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Kolmanscop, Namibia - an urban explorer's paradise
creative commons image wikicommons |
Urban exploration, or "URBEX", is the exploration of man-made structures, either abandoned ruins or normally unseen components of man-made environments. May also be referred to as dark tourism.
Unauthorized exploration involves all manner of risks associated with climbing derelict structures, entering dark tunnels, crawling into drains, breathing or coming into contact with toxins and so on. People have died pursuing this hobby. Yet the purists follow their own code of conduct of "leave everything as you found it" and "take nothing except pictures".
While exploring these structures may involve trespassing onto private property, this is not always the case. Some sites are open to the public, or are accessible on a tour. Still others have added methods such as mini-railways to take you through the site.
If your layover doesn't provide easy access to an abandoned site, you can easily pass hours exploring incredible photographs online. As many devotees don't even reveal the exact location of their finds, this is the only way you can see them.
In this, our first blog post on urban exploration, we introduce you to a sampling of popular sites.
The URBEX Trend
Generation urbex: The extreme urban adventurers risking all for the right to roam - The Independent
Urbex: Is It Really Abandoned? - Darbian's Photography
When Time is the Architect: Urban Exploration by Photographer Tekprod - Wix Blog
Discover the Compelling World of Urban Ghosts: 20 Top Articles to get You Started - Urban Ghosts Media
Here's why I won't share locations locations - The Bohemian Blog
How Photographing an Abandoned Hotel Cost Me $2,800 - Petapixel
Stories Like This are Why Urbex Photogs are So Secretive About Where They Shoot - Petapixel
URBEX OBSESSIONS
This photographer is taking jaw-dropping photos of Europe’s abandoned buildings
(Christian Richter) - The Independent
Matt Van der Velde photographs abandoned insane asylums
(Matt Van der Velde) - Dezeen
Josef Schulz documents abandoned checkpoint architecture across Europe
(Josef Schulz) - Dezeen
Abandoned Soviet architecture photographed by Rebecca Litchfield
(Rebecca Bathory) - Dezeen
URBEX PHOTOGRAPHY
How To Photograph Models in Abandoned Buildings - Contrastly
The Underworld: Princess of Darkness & the Importance of Teamwork - Rebecca Bathory Blog
Urban Exploration Photography Blog - blog dedicated to taking great URBEX pictures
An Introduction to Urban Exploration - Digital Photography School
Finding Your Way Around Urban Decay Photography - Contrastly
URBEX RESOURCES
Everything About Urban Exploration - Forbidden Places
A Brief Introduction to Urban Exploration - Urban Ghosts Media
Urban Exploration Location List - Urban Exploration Resource
URBEX: Enter at Your Own Risk - Red Bull TV
Reddit URBEX Forum (specific locations not revealed)
The Bohemian Blog
Ancient Origins
Urban Ghosts Media
PICKS
The train cemetery in Uyuni, Bolivia
The Train Cemetery in Uyuni, Bolivia - URBEX Playground
Private visit to the train cemetery from Uyuni
An eerie Communist relic in Bulgaria
Exploring the Iconic Buzludzha Communist Building in Bulgaria - PetaPixel
One Day Private Tour By Car From Varna or Sofia To Buzludzha Monument
A Cold War spy station in Berlin, Germany
Field Station Berlin Teufelsberg: NSA spy station on buried Nazi college - Abandoned Berlin
Berlin Half-Day Cold War Tour to Teufelsberg
The compelling encroaching sand in Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop, the ghost town of the desert - Deserted Places Blog
Full-Day Kolmanskuppe and Luderitz Private Tour from Swakopmund
Riding old Kiwi rails in Taumarunui, New Zealand
New Zealand tour will take you down an abandoned rail line in a golf cart - The Star
10-Tunnel Rail Bike Tour from Taumarunui
The buried streets of black death in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Mary King's Close: 17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death - Atlas Obscura
The Real Mary King's Close Underground Guided Tour
Feeding speculation in the Nevada desert, USA
Often mentioned in the URBEX community, please heed the caution by StrangeThings: "AREA 51 IS NOT ABANDONED, DO NOT CROSS THE BORDER!"
Area 51: In the middle of an extremely unforgiving and desolate high desert is the most secret military facility in the world - Atlas Obscura
Area 51 Day Tour from Las Vegas
Making the most out of urban decay in Detroit, Illinois, USA
Detroit, City in Decay - Deserted Places Blog
Detroit Urban Exploration and Photography Tour
Related resources
Death by Selfie - IHateTaxis blog
Go Running on Your Layover
Memorial sites near Paris Beauvais Airport
Bucketlist: Downton Abbey
Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports
Spot the deadly fake taxi on your international travels! - IHateTaxis blog
