-Not a UE snob...it'll hit up almost everything

-And not my photos...there is still much improvement to be made in my own work

-I'm talking about other people's photos. I hate it that when I view other people photo's here, I cover their whole posting in 2-3 scrolls of a mouse wheel. And unless something screams out to me, I don't even see it.

it's weird, I want to look at your photos, but when it comes time to actually doing that I just want to keep moving on. So I just want everyone to know. I see almost all your work here. I just rarely comment anymore.

I guess I used to look at it as inspiration. Now all I see is: Long hallway, lonely chair, pile of snow, crappy building, etc.

I don't even know where I'm going with this... I guess start by taking better shots (lol joking).


I dunno, I lost the motivation for viewing other's work. I still want to, but for some reason I don't.

Somewhat unrelated, but I always get pissed off when people post photos using that damn thumbnail pop-up gallery thing. If I see that, I just immediately hit the back button and ignore the photos.

Posted by Brind Somewhat unrelated, but I always get pissed off when people post photos using that damn thumbnail pop-up gallery thing. If I see that, I just immediately hit the back button and ignore the photos.

Yah I do that too...even quicker than 3 mouse scrolls. Sorry people..but that's the way it is these days. I usually pop up one pic and unless it's the fucking phenom, I'm gone.

I feel the same way. The oversaturation is killing it for me. There are too many threads, especially on Mondays. The thing that bothers me about the Monday thing is that I feel people aren't taking the time to weed and polish, they just want to toss them up asap. I honestly believe it people sat on things a bit longer they might be able to come up with stronger pictures. Also, for me, there are too many threads for the same locations, without many photos standing out as different. It is odd to get sick of places you have never been to, but it happens to me.

I understand that many people just want to show where they have been and share, but like you said, it isn't holding my attention. Maybe it is the curse of the wheel.

There are a few people who stand out from the crowd, such as Dobi, who is always a pleasure. Also I always looked forward to a Leviathan thread, not that there has be one in a long time. There are more people, those just popped into my mind.

Posted by argonian I feel the same way. The oversaturation is killing it for me. There are too many threads, especially on Mondays. The thing that bothers me about the Monday thing is that I feel people aren't taking the time to weed and polish, they just want to toss them up asap. I honestly believe it people sat on things a bit longer they might be able to come up with stronger pictures. Also, for me, there are too many threads for the same locations, without many photos standing out as different. It is odd to get sick of places you have never been to, but it happens to me. I understand that many people just want to show where they have been and share, but like you said, it isn't holding my attention. Maybe it is the curse of the wheel. There are a few people who stand out from the crowd, such as Dobi, who is always a pleasure. Also I always looked forward to a Leviathan thread, not that there has be one in a long time. There are more people, those just popped into my mind.

Agree 100%

For example, that one industrial place in (I'm assuming in NJ or Eastern PA) with that big steel wheel with the the spikey things sticking out that people climb on and take pics for group shots...that's great, but I never want to see that again even though I've never even been there. And then on top of that they all do the perspective shot down that long span of what I think is pipes or conveyor belt or something (Of course always in the same direction too).

I dunno. It all comes in waves. I remember when a certain power plant in upstate NY was blowing up here (not the 3 month ago wave, but the 6 months ago one), but now it's silent again. I guess it just depends on if a group of multiple people goto a place and they all feel the need to post their stuff in the public parts of UER. Then that inspires a 2nd group of ppl to do the same thing.

But my original post rant includes places I've never seen before. But how I judge a place just by seeing one pic. I know I've been to places that I love, but aren't photogenic at all. I guess a lot of it is relative to the poster and the experience they had maybe. But here's the thing for me personally. If I see pics of a concrete shell of a empty graffiti'd building the first pic in the thread is enough for me and I'm gone.

Damn, I'm a photo snob and I hate that.

Posted by trent I guess I used to look at it as inspiration. Now all I see is: Long hallway, lonely chair, pile of snow, crappy building, etc.

Welcome to year two of UER. Pretty soon you'll just stop looking at most photo threads altogether. Don't even ask me what happens by year four.

The only really inspiring new stuff I've seen lately has been from uLiveAndYouBurn, mostly because he's out doing stuff that pushes the limits of urban exploration. He's also a decent writer- although you'd probably have to visit his blog to get that.

I've generally stopped looking at this site for quality photography, though, and more for threads about locations that I find interesting. Most of the time that involves places (or types of places) that I haven't already seen umpteen million times over the course of my time spent here. Those threads aren't always easy to find, but occasionally something will come up in one of the regional or private boards. Your recent thread involving Rochester's CSOAP system is a good example of what I'm talking about here.

Posted by micro Your recent thread involving Rochester's CSOAP system is a good example of what I'm talking about here.

Hah, I feel honored. Just wait until the novelty wears off on that...

You're all just becoming grizzled, bitter cynics, that's all. Restore your outlook by batch processing the photo dumps through the photo-fakery filter of your choice; tilt-shift is all the rage right now.

Anyway, while I'm not in any way a cynic, I can relate, though I've actually become less of a snob, rather than receiving a snobbery boost.

I don't rail so much anymore against poor quality photography - in fact, I'm finding that I don't really care quite so much whether I even like the shots themselves. I'm happy with mediocre visuals, if I get to see people doing things, rather than just getting another static shot of the scenery. Bonus points if there's text to accompany it all.

The posts that engage me are the ones that give me some idea what a place was like for those who once occupied it, or some insight into what it was like to trapse around it as an explorer.

Sadly, though, this lowering of my photographic standards applies to my own stuff as well, and I now find myself spending all my time shooting second-rate self-portraits.

Just remember to always place the camera over your face and look into a mirror while taking self portraits.

Posted by Brind Somewhat unrelated, but I always get pissed off when people post photos using that damn thumbnail pop-up gallery thing. If I see that, I just immediately hit the back button and ignore the photos.

WOAH!!! I totally agree with Brind!!
If your photos arent good enough in a decent size maybe you should go back and get better pictures!! Thanks to advice from MetaWaffle and a few others my photos are looking alot better. Shane gave me some real good long exposure advice also. I think I dislike when I have no idea about the place and the post doesn't say any history or story. Thanks for all the help everyone! I really appreciate.

Posted by argonian Just remember to always place the camera over your face and look into a mirror while taking self portraits.

Done and done!

Ha! I recognize your fingernails.

Posted by katetron WOAH!!! I totally agree with Brind!! If your photos arent good enough in a decent size maybe you should go back and get better pictures!! Thanks to advice from MetaWaffle and a few others my photos are looking alot better. Shane gave me some real good long exposure advice also. I think I dislike when I have no idea about the place and the post doesn't say any history or story. Thanks for all the help everyone! I really appreciate.

I actually have noticed some improvement, but never said anything (due to unknown reasons as stated in the O.P). Keep shoot and improving.

thanks Trent you know I really do value your opinion!

I have to admit how I view the forum has changed a lot. I have taken to not looking at anything new right off the bat. If it gets tons of replies in a day or so I will look. After that I will search out ones that everyone skipped over to see why.

You can only shoot the same places with the same stuff in it so many different ways.
Hospitals are fun, Yes. Maybe you'll see something different then someone else.
But sometimes we copy others shots.

I personally like Hotels and Industrial the best because you can always get different shots out of them.

Industrial always has color,Machines,etc. to shoot.
That power plant in PA that is overshot, Really isnt.
Only about a quarter of that building is overshot.
Place is HUGE! No one ever shoots the other sections of it.
Only the turbine hall.

As for that Hospital in CT with that grand theater. There is not a single original shot that can come out of that theater anymore.

Even so, Don't shoot for photocred, Shoot for what you like.

So what. Let people take their pictures and be happy. What's the big deal.

Posted by sheNANigans So what. Let people take their pictures and be happy. What's the big deal.

For me it's nothing about peoples work at all. I think the majority of it is great stuff. I want to view it, but when it comes to time to at it, I just give up and move on. Kinda tough to describe. But that's what pissed me off.

Posted by sheNANigans ...and be happy.

Maybe I'll just listen to Bobby Mcferrin - Don't worry be happy on repeat when viewing people's photos.

uLiveAndYouBurn is a amazing photographer and writer. He spends a LONG time taking very few photos as he goes for quality not quantity. I remember sitting there for a hour at a construction site waiting on him to come down from a crane. Also, as mentioned he pushed the limits to the extreme which is something fresh.


For the MAMU event I just posted all my pictures so people can pick themselves out or a object they missed. Usually I do not post any (as my photos suck horribly) unless its in the DB and I post very few.

I mainly look at the people like Anapplesnail, PCE photos they post to see how they improve their photography.

pics are pretty and nice, but i'm here for the history, content and discussions.