that support the story I want to tell about the location. Of course I want them properly exposed and have decent composition, but my goal is not art.
There are some amazing photographers on this site. I feel so inadequate...
Abby Normal
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I've got two distinct "modes" with photos at a sight. My preference is get as arty as I can. This can be prohibitive in respect to the much larger amount of time required. So the second mode is just what you described, document mode. Yep I want exposure and everything correct but it's more of a run and gun situation just trying to capture as much of the site as possible. Both are valuable and entirely dependent on the circumstances of the day.
As to the thread subject, I will bring lighting with me but that's it. I don't remember really moving stuff around too much at any sites with the exception of getting "non period correct" trash out of frame. Nothing worse than getting home and realizing all the debris in the pic is from 1960 except for that two year old water bottle laughing at you as it breaks the immersion lol
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Ethics
