Hello, I’m not really a rookie but I was wondering if about if you guys tend to urbex during the day or night and why? Personally I tend to go in the late afternoon since it’s still bright out, yet not complete broad daylight if you know what I mean. I’m interested to hear from everyone else though too!

It depends on the type of location you’re doing. Underground stuff I’ll do at night since it’s usually less busy and light doesn’t matter. If I’m going to take pictures of buildings or whatever, I’ll usually go early or predawn it, spend a few hours inside and then end up leaving sometime throughout the day.

Whenever possible I strongly prefer daytime. This includes abandonments, where you stand out a little less, tunnels, where you can see light coming in from outside in places, and cranes, which are just a lot more fun to photograph in daylight. Of course I prefer roofs at blue hour though.

Of course there are times when night is important, such as if you have to wait for workers to leave, or if you want to check if any remaining occupants turn on lights after dark.

I don't do it when it gets dark because that's when all the ghosts come out

For me, it 100% depends on the location. I am not photographer, and any pics I do take are pretty much just for me, so light doesn't really matter. Generally if permission is granted, or nobody cares, then broad daylight. If the property is watched and requires stealth, then usually after 11pm...

Posted by mookster I don't do it when it gets dark because that's when all the ghosts come out

Oh ofc, I have the same reason for not going at night. I’ll leave that stuff for the ghostbusters 100% 💀

I'm a rookie, but I like night because of it's less chance of getting caught, but the liminality and creepiness is something I find pretty interesting. But I like photography, so it's a bittersweet thing. And since I'm young like you it's way easier to sneak away to check some shit out at night.

Day for photos. Night for creepy mood. But the older i get i feel weird exploring during the night.

Daylight for pics, night for stealth. Usually I'll do most buildings in daylight if I can, but infiltration like rooftops is best done after dark. With underground it depends on how discreet the entrance is, because walking in an outfall in daylight is usually fine but popping a lid at high noon is asking for trouble.

Last weekend I was driving around and realised it's a lot harder to enter subway tunnels in the daytime. At least over here, the entrances are usually right in the middle of busy roads where anyone can see you. Also, of course, worker schedules.

night.
in the rain.

with my batman mask on.

I always go at daytime just because of visibility. Daytime makes it way easier to see which is also good for photography. If it is a high security place though, you might think about going at night.

Night all the way! something about the spooky element. Plus the low visibility is always a nice way for a quick exit!

It's always nighttime where I explore. LOL!

Abby Normal

I prefer the very early morning, right at dawn, especially on the weekends if it's an urban location. The chances of getting spotted are minimal, as everyone is asleep. If it's a rural location, later in the day is fine, but there's just something about doing it in the morning, seems a lot less risky.

Both has its own atmospherics.
Nighttime is just more suitable to younger people or to those who has a different sleeping cycle. I choose daytime exploring these days or early mornings. Some places make sense only to be visited at night, for example, climbing football stadium light towers😺

I like to go at night preferably with people because for me going into drains at night alone is starting to make me nervous because of the animals coming into the drains while I'm in the drain (mostly raccoons to be exact) but I've been starting to notice that this doesn't seem to happen as much during the day. I'm a super big night owl, so I love to be out at night, so for me it depends on the drain I explore at night. To answer the question, if I go alone, then I prefer to go during the day and if I go with people, then I prefer to go at night.