 |
|
|
UER Store
|
|
order your copy of Access All Areas today!
|
|
|
|
Activity
|
|
752 online
Server Time:
2024-05-15 13:03:19
|
|
|
 G to the Race
   
Hi!
 |  | Why?
< on 7/18/2006 2:57 AM >
|  | | | Why do you explore and record it? If you photograph and post it, why do you do that? I'm curious. It seems that the act of exploration could be classified as exploitation of built spaces, voyeurism. Why is it important to see, and beyond that, to ensure that others see via posting to the web, writing up the narrative for a 'zine, or whatever.
You betcha |
|
lo fi
  
Location: Columbus
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: Why?
<Reply # 1 on 7/18/2006 3:12 AM >
|  | | | it's a little greedy to keep everything you see to yourself isn't it now?
|
|
Shai Hulud
Location: Evansville IN
Gender: Male
Shai, Team Phantom
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 2 on 7/18/2006 3:54 AM >
| | | | I'm not sure about this question. Your uncertainty about this topic seems to lead to a paradox when both your membership on this site and your question are taken into consideration. This seems like a really odd question, unless I'm taking it in the completely wrong context. It's a similar question to "Why do people communicate with each other?" If I'm misunderstanding your question I apologize, but from the way it's worded it seems accusing. To answer anyway, I do it to share the experience with others, because they'll likely not be able to have the same one. I post pictures I think are well-shot because I want to get feedback from other people with different experiences, tastes, and levels of photographic skill, so I can improve my skill as well.
Me: Why is there snow on her car? ... Wait a minute, that isn't snow at all!
MutantMandias: Nothin' gets past you, man. Nothin'.
-TN Waltz n 'Splore Volume 2 |
|
TrixieSparrow
Location: Hamilton, ON
Gender: Female
I guess.
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 3 on 7/18/2006 4:27 AM >
| | | | Posted by Shai Hulud
I'm not sure about this question. Your uncertainty about this topic seems to lead to a paradox when both your membership on this site and your question are taken into consideration. This seems like a really odd question, unless I'm taking it in the completely wrong context. It's a similar question to "Why do people communicate with each other?" If I'm misunderstanding your question I apologize, but from the way it's worded it seems accusing. To answer anyway, I do it to share the experience with others, because they'll likely not be able to have the same one. I post pictures I think are well-shot because I want to get feedback from other people with different experiences, tastes, and levels of photographic skill, so I can improve my skill as well.
|
all very well said
|
|
Zoltar
Location: NEPA
Gender: Female
Fresh as Lettuce
| | |  | Re: Why?
<Reply # 4 on 7/18/2006 4:30 AM >
| | | | Interesting question. Why did the explorers of old record their travels to the "New World" and their new routes to the East? Some would say greed, some would say business, some would say because it was something new and wonderful to share with the known world.
As for me, my reasons for exploring and photographing are similar to the third suggestion. Abandonments are always interesting, and many of them have something beautiful about them - unusual architecture, artifacts from a different time, trees and plants growing inside, etc. I don't just explore and photograph UE locations, I also go to places in nature that I find particularly beautiful. Waterfalls, mountains, sunsets... and I share them as well. So basically, I explore because I like finding beauty in the world, both in mankind's creations and in nature. I share what I've seen because I want others to see the wonders that I've seen. I want them to be moved by passage of time and nature's ability to create and to destroy. I want others who will never have the opportunity to go where I've gone to at least know what's out there, and allow them to see a small part of something that has aroused so much awe and joy within me.
That is why.
I haven't lost my mind. It's backed up on disk somewhere. |
|
G to the Race
Hi!
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 5 on 7/18/2006 2:09 PM >
| | | | Sorry the question sounded accusatory, I didn't word it very well. I was looking for the impetus for exploration AND representation (Re-Presentation) in various media. If it is just to say, "hey, check out this cool place," fine. But I get the feeling there is more to it than that. Not to say any of us explore and record to "out-do" one another, but could there be an element of identification involved? What I mean is that could it be that folks want others to communicate with them through exploration and thus struggle to show they are worthy interlocutors, both textually and visually?
You betcha |
|
nobody
Location: VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male
5:55 is a state of mind
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 6 on 7/18/2006 2:43 PM >
| | | | If I understand correctly your question, I suppose it could be likened to any hobby...say building model cars, putting them on your shelf, and showing them to your friends or other hobbyists if and when they drop by.
I think some also want to show what they are capable of, or to out-do others if you will, or to just share what they did in a simple way with nothing attached to it. N.
[last edit 7/18/2006 2:44 PM by nobody - edited 2 times]
Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions |
|
Wenn
Location: Pennsylvania
Gender: Female
| | | Re: Why?
<Reply # 7 on 7/19/2006 11:20 PM >
| | | | Why not??
|
|
Bfagan
Location: Glasgow
UE as Canon sees it.
| | | Re: Why?
<Reply # 8 on 7/20/2006 1:19 AM >
| | | |
lol exactly. Also: Because we can. Thank the internet, dood.
"It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful".; - Anton LaVey
"Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I can dance the goodtime dance; and put the on-lookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.." |
|
Mark
 
Very Noble Donor
Location: South Carolina
Gender: Male
What is a lion, king of the savannah, when hes at the south pole?
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 9 on 7/20/2006 4:20 AM >
| | | | It's better to be behind the camera then in front of it?
I use to take pictures because I thought people would enjoy seeing some of my places. Also at the time the region I was exploreing had NO posts, and I wanted to get others involved.
"If the threat level goes up its probably because of me." "I am looking for a girl who enjoys headbutting beltbuckles" |
|
horrorshow
Location: NC
Gender: Male
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 10 on 7/20/2006 7:01 AM >
| | | | It's just one person sharing an experience with others about something they all have in common.
Also it's about the preservation of the place/ location for others to see and enjoy. That is one of the many reasons we explore, it's not only for the enjoyment of exploration but also because these places are one day going to be bulldozed down and made into parking lots - thus we take pictures to ensure there digital existence. Urban Exploration / Preservation.
One day I am going to New Zealand and I will walk the path from the Shire to Mordor and scale mt. doom. |
|
G to the Race
Hi!
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 11 on 7/21/2006 12:18 AM >
| | | | So, your exploring is a way of archiving the built environment? Good answer. The way these boards read sometimes it seems UE could be just a shits and giggles kind of diversion. I'm glad to see folks put more thought into it.
You betcha |
|
drc727
Location: Northwest Indiana
Gender: Female
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 12 on 7/21/2006 1:55 AM >
| | | | It's interesting that you used the words "voyeurism" and "exploitation." It's the classic conundrum, isn't it: is exploration grave robbing or historical preservation? Hubris or service? Imperialism or art? What do we live for if not to try and record what little meaning we find in a chaotic world and use that record to forge relationships? But then I'm a writer, so of course that's how I would see it. Photography must be similar in that respect.
|
|
tron_2.0
Location: Ohio
Gender: Male
| | | | Re: Why?
<Reply # 13 on 7/21/2006 4:32 AM >
| | | | dick waving.
[quote][i]Posted by yokes[/i]
I find your lack of coziness.... disturbing.
[/quote] |
|
G to the Race
Hi!
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 14 on 7/21/2006 2:39 PM >
| | | | Posted by tron_2.0
dick waving.
|
Always nice to hear from the forum intellectuals.
You betcha |
|
Axle
Location: Milton, ON
Gender: Male
Sieg oder Tod
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 15 on 7/21/2006 3:36 PM >
| | | |
I agree. As for the dick waving, yeah, some people do show off just for that.
Celer at Audax
Para la Victoria Siempre Alemanes! |
|
Snail
Location: Markham, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Why?
<Reply # 17 on 7/23/2006 1:45 AM >
| | | | so we can get full member status.
|
|
SeeThirty
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Gender: Male
| |  |  | | Re: Why?
<Reply # 18 on 7/23/2006 3:27 AM >
| | | | The simple answer, why we do anything, is because we can do it.
The complicated answer, why share our hobby with other potential enthusiasts, is to document what we do, where we go, and what we see, so that others who might not be able to do the same, can still re-live the journey with us.
Also, as we look back on our past exploits possibly years later, it can be helpful to have some documented photos, video, journal entries, etc., to help aid our failing memories. 
12/17/2007 (somewhere in AvChat)
[10:29:47] <Lexi> Personally I don't really like her music
[10:29:50] <Lexi> But goddamn [10:29:59] <Lexi> I'd lick her dry. |
|
Local Hero
Location: In a fine pair of trousers
| | Re: Why?
<Reply # 19 on 7/24/2006 1:52 AM >
| | | | While preservation of sites and other noble themes undoubtedly play a role, I think we can't ignore the 'dick waving'. People want to belong and be respected by others, and within this specific community one of the best ways to belong is through the pictures. Without them what proof do we have that someone isn't entirely blowing smoke, and how do things like membership get decided upon? This self promotion works in tandem with preservation, aesthetic concerns, wanting to share, and all sorts of other reasons to answer the "why?" question. I think all people have more than one reason for doing it, but those reasons function at different levels for different people.
Interestingly, for me, I have found myself caught up in trying to take the perfect picture so intently, that after spending a long time at a site I will walk away and realize I remember very little. Has anyone else ever had this happen? Where the picture becomes more important than the actual experience? It's a real pain when it happens, especially when something was tough to get to.
|
|
|
|
All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site:
UER CONTACT
View Terms of Service |
View Privacy Policy |
Server colocation provided by Beanfield
This page was generated for you in 234 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 741819686 pages have been generated.
|
|
