But you should never go exploring unprepared. If you plan on visiting abandoned places, you need to have your bag packed with all the right urban exploration gear.

In this article, we’ll show all the gear you’ll need for urban exploration photography.

Best Day Backpack

Wandrd Duo Daypack

Lightweight, compact, and robust, it offers excellent weather protection and thoughtful features. A backpack designed by photographers for photographers.

Urban Exploration Gear: What Is Urbex?

Urbex, or urban exploration, is when you venture into abandoned buildings and disused places. It’s about searching for forgotten locations and dilapidated construction.

The urban explorer searches for old factories, no longer in use. Or maybe a crumbling hospital or an apartment block that was unfinished and forgotten. And right across Europe, you can find relics of the Cold War—all left to rot and ruin.

Urban exploration by itself can be a real thrill. But if you take your camera, you can get started with urban exploration photography. Not only will you visit these mysterious and haunting locations, but you can also capture their mood and magic with your camera.

Choosing Your Urban Exploration Gear

Urban exploration can be a thrilling hobby. But the decision to go exploring abandoned places should not be taken lightly. Derelict locations can be full of danger, from broken glass to falling masonry.

That’s why you need a bag packed full of urban exploration gear. You need to be prepared and think ahead. The old saying goes, ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’.

If you’re eager to go out on an urbex adventure, we’ll help you get packed. We’ll discuss all the urban exploration gear you need for a complete urbex backpack.

A Sturdy and Spacious Backpack

Before you can pack your urbex gear, you’ll need a bag to pack. You’ll need a bag that can carry everything urban explorers need.

Many photographers like to use messenger bags. But when it comes to urban exploration photography, a messenger bag isn’t suitable. Urban exploration can involve climbing and jumping. That’s why most urban explorers use a backpack.

A backpack is spacious enough for all the gear you’ll need. And it keeps your hands free. You get full mobility of your arms so you can climb, grab, and cling. You can also use your camera.

Our top backpack recommendation is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2. It’s designed to keep cameras and photography equipment safe. The padding is excellent. And it’s big enough for all your urbex gear.

The charcoal color is also great for urbex, as it blends in with your concrete surroundings. Some places might have security, so you don’t want to get spotted.

The Right Urban Exploration Camera

There’s no one specific camera for urbex. You can use a DSLR or mirrorless. You can even get excellent photos with a smartphone when you’re urban exploring. Some great camera apps give a lot of creative control.

If you’re going for a DSLR camera, try the Nikon D7500. It has a crop frame sensor, so it’s portable and easy to carry. The resolution is great, but it’s the ISO range that gives you an edge. Which is good, because there usually isn’t much light in an abandoned building.

The Olympus OM System OM-5 is a brilliant camera for urban exploration. Thanks to the Micro Four Thirds sensor, it’s lightweight and compact.

It also has excellent features for urbex photography, like the 50 MP handheld high-res shot mode.It also has image stabilization and is completely weather sealed. You need this camera in your urbex backpack.

Durable Gloves

Exploring abandoned buildings is a dangerous game. These old buildings are filled with sharp objects and broken glass. While you’re making your way through, you need to be careful where you put your hands.

Sometimes, taking care isn’t enough. You might need to place your hand somewhere you can’t see. That’s why a durable pair of gloves is a vital item in your urban exploration pack.

The Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves are perfect. They’re strong, protective, and offer good finger movement. This is important when using your camera.

A Long-Lasting Torch and Headlight

Light is one of your top considerations. Disused factories and ruinous cold war bunkers are dark places. Many urbexers like to explore at night, but even during the day, natural light can be limited.

You’ll need a solid flashlight to light your way while exploring locations. A handheld torch is a must-have. Something like the Maglight LED 3-Cell D Flashlight is perfect.

But you’ll want to keep your hands free as much as possible. So a headlamp is another urbex gear item you’ll want to consider. The Klein Tools LED Headlamp illuminates your path while you clamber around.

Remember to take extra batteries for both torches. You don’t want to be left in the dark.

A Complete First Aid Kit

You can take as much care as you like, but accidents can still happen. If you’re in a remote location, you’ll need to treat yourself. That’s why a first aid kit essential for urban exploration.

The Surviveware First Aid Kit is perfect for exploring locations. It has everything you need in a compact and waterproof case.

A first aid kit might sound over the top for a photography shoot. But it could be a life-saving piece of equipment.

Protective Safety Goggles

With a pair of safety goggles on, you won’t exactly look cool. Thankfully, no one will be around to see you.

You might think goggles are a bit extreme. But abandoned buildings are full of nasty surprises. Things can fall or fly out at you. You could get dripped on or splashed by god knows what.

The Honeywell UVEX Carbon Vision goggles give your eyes plenty of protection.

A Heavy-Duty Safety Mask

Again, a safety mask might seem extreme. But when you’re exploring abandoned places, you never know what you might encounter. Old factories might have toxic gases and liquids.

The Lincoln Electric XLR P100 gives you excellent protection from toxic gases. But even something like a small filter mask, like the Huheta KN95, can provide a lot of protection.

A Compact Tripod/Gorilla Pod

If you want to get the best shots in low light, but you don’t want to push your ISO all the way up, you can take a tripod.

The Torjim 60″ Travel Tripod is lightweight and folds down to a compact size. The legs are telescopic, so it fits into your backpack and is easy to carry.

You can also try the Joby Gorillapod. It’s small, and the three legs can be twisted and used to grip. It’s a versatile piece of kit.

Additional Equipment to Consider

Always take your phone while exploring locations, and make sure it’s fully charged. Don’t use it as a flashlight. It’ll drain the battery, and you might need to make an urgent call later.

Mosquito Repellent is another good thing to have in your pack. You won’t always need it. But if there’s a location with stagnant water, you’ll be glad you have it.

A water bottle and snacks are vital on urbex expeditions. You could be gone a long time and it’s important to stay hydrated.

Wear robust clothing and shoes. You need to protect your skin and keep warm if it gets cold. A pack waterproof is another handy item to include in your urbex gear.

Conclusion

Abandoned places are amazing locations for exploration and photography. But never head out on an urbex expedition unprepared. Always pack the correct urban exploration gear.

The first thing you need to prepare is your attitude. Think of safety first, then the rest of the equipment will be logical. Of course you’ll need your camera. But much of your pack will be dedicated to health and safety.

Once your bag is packed, you can head out into those forgotten urban locations and capture some stunning urbex images.

Our Urban Smartphone Minimalism course is perfect for creating amazing urbex photos with just your smartphone!

Weather-Resistant Protection

Shimoda Explore V2

Looking for a spacious and durable backpack to carry all your urban exploration gear? Check out this travel-friendly camera backpack that meets U.S. and international carry-on regulations and features adjustable torso height, multiple access points, and modular camera inserts.

In this guide, we’ll teach you the basics of Urbex photography, from finding interesting locations to capturing stunning photos in difficult conditions. We’ll also show you how to post-process your photos to bring out their best features. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Urbex photographer, this guide has something for you!

Best Day Backpack

Wandrd Duo Daypack

Lightweight, compact, and robust, it offers excellent weather protection and thoughtful features. A backpack designed by photographers for photographers.

What is Urban Exploration Photography?

You can explore a city by following the main streets. You can see the famous landmarks. You can go to the biggest attractions. But that’s not urban exploration.

What is urbex, anyway?

Real urban exploration, often called ‘urbex’, is about going off the beaten path. It’s about finding those secret locations in the urban jungle.

Urbex photography is also called ‘UE photography’. ‘UE’ is short for urban exploration.

Urbex photography is about looking for the derelict and the desolate. The urbex photographer wants to find the urban wreckage of a bygone age. They want to capture the long-abandoned decaying structures in all their glory!

Cities are full of abandoned buildings. The boom and bust of history have scarred cities all around the world. There are thousands of disused hospitals, factories, housing complexes, and theme parks.

Urban exploration photography is about finding these abandoned places. And of course, taking amazing photos of them.

Urbex Photography isn’t an easy pursuit. There are many dangers involved and you can get into trouble. But for many photographers, that’s all part of the excitement.

We can’t tell you what to do, but we recommend staying within legal boundaries. If you can, ask permission to explore and always be careful. If it looks too dangerous, don’t go in.

The urbex philosophy is ‘Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints’. It’s a good maxim to follow. You’re there to explore, not make changes to the decor.

The Basics of Urbex Photography

Photography has a lot of unique words and phrases. If you’re new to photography, it might feel like people are speaking a foreign language.

We have a full dictionary for general photography slang here. But you can also have a look at our guide to urban exploration terms.

Learning the lingo will help you when you go exploring with seasoned urbexers. You don’t want to turn up with the wrong equipment or at the wrong building because of a misunderstanding. Using the right terms will help you get more exposure on social media too.

Urbex Health and Safety

With urban exploration photography, safety is key.

If buildings have been decaying for a long time, there’s a risk of collapse. The whole ceiling might not cave in, but you could get hit with tiles or loose beams.

If you’re serious about urbex photography, you need to take safety seriously too. Pack all the safety gear you can. And make sure you wear robust clothes and shoes.

Sneaking off alone might seem exciting. But we don’t recommend it. You should never go exploring on your own. But if you do, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

Legal Dangers

Even standard urban and street photography have some legal conditions to consider. A photographer has rights in most countries in the world. But they can’t do anything they want.

And they can’t go anywhere they want either. If you can get permission to shoot at a specific building, great. But a lot of the time, urbex is an illegal activity.

Trespassing

Even abandoned places are still owned by someone. And they probably don’t want some chancer with a camera on their property.

Some buildings might have security guards. They can be an inconvenience. But my experience has shown cooperation is the best course of action if you get caught. Be polite and don’t cause trouble.

Security guards don’t have much power. All they can do is ask you to leave. But if you give them a problem, they will call the police. Then you will be in trouble.

Once the police get involved, the owner can press charges against you. A fine and some time in court is a high price to pay for a few photos.

One strategy is to approach the security guard first. They might give you permission. Or they might even give you a tour.

The laws around trespassing are different in every country. Make sure you check the local laws before you go exploring. And if you need help, ask for information on a photography forum.

Urban Exploration Photography Tips

Urbex photography is one of the most exciting genres. But you need to be prepared before you set out on a mission of urban exploration. And we don’t just mean prepared in terms of gear. You need to have the right knowledge and wherewithal. 

The first thing you need to be aware of is the law. In most instances, you’ll be trespassing when you’re walking around an abandoned area. That means you’re breaking the law, so you have to be comfortable about that.

Thankfully, these places are abandoned and derelict, so you’re unlikely to see other people there. However, some locations might have a security presence, so be alert.

Research locations before you go. We understand that part of the fun is going to places seldom trodden by others, but it’s important to gather some information before you head out there. Some places are simply too dangerous to explore, which is why it’s best to know that before you go. 

Safety is another top priority. These places are not safe, so take gloves, sturdy footwear, and a first aid kit. You should also avoid going alone. You’ll be very isolated if you get injured, and rescue might be difficult. 

Click this link to see the complete beginner’s guide to urban exploration photography.

Getting Started With Urban Photography

Practising your urban photography is a good way to begin urban exploration photography.

Abandoned places can be difficult and even dangerous to enter. You can build your confidence by taking photographs in common urban areas. Once you’ve conquered those, search for more remote places.

Using the right camera settings is a key element in shooting urban photography. You need to be ready for anything in these fast-paced environments, which is why we recommend program mode. It’s a semi-automatic mode that still allows you to control the exposure settings. 

Wide-angle lenses are a good choice for urban photography. Something like a 35mm prime lens give you a wide enough angle to capture plenty of detail in cramped spaces. It isn’t so wide that it has a fisheye effect, although fisheye lenses can be a fun choice too. 

Read more tips on getting started with urban photography in this detailed guide.

Tips for Shooting Urban Landscape Photography

Shooting urban landscape photography is a great way to practice shooting urban areas. You can hone your camera skills and discover how you like to compose your urban photography.

Many cities have great viewpoints. These elevated spots give you great views of the rest of the city. It’s a great way to discover new abandoned places and future shooting locations as well as capture stunning cityscapes while you’re there.

Use the hard shapes and lines of urban spaces to your advantage. You can create abstract landscape shots using the rugged shapes of the city. Old industrial areas are great for this type of photography. But modern structures with interesting architecture are also hotspots for photographers. 

Shoot Urban Cityscapes with Long Exposure

Shooting at night is popular among urban exploration photographers. The setting sun can completely transform a city. During the day, it’s a mass of brick and concrete. At night, the city is alive with lights and colors.

Capturing cityscapes at night isn’t easy. You need to know about long exposure photography, which is where you use slow shutter speeds. You’ll need a tripod to keep the camera steady, but this technique allows you to shoot in low-light situations. 

You can also use the long-exposure technique for daytime cityscape images. You will need a neutral density filter to reduce light transmission in the lens, but the principles are very similar. It’s a create photography style for capturing the hustle and bustle of a inner city environment. 

Take a look at our full guide to cityscape long exposure photography by clicking the link above.

Improve Your Industrial Photography

Some of the abandoned buildings and structures you’ll find urbexing are old factories. Industrial settings make stunning photography locations.

For great industrial photography, factories don’t have to be abandoned. The bright flashes and dynamic movement in industrial environments can inspire excellent photographs.

But you can’t sneak into a working factory. You need permission to be there and you’ll need to wear all the necessary safety and protective gear.

Whether they’re abandoned or still running, shooting industrial settings can be great fun. And a run-down factory is a classic urbex photography location.

Click the link to see our full guide on industrial photography.

How to Find Locations for Urbex Photography

Once you’re ready for the full urbex experience, it’s time to find abandoned locations near you. There could be some hidden gems right under your nose you aren’t even aware of.

There are online groups and forums dedicated to urban exploration photography. They’re a great resource for finding locations. Experienced urbexers are willing to share loads of handy exploration tips with beginners.

Shothotspot.com offers great suggestions for locations all around the world. And theurbanexplorer.co.uk has hundreds of abandoned buildings all across Europe.

Google Maps is an excellent research tool. You can browse an entire city without ever leaving your sofa. All you need to do is scroll around on Google Earth.

Use local knowledge. If you’re new in town or just visiting, ask the locals. They’ll know all the best places to shoot. And they’ll usually share tips and shortcuts for getting there.

Along with the above suggestions, you can also search “how to find abandoned places” on Google.

The simplest and most fun option is to explore yourself. You can roam the city with no fixed destination. You can head to old industrial areas or you can let your curiosity lead you.

Urbex Photography Essential Gear

Urban exploration photography can be a tricky form of photography. You need to prepare yourself before heading into the concrete jungle.

Having the right gear is a vital part of urbex photography. You’ll need to have the right equipment with you when you venture out. Once you’re on location, you can’t just run back home to change your gear.

Best Camera Backpack for Urbex

Every photographer needs a good camera backpack that suites their style of photography. That’s especially true with urban exploration. 

The urban explorer needs something discreet yet robust. Urbex involves sneaking around, so you don’t want a bright bag that stands out and makes you an easy target. And abandoned places are full of sharp and pointy objects, so the backpack has to be durable.

The Wandrd Duo Daypack is our top recommendation for urbex photographers. Its sleek black design is perfect for keeping a low profile. The compact size allows you to move freely in abandon spaces. And it’s incredibly durable, fully waterproof, and has padded pockets for you gear. 

Best Day Backpack

Wandrd Duo Daypack

Lightweight, compact, and robust, it offers excellent weather protection and thoughtful features. A backpack designed by photographers for photographers.

What Do You Need in Your Urbex Backpack?

When you venture out on an urban expedition, preparation is key. And that doesn’t just mean with your camera and lens. The urban explorer’s backpack needs to have all the right urbex gear. 

We’ve already seen which backpack is best for urbexers, so now it’s time to take a quick look inside the backpack. 

There are some good travel tripods you can take with you. They give you more freedom when it comes to taking photos. Many tripods are small enough to not slow you down.

Something like the K&F Concept Lightweight Travel Tripod is ideal. As the name suggests, it’s lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry. It also comes with a carry case. 

A 17.6 lb / 8 kg load capacity is strong enough for any urbex camera. And a flexible ball head gives you excellent control when mounting the camera. 

A torch is vital. If you’re urbexing at night, the benefit of a torch is obvious. But even if you’re roaming in the day, a torch can be very handy. Most abandoned buildings have a lot of dark places, and a touch give you the illumination you need to explore safely. 

A headlamp is the perfect choice for urbexing. It lights your way but your hands are free to use your camera.

Sometimes an abandoned building is full of broken glass and rusty metal. This is why we recommend wearing high-quality gloves. We also recommend taking a basic first-aid kit.

The Best Cameras for Urbex Photography

As with any photography pursuit, selecting the right camera for the job is essential.

Urban exploration involves a lot of walking. And maybe even a bit of climbing and jumping. So you need a camera that is compact and lightweight. You don’t want a big machine weighing you down.

You also want a camera that has excellent image quality. Much of the shooting you’ll be doing will be urban landscape photography, so image quality is key.

You’ll be exploring some dark corners of the city, so having a good ISO range is also something to consider.

The Olympus OM System OM-5 fits the bill perfectly. As a Micro Four Thirds camera, it’s compact and lightweight. The 20 MP standard resolution gives you excellent image quality with low noise at high ISO settings. 

It also has a high-resolution shot mode that gives you 50 MP images. You’ll need a tripod for that mode, but it’s worth it for the intense detail. It’s also durable with thorough weather-proofing. 

We also recommend the Fujifilm X-T5. A stylish mirrorless camera with an incredible 45 MP APS-C sensor. The picture quality is staggering with true to life colors and sharp details. 

It also has image stabilization, which is helpful if you like to explore without a tripod. It also has a high-resolution shot mode, although the X-T5 gives you staggering 160 MP images. 

The 4K video features are another big plus for the X-T5. You can record YouTube-worth videos of your clandestine explorations. 

For beginners, the Nikon Z50 is a suitable choice. A lightweight and compact mirrorless camera, it fits in any camera backpack. You get lovely image quality from the 20.9 MP sensor, with solid low-light performance. It’s a good option for videos and vlogs, too.

Our Top 3 Urbex Cameras

Olympus OM System OM-5

Olympus OM System OM-5

Fujifilm X-T5

Fujifilm X-T5

Nikon Z50

Nikon Z50

Best Lenses for Urbex Photography

Choosing the right lens is just as important as choosing the right camera. But there’s so much information around lenses it can be difficult to get a grip on it all.

Here, we’ll give you a quick rundown of the best lenses for urban exploration photography. But if you want more information, check out our full article on understanding lenses.

A prime lens is excellent for urbex photography. They’re well suited to landscapes and street photography. These are ideal for urban explorers.

A zoom lens isn’t necessary, but it can have its advantages. When exploring abandoned places, there will be places you can’t get to. Having a zoom lens will help you get those extra difficult shots.

You’ll also need to consider the aperture range on your lens. A low aperture is necessary for low light situations so you don’t need to rely on a slow shutter speed. And you’ll have more scope when it comes to depth of field.

Your lens options are limited by the brand of camera you use. Both Nikon and Canon make fantastic lenses. 

You can see all the best street photography lenses in this link.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Lens For UrbexPhotography

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm F/1.8G

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm F/1.8G

Sony FE Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm F/2.8 ZA SEL35F28Z

Sony FE Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm F/2.8 ZA SEL35F28Z

Wide-Angle Lenses

Wide-angle lenses are a valuable piece of equipment in many areas of photography. If you want a more thorough explanation of their benefits, click the link above.

Wide-angle lenses are excellent for landscapes and cityscapes. And they are popular with architecture and real estate photographers too. This makes them ideal for urban exploration photography.

You may be in abandoned buildings, but the same photography principles apply. A wide-angle lens will help you get that full-room view of that abandoned building.

With a wide-angle lens, you can be a real estate photographer by day and an urban explorer by night.

Picture Perfect Properties improves your ability to shoot buildings. It provides you with a solid foundation before moving onto urbex photography.

Editing Your Urbex Photos

Once your exploration is over, look at your photos. Some photos might need a little touching up. Here we’ll help you with some of the major areas of post-production.

Adobe Lightroom is our favourite editing software. If you don’t have it already, we recommend that you get the program. You won’t regret it.

You can check out our ultimate guide to Lightroom here. But we also have some specific process guides to improve your urbex post-processing.

Correcting HDR in Lightroom

Urban locations can be a real test of your camera’s dynamic range. You can end up with detailless dark areas and blown out skies.

If your images have this problem, there’s nothing to worry about. You can use the Lightroom HDR Merge technique to improve your photos in post-processing.

HDR standards for High Dynamic Range. The Lightroom HDR Merge technique can bring definition and detail back to the affected areas.

For the full tutorial, click the link above.

Lightroom For Black and White Editing

Many urbex photographers love shooting in black and white. Abandoned buildings are full of textures and contrasts that work well with black and white photography.

When it comes to post-production, Lightroom is excellent for black and white photos. You can play with monochrome settings. And you can adjust the saturation and contracts.

Read our full article on black and white Lightroom editing by clicking on this link.

Experiment With the Lightroom Presets

If you have an idea of how you want your images to look, Lightroom presets can save time in post-processing.

You can give your urbex images a distinct and uniform look. Or you can experiment with different presets. There are specific presets for street and urban photography. And there are presets for portraits and landscapes, too.

There are hundreds of free presets in Lightroom. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites.

To see the full list of free Lightroom presets, click on the link above.

Lens Correction in Lightroom

Lens distortion can be a problem with any kind of photography. Urban exploration photography is no different.

You can’t always rely on the light sources on location. And you might not have the exact lens you need for a particular shot.

But lens distortion doesn’t have to ruin your set of urbex images. Take a look at our article on lens correction using Lightroom for more information.

Reduce Noise in Post-Processing

Abandoned buildings are often dark. To get the right shots you often have to use a higher ISO setting. This can result in a lot of noise on your images.

But Lightroom comes to the rescue again. It has some excellent tools for removing digital noise on your photos.

We have a tutorial for fixing grainy images in Lightroom.

Try New Editing Styles

The fun doesn’t have to stop when your exploration is over. You can experiment with different editing styles in Lightroom.

You can turn your color images black and white. You can apply different finishes to the images. You can even add filters to give a film effect.

Editing your images is a great way to add new dimensions to your photography. We have some excellent tips for trying new editing styles. Click the link above for the full article.

Conclusion

That’s our take on urban exploration photography. It’s fun and exciting. You’ll discover wonderful, mysterious, and spooky places. And you get some amazing urbex photos.

But be careful. Do your preparation and make sure you pack your safety gear. Urbex is an exciting hobby. But it can be dangerous too.

Remember the urbex philosophy ‘Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints’.

Best Day Backpack

Wandrd Duo Daypack

Lightweight, compact, and robust, it offers excellent weather protection and thoughtful features. A backpack designed by photographers for photographers.

Urban photography captivates audiences with depictions of everyday life.

This article will show you how to get started with street photography. We’ll give you all the urban photography tips you need. Turn the cities into photography playgrounds!

Low-Light Performance

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM

Capture the essence of urban photography with a lens that provides brilliant landscapes, portraits, and close-up shots. Experience sharp and responsive images with minimal chromatic aberration and beautiful soft backgrounds.

Getting Started With Urban Photography

People, animals, places, details, landscapes, abstracts. City photography encompasses such a large scope for material that it can be hard to know where to begin.

Look up urban photographers and check out their images. It’s important to get some inspiration first and decide what you want to focus on. Some city photographers only capture buildings. Others prefer to shoot during the night rather than during the brightness of the day.

Make yourself familiar with city photographers and their diverse style.

Get the Right Equipment

Street photographers use all kinds of cameras to capture their surroundings. Some resort to classic film photography with fully manual SLR cameras. Digital photographers may choose a top-of-the-line rig. Or make use of a classic family-range compact.

Keep in mind that smaller, light-weight cameras are generally preferable. They are less bulky, making for more intimate photographs of people on the city street.

More technical considerations include ISO sensitivity, dynamic range and autofocus speed. A camera with a lag in autofocus will leave you with a day’s worth of blurry shots of moving subjects.

LCD screens, continuous shooting speed, lens’s focal length, aperture and on-board flash are also important factors.

Lens selection is as important as camera body selection. Prime lenses are used for their light-weight and predictable results. The less moving parts, the better.

But for larger scenes, a zoom or wider angle lens will be a better fit.

Choose the Right Lenses for Your Photos

My photography bag is always packed with a few different pieces of equipment. My camera, a 5D Mark III, paired with either my Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM or my Canon 50mm f/1.8 always come along on photography trips with me.

The 50mm, my ‘prime’ or ‘fixed focal length’ lens, offers great sharpness and resolution on a full frame sensor. Henri Cartier-Bresson used the 50mm prime lens for his street photography. It minimises the distortion that you’d experience with a wider lens.

The 50mm is labelled as a ‘normal view’ lens because it has the same field of view that the non-peripheral human vision has. This will give your work a more personal touch and allow the viewer to relate.

My larger EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens is the workhorse for my urban subjects that need a wide-angle lens with some zoom to capture detail. The lens is great for shooting urban landscapes, people, and detailed abstract subjects.

The downside of this lens is that it’s pretty large and imposing. I’ve found that the larger the lens, the less accommodating people are to be photographed.

The lens is heavier than the 50mm lens. Its weight makes it hard on the back after a long day of shooting in the city.

Have a Bit of Fun with Different Cameras

For a bit of fun, I also like to have a disposable or ‘toy’ camera. Disposable cameras are quite cheap in bulk and are really easy to use. Some even come in a plastic housing for underwater photography. They are durable and a fun twist for photography in the city.

Disposable cameras also have a very distinctive look about them. They usually have a low-quality film inside. But they have a retro feel that brings back memories of school photography.

I recommend purchasing disposable cameras that come with an in-built flash. Without the flash, even the brightest day can turn out underexposed. Not to mention night images when there is not enough light.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with a few different cameras to see what you like. Get more comfortable you are with your camera. Then you will worry less about the technical aspects.

This leaves you free to respond to your surrounds in a much more authentic way.

Adjust Your Camera Settings to Save Time

To capture the candid moments, you’ll need to be ready to shoot without struggling with your camera.

Program Mode is one way to take control of exposure. Once selected, it will adjust both the aperture and the shutter speed. This produces what your camera considers to be the best exposure for the scene.

Unlike Automatic Mode, you can still adjust the camera’s combinations of ideal exposures. You can change the shutter speed and aperture in tandem. This means you are free to focus on camera settings for different artistic effects. And you are maintaining correct exposure meanwhile.

For my urban photography, I shoot in either Shutter Priority Mode or Program. Shutter Priority allows me to adjust the shutter speed to match a situation. While it is leaving the camera to dictate my aperture.

If I’m looking for a lot of camera movement in my image, Shutter Priority allows me to shoot at very slow shutter speed. While it is maintaining decent exposure.

Depending on the scene, you may want to switch to Aperture Priority mode instead. Aperture Priority allows you to choose the aperture and adjusts shutter speed accordingly. This allows for much greater control over depth of field.

As an alternative, you can use also Manual Mode if you are an experienced photographer. Don’t forget to master Sunny 16 before trying yourself out.

Due to the diverse range of subjects in urban photography, it’s hard to make one rule about camera focus. Auto Focus is handy for quick, candid shots for people on street photography. But it can often be inaccurate, or get confused, delaying the shutter.

Another method is setting your camera to manual focus mode. Pre-focus at a set distance, with a narrow aperture like f/11.

If you’re photographing through a glass, you’ll need to use manual focus. The Auto Focus will struggle with reflective surfaces.

Stay Close to Home to Open New Opportunities

Photography travel across the world is fantastic fun. But you don’t need expensive trips to make successful city images. You may interact with it every day. But the landscape closest to home is a subject to start your urban photography.

Sometimes we get so familiar with a place that we forget its artistic merit. Try to look at your local area through the eyes of a stranger. Or take a series of images from an unusual perspective, by placing your camera on the ground.

You can take photos during the night as well. A city landscape gets a different look when you see it during the night hours.

Exploring close to home reduces the stress of photographing in an unfamiliar location. It allows other locals to get to know you. This could open up more photographic opportunities in the future.

Bars, parks, sports clubs, community halls and nearby nature reserves are great for city photography. Or go for a wander in the suburbs and see what you can find! It’s amazing what you’ll see through the lens of a camera.

Focus on Details of the City

Sometimes it’s the details of the city that are worth photographing. It’s up to you to seek out the unnoticed beauty of a landscape. search for unusual patterns and textures, contrasting colors and hard lines.

Moving closer is also a powerful way of isolating a subject and drawing attention to it.

One of my favourite things to photograph is concrete bollards. It may sound boring at first. But the patterns in each square of concrete is unique and holds a particular story.

Shoot in Color or Black and White

Choosing whether to shoot in color or black and white can be a tricky decision in urban photography. City images were often black and white in the past. But nowadays, there are plenty of street and urban photographers who focus on color.

In general, a black and white scheme emphasises form and light. A monochrome image highlights texture and tones. It is creating a more dynamic range in both animate and inanimate objects.

For urban photography, black and white also help reduce distractions. They are able to direct the viewer’s attention to certain parts of an image. It’s easier to emphasise drama with strong contrast and heavy vignettes as well.

Colored images place greater emphasis on the world, as seen through the human eye. Its familiarity connects with a viewer in a more natural way. Color, especially bright, punchy color draws the eye of a viewer.

Different emotions or times can also be conveyed through color photography. Warm colors suggest an autumnal portrait and cool colors can portray winter. Lush greens remind a viewer of the freshness of spring. Whereas fiery oranges and reds are characteristic of summer.

Capture Images of People to Add Interest

But if you are looking to photograph urban landscapes or detail, a larger lens may be necessary. The key is to make sure you are ready.

Pack a selection of lenses to cover everything you expect to encounter. Better yet, pack for the unexpected! Having a good pair of lenses could be the difference between a missed opportunity and a great image.

A classic technique for shooting street portrait photos is the ‘sit and wait’ method. Don’t hunt for the perfect image. Instead, choose a visually interesting spot and wait for a subject to enter your frame.

This way, you will feel much more comfortable photographing the people. It will also be less likely that they will notice you. This allows for a more candid, natural-looking images.

Keep in mind that not all urban photography has to have people in it. Look for visual elements like leading lines, color, detail and patterns. They help you emphasise the form and shape of an urban landscape.

I enjoy scouting for evidence of human intervention around the city. Graffiti, footprints, abandoned buildings, rubbish, are all traces of people and the passage of time.

Waiting in one spot for a subject to come to you is a great way to capture candid street portraits of people.

Conclusion

Urban photography captures the spontaneous, accidental encounters of life. It shows the hidden beauty in the urban environment.

The genre has a wide scope in subjects, which may seem daunting at first. You can be doing architectural photography one second and portraits the next.

Shooting urban landscapes presents the opportunity to photograph many different disciplines at once.

In every urban corner, there is limitless potential for photography. All you need to do is seek it out!

Now check out our article on photo walks and this one on photographing during overcast days. After more city photography tips? check out this article on 10 Best Spots For Photography in London.
Love exploring outdoors? Try our Simply Stunning Landscapes course next!

Low-Light Performance

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM

Capture the essence of urban photography with a lens that provides brilliant landscapes, portraits, and close-up shots. Experience sharp and responsive images with minimal chromatic aberration and beautiful soft backgrounds.

Here are a few tips to help you get started: first, find a location that offers interesting subjects and good lighting. Next, set up your camera on a tripod and compose your shot. Finally, adjust your settings according to the type of photo you want to capture. For example, if you want to create motion blur, use a slow shutter speed; if you want to capture star trails, use a long exposure time

With some practice and these simple tips, you too can create stunning long exposure night photography photos!

Convenient Remote Control

Pixel N3 Wireless Shutter Remote

Capture stunning long exposure night photography with ease using a wireless shutter remote. Get tips and tricks while controlling your camera from up to 80 meters away.

Tips for Long Exposure Night Photography: Bring the Essentials

You don’t need a lot of gear to start taking night photography. But the ones we mention on this list are essential to help you capture your shots effectively.

Fast lens

You can use any type of lens when shooting night cityscape shots. But it would help a lot if you choose a lens that has an aperture of at least f/1.2 or f/1.8. Any lens with these wide aperture settings is called a fast lens because they let more light in and create exposures quicker.

Tripod

You can’t shoot handheld at night if you want crisp and clean images. Your camera’s aperture has to stay open for a long time to gather enough light for exposure. So any movement may cause motion blur and ruin your images. But placing your camera on a tripod will keep your camera stable and allow it to capture sharp photos.

Remote Trigger

Setting your camera on a tripod isn’t enough to ensure you eliminate motion blur. Something as simple as pressing the shutter can shake the camera and make your photos blurry. The best solution is to not hold the camera at all and use a remote to trigger the shutter, instead.

Choose the Best Time to Go

Before you head out, ask yourself what type of image you’d like to create because that will dictate when you should get to your location. Do you want the setting sun in the background or do you prefer pitch-black sky?

If you want some sunrise or sunset images, you’ll need to reach your location at least 45 minutes before the sun rises or sets. To make sure you don’t miss anything, check your local forecast to figure out what time you need to head out.

For instance, if the sun rises at 6:50 am, then you need to be there at least 5;55am. That way, you have time to set up your equipment. 45 minutes may seem plenty of time, but you’ll be surprised how fast the sun moves. So to be safe, just prepare for it or you might have to wait another day to do it.

If you want to shoot when the sky is pitch black, you’ll have more time to prepare your equipment and take as many shots as you want. As soon as the sun has completely set, you have at least 8 to 10 hours to take pictures.

Of course, the sun sets at different times around the world, so make sure you check what time the sun usually sets in your area. To be safe, you can wait an hour or two after the sun has disappeared before you head out. Even when you think the sun has gone down, your camera might still capture faint light from the horizon when you create long exposure shots.

Shoot With a High ISO

ISO determines the sensitivity of your camera sensor to light. ISO 100 is often the lowest value and is perfect for daylight shooting because it lets in the least light. Most cameras these days have ISOs that can go up to ISO 51,000 or more for shooting in dim situations such as night cityscapes.

But the problem with using a high ISO such as 51,000 is that it causes grainy photos. So you need to choose a value that’s between 800 to 3,200. Why? This is the range where most cameras perform well in low light situations without producing distracting image noise.

In theory, you can also use ISO 100 if you want to keep the noise to a minimum. But in reality, such a low setting simply won’t let enough light in. As a result, you may end up with either pitch black images or blurry light trails caused by unnecessarily long exposures due to using a low ISO.

Use Live View to Focus Your Subject

Achieving focus when shooting cityscapes at night can be tricky. Since it’s so dark, your camera will have a difficult time finding a focusing point.

To make things easier for you, turn on your Live View and pump up your ISO so you can see everything on the screen. Pick a bright light and zoom in on it (not the lens but the screen). Next, switch your lens to manual and adjust it manually until that light becomes sharp.

Once you achieve focus, zoom out of your screen and switch your ISO to the level you want. Now all you have to do is press the shutter, and that’s it!

Compose Your Frame Before Clicking the Shutter

How do you compose your frame when you’re shooting a night skyline? It’s a tricky question, especially if you’ve never done landscape photography before.

The first step to answering this question is to figure out which part of the skyline you’d like to be your main point of interest. Is it the tallest building in your frame, or a statue in the middle of the park?

Once you find your main point of interest, you’ll need to know where to place it in the frame. And to help you figure out that part, you should turn on your camera screen’s grid.

The grid divides the screen into 9 squares. All you have to do is to place your main subject in the areas where any of those lines of those squares intersect. It’s that easy!

The principle behind the grid is called the Rule of Thirds. Apart from landscapes, you can apply it to everything else from portraiture to still life photography. So always keep it in mind whenever you have your camera with you.

Set Your Camera to Aperture Priority

When photographing landscapes at night, you’ll need to open up your aperture to let in as much light as possible. So if your lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8, then it would be best to make sure you set it to f/1.8 also.

In normal situations, f/1.8 produces a shallow depth of field that blurs the background. But that bokeh disappears if your subject is several meters away from you. In other words, if you take photos of buildings or anything else in the distance, you’ll have a sharp image even with a wide aperture.

Since you already know to set your aperture to the widest setting, the easiest shooting mode to use is the Aperture Priority mode. Since the aperture is already set, using Aperture Priority mode allows your camera to choose the shutter speed for you.

Even when you’re using the widest aperture, expect your shutter speed to be at least a few seconds long. Since it’s dark, long exposures will be necessary to create a decent exposure. So make sure you keep your camera on your tripod before you press that shutter.

Try the 300/500 Rule when Using Manual Mode

Don’t trust using Aperture Priority? Then go fully manual and use the 300/500 Rule to nail your exposures.

So what’s the 300/500 Rule? It’s easy. If you have a full-sensor camera, all you have to do is to divide 500 by your camera lens’ focal length. For instance, if you’re using a 24mm lens, divide it by 500, and you’ll get 20 seconds.

If you have a crop sensor camera, then you’ll need to use 300 instead of 500. So if you have a 24mm lens, you’ll need to expose your image for only 12 seconds. So why is the time shorter? The reason is that your camera’s sensor has a smaller surface area than a full frame sensor. Therefore, it takes less time to create a photo.

To be clear, the time difference between a full frame sensor and a crop sensor doesn’t change the quality of the image. It’s just a matter of physical difference between the sizes of the sensors.

Bracket Your Shots for Correct Exposure

Now, what if you can’t seem to get your exposure correctly no matter what mode you’re using? You’ll encounter this issue a lot when you’re doing night photography.

So how do you tackle this problem? The simple answer is bracketing. This technique involves taking photos of one scene with different exposure levels. That way, you now have a choice of which exposure best matches what your eyes see.

Every camera has a bracketing function. All you have to do is turn it on and set how many frames you’d like to shoot. In most situations, 3 to 5 frames are enough to help you nail the exposure you want.

Once you activate bracketing, press the shutter, and your camera will do the bracketing automatically for you. If you did it correctly, you should see 3 to 5 frames that have different exposure levels. Expect some to be overexposed and some underexposed. But there should at least be one image that has the correct exposure.

Consider Applying HDR for More Detail

Are the cityscapes you took feeling too flat or blown out? You can bring out the details by using HDR (High Dynamic Range). This technique combines multiple images to create one photo that has the right amount of highlights and shadows.

To create an HDR on Lightroom, you’ll need to load all of your bracket shots together. In Develop, select all the frames and right-click. Now go to Photo Merge and click HDR. Once you select it, the program will automatically merge the pictures to create an HDR photo.

In case you see some double exposures in your image, go to Deghost Amount and choose between Low, Medium, and High.

Once your HDR image is ready, feel free to edit it in Lightroom even more. Tweak the Exposure Settings as well as the Curves to bring out the details and the colors of your cityscape even more.

Conclusion

Shooting night cityscapes is challenging. Even with all these night photography tricks and tips, you’re bound to make mistakes during your first few photoshoots at night.

Keep practising and learning from your mistakes. Once you polish those techniques, nothing will stop you from taking stunning night city and landscape shots.

The term urbexing comes from the combination of two words: “urban” and “exploration”. Urban explorers typically seek to explore places that are normally off-limits to the general public. We’ll take a deep dive into the urbex meaning and philosophy.

Photographic Documentation

Capture It All

If you’re interested in urbex meaning and want to improve your photography skills, check out this video course that will show you how to use your iPhone camera to its full potential. With 65 videos and lifetime access, you’ll learn at your own pace and capture stunning loop videos.

The Dictionary of Urban Exploration Terms: Urbex Meaning

There are many terms you can use in urbex photography. To help you, we have divided this list into several categories.

Urban Exploration Locations

• Access – This means gaining entry to a location.
• Admin – This is where the administration, and often security, is in the building.
• ARTS – This stands for abandoned rapid transport station, the last S can also mean system.
• Cracking – This means gaining access to a location that most people or even no one else has explored before.
• Bricked up – An access point that someone has blocked using bricks and cement
• Crash bar – You will find these installed on exits. Opening one of these often triggers an alarm. Their everyday use would be to exit the building in an emergency.
• The Fresh – Another word to describe raw sewage. You will encounter this if you explore sewage systems.
• Holy Grail – A location that’s difficult to access, but is desirable to enter.
• Hot – A location that has higher levels of security because someone was caught urbexing there.
• Infiltration – Gaining access to a site that you should otherwise not have access to.
• Picked – This means someone has already accessed a place using lockpicks.
• Portal – A portal is an entrance point to something like a subway system. This point would be where that system goes from overground to underground.
• Recce – Exploring a place before going there to photograph it. This involves looking for places to enter, where security is, and if there are any security cameras.
• Rinsed – This refers to a place that has already been well explored and photographed.
• Sniping – In most photography, this means taking a photo from a distance, like a sniper. In urbex photography, this refers to cutting through a fence or breaking a lock to gain entry.
• TOADS – This is an acronym for temporary, obsolete and derelict spaces

Urban Exploration Gear

• DSLR – The standard camera for most urbex photographers. Mirrorless cameras like the Sony Alphas are also popular.
• High-Vis – This is a type of clothing, often a fluorescent yellow vest. It’s used by people so that they can be seen.
• Overt Camouflage – This means dressing up in disguise to make it look like you belong in the location. This could mean wearing a high-vis vest, or other clothing worn by people who are on site.

Urbex Photographer Types

• Prohobo – Someone who camps at an abandoned place using expensive camping equipment.
• Asylum Seeker – A photographer who visits abandoned asylums. Of course, these asylums are now not in active use.
• Catophiles – Photographers who enjoy exploring the underground catacombs of Paris.
• Rooftopper – A photographer who enjoys gaining access to the top of tall buildings. This type often involves climbing fire escapes.
• Buildering – Those who climb the sides of buildings to gain access to them.
• Drainer – This is someone who enjoys exploring the sewers and drain networks that run under a city.
• Lift Surfer – A person who stands on the roof of a lift while it’s moving, think almost any action movie and you get the idea.
• Ninja – Someone good at avoiding detection. Ninjas are often good at breaking into a location by climbing over walls.
• Noob – This is short for a newbie, somebody who is new to urbex photography.
• Trojan Horse – A person who enters a building, with clothes that allow them to fit in there. They then let other people into the building.

Urbex Photography Terms

• Backlighting – This refers to a light source that is behind your main subject. Hence the main subject is backlit. When used in portrait photography, this is sometimes called rim lighting.
• Chimping – The practice of reviewing your photos on the LCD display of your camera. Most photographers aim to avoid doing this too much. It’s better to be taking photos rather than looking at them.
• Hero Shot – This can refer to two things. The first is a great photo, the one that will turn heads when shown later. The other refers to a picture of a pleased urbex explorer who has gained access to a location.
• Light Painting – Using a light source such as a torch to light a section that you are photographing. Light painting needs a long exposure, so you’ll require a tripod.
• Dirty Shot – This type of photo involves pushing up the ISO to maximum levels and using a wide-angle lens. It’s known as dirty because of the digital noise this will cause in the photo.

General Urbex Terms

• Back Cabbing – This means riding on the last wagon of a train. This gives you a higher chance that it’s empty, allowing more photography opportunities.
• Base Jumping – This isn’t just for photography, and will get you spotted and in trouble. It involves rooftopping and then jumping from the roof with a parachute.
• Bait – This involves someone creating a distraction, to bait the security. While the security is not looking, people can enter the location.
• Blagging – Using the power of persuasion to seem like you have a legitimate reason to be somewhere when you do not.
• Buildering – Climbing up buildings using techniques you’d usually use for rock climbing.
• The Bill – The police force.
• Christmas – In urbex photography, Christmas is when a location becomes unguarded. A difficult to access site can become easier to enter, which is a gift for urbex photographers.
• Masking Up – To avoid identification by a security camera, you put a mask on before you approach.
• Usufruct – A legal term, which you can use to justify entering someone else’s property. The condition is that nothing becomes damaged or moved.

Common Questions About Urbex Photography

Let’s address some of the often asked questions about urbex photography. From this, you can get a feel for whether you wish to pursue this type of photography yourself.

What Is Urban Exploration Photography?

Urbex means exploring the urban environment for exciting photos. It involves exploring abandoned buildings, underground tunnels or rooftops.

How Do You Photograph Abandoned Buildings?

The short answer to that is with great care. Abandoned buildings can be dangerous and have rotten floors you could fall through.

There is also the question of the building’s ownership. Even when abandoned, you are still trespassing on someone’s property.

If you still want to photograph an abandoned building, take a wide-angle lens. Look to show the textures, leading lines, and story of the building.

What Do I Need for Urban Exploration?

There are some essential items you should bring with you for urbex photography. You will need a tripod, a camera and a flash. Try and keep your camera gear light, and only take one lens.

Take protective clothes, a pair of jeans, some gloves, and some sturdy boots. Make sure you’re covered with a long sleeve top as well. Finally for safety reasons take a torch and a mobile phone with you.

Is Exploring Abandoned Places Illegal?

Because a building stands abandoned, it doesn’t mean someone does not own it. Entering a building without the owners’ permission is trespassing, which is illegal.

If you want to explore an abandoned building legally, then you will need to get permission to explore it. You will have to reach out to the building owner, or in extreme cases, even purchase the property.

Conclusion

It’s worth learning the lingo when you get into a new type of photography.

There are terms that you’ll need to know, and this will help you achieve your goals of getting great photos.

Do you have any slang which you use for your photography?

Here at ExpertPhotography, we’d love to hear any of the new terms you’re using. Please share them in the comments section to this article, along with any urbex photos you have taken!

Photographic Documentation

Capture It All

If you’re interested in urbex meaning and want to improve your photography skills, check out this video course that will show you how to use your iPhone camera to its full potential. With 65 videos and lifetime access, you’ll learn at your own pace and capture stunning loop videos.

What Is Urban Landscape Photography?

9. Explore the Urban Environment

8. Look for New Perspectives

7. Embrace Repetition for Striking Shots

6. Enhance Textures in Black and White

5. Guide the Eye With Leading Lines

4. Use Photography Apps to Find the Best Light

3. Up Your Night Life for Atmospheric Scenes

2. In With the Old – Find Abandoned Venues for Surreal Images

1. Use Small Details to Create a Whole Image

Conclusion

Exploring Abandoned Places Near Me: What Is Urbex?

Urban exploration is a lot more involved than looking around a city. In fact, some urbex photography occurs in places that aren’t strictly speaking urban.
The majority of urbex photography happens within cities though. The locations are places that have been abandoned. The following are popular types of photos to take in these locations.

• Portraits – You can find some of the best backdrops for portrait photography in an urbex setting. Urban decay works very well. The natural lines in buildings, such as doorways, are great. And if you happen to be in an industrial complex, then lines of pipes might be a possibility.
• Cityscapes – If the building you’re entering happens to be tall, the rooftop may offer a great view of the city. In fact, roof-topping is a sub-genre of urbex photography. It might actually be more popular than urbex itself.
• Architecture – A lot of buildings have amazing architecture. Especially if the building you’re accessing used to be a factory or power station.
• Abstract – Plants growing through the walls, dusty floorboards, or light coming through broken windows. These all make for great abstract photography. They can be a legitimate main subject for your photo.

Which Abandoned Places Near Me Work Best?

An abandoned factory will work better than an abandoned family home in suburbia. That factory might be harder to gain permission to enter though.
The following list only reflects what would be interesting from a photography perspective. Gaining access to such places will be covered later.

• An industrial building – Even abandoned, these might still under guard. There is a decent chance some form of security is still present. The opportunity for unique photos in these places is a big draw though. Think of power stations, factories or even oil rigs at sea.
• A theme park – The abandoned theme park is a classic in the horror movie genre. It goes without saying this will also translate to photography as well.
• An apartment block – There are some places that have half-finished apartment blocks. The company building them usually ran out of money and abandoned them. Asia has quite a lot of these that are relics of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Eastern Europe also has a few.
• A house – In some places, you can find abandoned houses. Even modern houses can be interesting to photograph when they’re empty. The best houses are those that are older.
• Stately home – In some countries there are old stately homes or even castles that have been abandoned. They can sometimes be like time-capsules into the past. You might even find old newspapers lying around. Take extra care when accessing a building like this.

Safety When Exploring

An important aspect of urban exploration is your own safety. You’ll need to look at this from the point of view of wearing the right clothes, and personal safety.

Equipment You’ll Need

The following is a suggested list for exploring abandoned buildings. These places have plenty of hazards that could cause injury, so look to bring the following.

• Shoes – These should be sturdy boots, even with steel toe caps. They need to protect your feet from things like broken glass, or rusty nails.
• Jeans – Again to protect from sharp objects bring jeans. Should you be in a hot country you could choose different trousers, but you need to cover your legs.
• Long sleeves – A long sleeve top appropriate to the climate you’re in.
• Mask – Old buildings may have air that you should not be breathing. Dust, mold or even asbestos all pose a potential risk.
• Phone – If things go bad, your first method to get help will be your phone. Make sure it’s charged.
• First aid kit – Again a precautionary measure to take in a place that could be risky to be in.
• Torch – A light source for a dimly lit room may well let you see risky objects on the ground so you can avoid that area. A headlamp is the best option here.

Personal Safety

Abandoned buildings have plenty of risks. With the right gear, you can minimize the risk of personal injury. The worst can still happen.
You could hurt yourself badly enough that it might be difficult to get out of the building. This could occur through falling through floor boarding or getting bitten by a snake.
Abandoned places where you’re on your own are also good places to get mugged, so it might be worth packing some mace.
The best protection against all of the above is to bring a friend. Probably another photographer who also knows the risks. They can help should you get into trouble.

How Can I Find Abandoned Places Near Me?

It costs money to build a building, and if you do so you want to get use out of that building.
It goes without saying that most buildings will be occupied. Finding abandoned buildings isn’t easy. You’ll need to try some of the methods below to identify a building.

Join an Urbex Group Online

There are plenty of urbex photographers out there. One of the best ways of finding out about urbex locations is to visit places other urbex photographers have visited before.
Online forums can help with this. You can also use the following sites that work as databases for urbex photographers.

• Shothotspot – This site is a great resource. The caveat is it’s only as good as how active the urbex community is in a location. A search for the town I live in South Korea brings up zero results, and yet I know of abandoned buildings in this town.
• Abandoned places – A similar site that offers a database of locations. It also has images taken of such places. You can’t search any location in the world. You need to select the galleries. From there you can select various locations found around the world. To select pictures, navigate using the buttons on the photo wheel.

Local Knowledge

Nothing beats local knowledge, that’s true of any form of photography. This is especially true when it comes to urbex.
You can gain local knowledge by visiting urbex forums and websites. If you can join a local photographer that’s even better. Having someone with you will also give you that added safety.

Explore by Yourself

The last option is to explore yourself. This is the most time consuming and risky. It can also be the most rewarding if you can find a location and be the first to photograph there.
Of course, this isn’t easy to do, and in some parts of the world, this might be almost impossible. There are some things you can do to improve your chances.

• Economically deprived – Areas of the country that have fallen on hard times are more likely to have abandoned buildings. Look to visit these areas, and then look for signs that a property has been neglected.
• Overgrown – Vegetation overgrowing in a property is a good sign that the property has been abandoned. At this point, consider asking people in neighboring properties if the building you’re looking at is indeed abandoned.
• Online search – Looking for abandoned buildings can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. This is true even in areas that have suffered and economic downturn. Look to property websites with telltale signs like “below market value” or “immediate possession”. Most of the time properties sell slowly because there is a chain of people looking to buy and sell. If the property is empty this chain won’t exist.

Accessing Buildings for Urban Exploration

Get permission before accessing a building. This means you’re legitimate. If you choose not to do so, any risks you undertake are yours.
This website does not endorse breaking the law.

How to Seek Permission for Urban Exploration

There are several options open to you here. Finding the owner of the building and asking is not always easy.

• Trace the owner – One of the easiest ways to trace the owner will be tax records. This may be a person but could also be a bank. Once you have this, you have the person responsible for the property. You can now ask that person for permission to enter the property.
• Inform the police – If you’re unable to trace the property owner, then the next approach is to contact the police. They likely know the building is empty. Inform them of your intention to enter the building, and they can then give you permission. You are now on the right side of the law.
• Purchase the property – The most extreme option is to take over possession of the property yourself. If you were able to track down the owner this will be easier, as you can make them a direct offer. Keep in mind things like any unpaid tax on the property. If you can’t find the owner, a court may allow you to take procession of a property, if it’s proven to be abandoned.

Final Tips for Exploring Abandoned Buildings.

The following are some strategies to use when engaging in urban exploration.

• Pack light – Don’t carry massive amounts of camera gear. This makes it more difficult to move around old abandoned buildings. Remember that the flooring and stairs may not be stable.
• Leave no trace – This is one of the main rules of urban exploration. If you gain access, take photos but leave the place as you found it.
• Lights – It’s important to see where you’re going. Pack headlamps and torches, and make sure to take extra batteries with you.

Conclusion

So now you’re all set with all the information you need to kick start your urbex adventure. Have you explored abandoned places before? What were your experiences? Was it easy or difficult to gain access to the abandoned building?
We would love to hear your experiences on finding abandoned places near you. Feel free to share your thoughts and photographs in the comments section of this article.

10 Best Tokyo Photography Locations

Tokyo is big. Knowing the best places to shoot will ensure you get some amazing shots of the vibrant city.

10. Shinjuku

Shinjuku is an interesting area of the city. Whether you’re looking at the large crowds of people, the many neon lights, or the skyscrapers of the business district, this area is very much modern Japan.
You’ll need a little time to properly wonder around this area. The best time to visit is during the evening.

Kabukicho

This is a vibrant nightlife district within the Shinjuku area. In a city full of neon lights, this is where you’ll find most of them. Those neon lights are why it’s worth coming here in the evening.
Come during the day too. You can photograph the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex as it scales the tall buildings of the area.

Memory Lane

The mood you get in this area makes for some incredible street photo opportunities. This narrow alleyway lit up with traditional lanterns is home to lots of restaurants and drinking establishments.
It’s very popular among workers from the nearby business district.

Shinjuku Business District

The largest concentration of tall buildings in Tokyo can be found in Shinjuku. This gives you plenty of potential subjects for some modern architecture photography.
Among the most famous are the Metropolitan government building, the Mode Gakeun Cocoon tower, and the Sompo Japan building.
The Sompo Japan building is a great subject, as it sits right in front of a nice intersection that makes for an excellent foreground. It’s a good idea to bring a wide angle lens with you, to get the most out of this district.
Best time to visit—Evening and throughout the night.
Location—Memory lane, Kabukicho, Sompo building.

9. Shibuya

Shibuya is another area of Tokyo where you’ll get your fair share of neon lights, shopping, and dynamic energy. Finding some side alleys is the best approach to get a really moody photo.
The big draw for many people (including photographers) is that this is the busiest street crossing in the world. This intersection holds the record for the most number of people crossing it at one time.
There are a few locations you can use to photograph this place, so let’s break it down.

• Street level—With so many people, this crossing obviously gives you street photography opportunities. Aim to show context by including other passersby, and perhaps the white lines of the zebra crossing. You could also attempt to have a friend stay still, while you expose for 1/2 s, to capture the motion blur around them.
• Starbucks—On the opposite side of the street to the Shibuya subway station is a Starbucks. This sits on the second floor with views overlooking the junction. This is a good option for a slightly elevated view.
• Magnet by Shibuya 109—Now for that scene-setting photo. Photos taken at street level won’t show just how many people are crossing all at once. That means you’ll need to go roof-topping. Fortunately, there is a roof that’s open to the public. You’ll need to photograph through glass, so watch out for reflections. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the whole scene.

Best time to visit—Visit during the evening rush hour, to ensure the crossing is busy with people.
Location—Magnet by Shibuya 109.

8. The Tokyo Skytree

The new tower in town is the Tokyo Skytree. It opened in 2012 and dominates the skyline. This tower presents two types of photo—photos of it and photos from it.

• The view—Standing at 634m, this tower offers great views of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you’ll be able to take a series of photos to create a stitched panoramic photo that shows Tokyo in all its glory.
• The tower—The tower itself offers a great focal point for a cityscape photo of Tokyo. Examples might include juxtaposing the pagoda at the nearby Sensoji temple against the Skytree tower. Alternatively, find a viewpoint where you can photograph the Skytree from another building. Finally, there are locations nearer the base of the tower. These can be used to photograph the tower from street level.

Best time to visit—During mid-morning for a daytime view of Tokyo, or in the evening for a blue hour photo.
Location—The Tokyo Skytree.

7. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower

A great view over Tokyo is possible from the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. It has a viewing gallery at 250m high and an outdoor sky deck at 27m. This tower is one of the prime locations to get a clear view of the business districts of the city, and a view towards Tokyo Tower.
It’s the view towards Tokyo Tower that you should visit. The photos taken here are best achieved during the day, or as the blue hour approaches.
Should you photograph from the indoor viewing area, make sure you’re careful to avoid reflections on the glass you are photographing through.
Best time to visit—Mid-afternoon and into the evening.
Location—The Mori Tower.

6. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Shooting Tokyo photography means you’ll be taking photos of a lot of tall buildings. This is yet another one you can photograph from. The advantage this building has over some of the others is that it’s free!
The view from the top also offers a different perspective than the other towers. You’re more in the center of where all the other tall buildings in Tokyo are concentrated.
On a clear day, you’ll also be able to see Mount Fuji from this location. But this is also true of all the other towers though.

Worm’s Eye View

This building also offers a great photo from street level looking up. Within the government building complex, there is a circular wall. This wall rings a central courtyard like area in front of the two towers.
It’s possible to photograph looking up, and then use this wall to frame the towers. To do this photo justice, you’ll need an ultra-wide-angle lens. A lens with a focal length wider than 15mm or a full frame camera is best.
Best time to visit—The blue hour.
Location—The Tokyo Metropolitan Building.

5. Harajuku

The beating heart of Tokyo’s youth culture is the reason you’ll want to visit Harajuku. In years gone by, this is the area of town you’d find cosplayers dressing up and visiting Yoyogi park.
It’s still possible to see cosplayers here, but times have changed and it’s a lot less common these days. There are plenty of other things to attract the eye of a good photographer though.
One such location is the top end of Takeshita street, from where you’ll get a clear line of site down this busy shopping street. One great photo you can take here is of the mass of people as they move along the street.
Harajuku is also home to various animal cafes. And you’re allowed to take photos of the pets inside.

Cosplay

The Harajuku girl dressed in vibrant cosplay has been an attraction for photographers in recent times. Though it’s less common to see in Harajuku now, there are still people who enjoy dressing up.
To really have a chance to see more of this part of Japanese culture it’s better to visit an event. You’ll need to plan your trip to coincide with one of these, but you’ll be guaranteed some amazing portraits.
Best time to visit—Visit during the day or the weekend. Sunday afternoon is the best time to see cosplayers.
Location—Harajuku.

4. Asakusa

Having enjoyed the neon lights of Shinjuku, and the youthful energy of Harajuku, it’s now time to capture more traditional Tokyo photography in Asakusa.
There are many restaurants and alleyways to enjoy here. The central hub of the area is the Sensoji temple.
This is where you’ll be able to photograph some traditional Japanese culture and see Buddhism being practiced.

• Kaminarimon gate—The thunder gate is one of the most photographed structures in Tokyo. With its giant red lantern and supporting structure, it’s very photogenic. In order to avoid the crowds, you’ll need to visit here early in the morning.
• Sensoji temple—The path from Kaminarimon leads up to Sensoji temple, a beautiful temple in the middle of the city. The photo of the Hozomon gate with the five-story pagoda in the background is a popular photo to take here.
• Street photography—This is an area with great potential for street photography. With devotees and lots of incense smoke around, you can get photos with a lot of moods. You’ll also see people dressed in traditional Kimono dress in this area. You’ll have the chance to contrast them again people in contemporary clothing.

Best time to visit—Early morning to avoid the crowds. Mid-morning to see life around the temple. Blue hour for photos of the illuminated temple.
Location—Sensoji temple.

3. Odaiba

The Odaiba area of Tokyo is along the waterfront of the Sumida river, a little outside the center of the city. There are several reasons why you should visit as a photographer, such as the replica of the Statue of Liberty, or the local amusement park.
The main reason is to photograph the Odaiba rainbow bridge. There are several excellent viewpoints for the bridge, and you can also take photos as you pass along the bridge on your way to Odaiba.

• The train to Odaiba—The train you catch to Odaiba is a monorail. You can sit at the front of the train and take photos through the front window while the train is moving. As the train passes over the bridge, it goes through a tunnel-like structure, and you can create interesting motion blur photos as the train is moving. You’ll need to go handheld, so exposures of around 1/4th of a second work well.
• The bridge—There are numerous viewpoints to photograph the bridge with the cityscape in the background. You can photograph along the river bank with rocks in the foreground or use an elevated viewing platform. There is also a location you need to pay to enter, with arguably the best view. There is a sphere observation room attached to the Fuji TV building, but check the opening times before you visit.

Best time to visit—A couple of hours before sunset for the bridge motion blur. Blue hour for photos of the bridge.
Location—Odaiba.

2. Eitai Bridge

It’s what you can photograph from here that will draw you to this location. You’ll need to arrive early as well. It’s not uncommon for this place to be crowded with others shooting Tokyo photography.
The reason to visit here is to capture the moving boats as they pass underneath you and move down the river. Ahead is a group of apartment buildings, and this will provide the main focus to your photo.
The location of these apartments is where the river splits, some boats go left and others go right.

Nighttime Long Exposure

This is not a daytime photo either. You’ll need to arrive around sunset and begin photographing during the blue hour. Choose your composition with care. You won’t want to move your camera at all for around one hour.
Now wait for boats to pass under the bridge and capture their light trails as they cruise down the river. Boats move much slower than cars. In order to capture the light trails, you’ll need to put the camera on continuous fire.
Expose for 30 seconds each time and aim to capture multiple boats during a sequence of around 100 photos. Finally, these light trails need to be merged together and layered on top of each other using post-processing.
Best time to visit—Reach the location 30 minutes before sunset.
Location—Eitai bridge.

1. Hamarikyu Gardens

Tokyo contains several green spaces worth visiting, with places like Ueno and Harajuku offering good alternatives to the big city. The Hamarikyu gardens are especially beautiful though.
They can be accessed by riverboat from Asakusa, or you can use the subway and make the short walk to them. The gardens contain lots of paths canopied by the trees and some nice ponds. You’ll be able to juxtapose some of the more modern city buildings against the green space of this park.
Finally in the middle of the park is an idyllic tea house from where you can enjoy a nice view and a nice cup of tea. A little food and drink photography might be an option at the tea house as well.
Best time to visit—During the day, on a sunny day.
Location—Hamarikyu gardens.

Essential Day Trips From Tokyo

It’s well worth getting out of Tokyo, with some amazing locations within easy reach. The Japanese railway network makes these trips easy to plan with regular and reliable trains.
Here you’ll discover three locations which will make great day-trips.

Nikko

To visit Nikko and do it justice, you’ll need to make an early start. It will take you around 2 hours to reach this town by train, and you can leave from Asakusa.
There are several places worth visiting. It’s possible to see them all if you arrive early enough.

• Toshogu shrine—Nikko has many shrines, but this is perhaps the most important one you can visit. It’s worth visiting in the early morning ahead of the crowds if you can.
• Kammangafucchi gorge—This gorge contains lines of Buddha statues. These statues all have red woollen hats and a bib. This gives a great color contrast to the natural greens in the background.
• Kegon waterfall—A little outside Nikko is the Kegon waterfall close to lake Chuzengi. There are several viewing platforms from where you can photograph the waterfall at the site.

Getting there—There are several options to reach Nikko by rail.

Yokohama

Now a large city to the south of Tokyo, Yokohama was once a sleepy fishing village. That all changed when Yokohama became a treaty port that allowed foreign trading in the 19th century.
This history means that the town contains some interesting architecture from that era, in addition to the modern buildings found along the waterfront. Yokohama is a great city to visit for cityscape photos, and for a visit to its Chinatown.
Getting there—Yokohama is less than an hour from Tokyo by train.

Kamakura

Along with Nikko, a visit to Kamakura will allow you to see more of Japan’s cultural heritage. The giant Buddha statue at Kotokuin temple is quite literally the biggest attraction in town.
There are lots of temples and shrines to visit on a very worthwhile day-trip to this town.
Getting there—You’ll need to take two trains. The first to reach Kamakura station, and a second to reach Hase station, which is closer to the historic center.

Tokyo Capsule Hotel

There are lots of good options for places to stay in Japan. The idea of staying in a capsule hotel isn’t for everyone, and you may have tried one of these outside of Japan.
If you only ever stay in one capsule hotel in your life though, make it the 9 hours capsule in Japan. This is a chain of hotels, so you can find them in other cities in Japan as well.
It’s ultra-modern. You’ll feel like you’re staying in a space ship. It’s also possible to get an amazing photo of the line of capsules. Just avoid disturbing other guests if you look to take a photo here.

Conclusion

Shooting Tokyo photography is an amazing experience. There are so many opportunities for great photos. You’ll find immaculately presented food, super modern architecture, and fascinating history.
Tokyo is a really great place to begin your adventure in Japan. It will keep you occupied for days.
To get the most of your photography, ensure you pack the right travel photography equipment. Don’t forget to bring a tripod with you, and a good prime lens for night-time street photography.
Check out our Next Stop: Travel Photography e-book to make the most out of your trip to Japan!

10. Where to Go for Industrial Photography

Often, townships grow up around industrial sites. These industrial sites provide valuable employment and resources. And they serve as a record of the city or town’s history.
Sometimes, towns and cities migrate away from industrial sites, making them a bit trickier to locate.
If you see smoke stacks, tall silos or cooling towers you’re bound to find an industrial site nearby. Lots of truck traffic is also a clue you’re on the right track.
But industrial photography doesn’t have to be based around huge industrial sites. Smaller factories, wreckers or metal works are also excellent sources of industrial photography.
Try calling your local car wreckers or metal works and ask if you could come and take some photographs for them! You’ll see that finding industrial clients isn’t that hard.
You’ll find that the corporate sector is often interested in professional photos of their processing plants or manufacturing processes.
They use these for ads and they’re great opportunities for professional commercial photographers or experienced industrial photographers.

9. How to Keep Yourself and Your Gear Safe

Research

Photographing industrial sites can be dangerous for you and for others around you. Industrial sites and construction sites vary in terms of function and accessibility. But safety must be the number one priority at all times.
Familiarising yourself with the location of the shoot is the best way to plan. If you’ve seen a potential site you’d like to photograph, look it up on Google Maps. Or check out the company’s website is good practice.
And where possible, driving past the site and having a look at the layout is a good idea too. Just make sure you steer clear of any fences or restricted areas.
Once you’ve done your research, get in contact with the site manager. Never attempt to intrude on a site without authorisation.
In the past I’ve found that most staff are happy to help, especially if you offer copies of the images to them as thanks.

On the Day

Once you’ve got the OK, there are a few things to keep in mind. Wearing appropriate resistant clothing on the day is a must. Dress in a thick, brightly colored, long sleeve top with full length pants and enclosed, waterproof shoes. Get shoes with steel caps if you can.
And be prepared to get more than a little dirty.
Usually a site manager will arrange for someone to escort you around the site. They may also supply you with a hard hat, a high visibility jacket and hairnets and protective eye wear if necessary. Be sure to keep all safety equipment on at all times.
Be respectful of the environment and the industrial workers. Chances are they’ll be doing hard work during your photo-shoot.
Follow any directions you’re given. That way, you can steer clear of danger zones and focus on your photography!

8. Industrial Photography Equipment

For industrial photography, there’s stacks of equipment I’d pack into my bag… if I could carry it all. The trick here is to bring as little as possible, leaving you to move around. But here’s the difficulty.
Industrial sites are often quite dark, requiring a slow shutter speed and a tripod. So just do your best. Pack the essentials and leave that second camera at home.
Here’s a list of equipment I would recommend bringing;

• A camera;
• A large capacity CF card;
• Spare camera battery or battery grip;
• A lens (I would recommend a zoom lens to reach inaccessible areas);
• A set of extension tubes for macro photography opportunities;
• An on-camera flash and batteries;
• A tripod.

7. Get Creative With Lighting Effects

Industrial photography also presents the opportunity for lighting effects you’ll never see anywhere else.
Sparks from industrial equipment, sparce but intensely bright artificial lighting, red-hot glowing metal and natural lighting pouring in through grimy windows all create varied and fascinating visual effects.
Be prepared for a variable range of lighting situation. Bring a tripod and a flash with you and don’t be afraid to experiment a little with exposure.

6. Capture Industrial Landscapes

One of the most striking aspects of many larger industrial sites are their sheer size. Capturing the enormity of industrial structures highlights the amazing feats modern construction can achieve.
While you’re photographing an industrial site, don’t forget to shoot the bigger picture. Take your eye away from the camera and do a visual sweep of your surroundings.
You’ll familiarise yourself with your environment for safety. And you won’t miss opportunities to focus on the overall industrial landscape.

5. Don’t Forget the Details

Focusing on both the big and small picture at the same time is an important skill in many fields of photography. But it’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of industrial sites. And pass over intricate details for more immediate subject matter.
Try turning your lens on features like rusty bolts, aged metal or flashes of color (often found on safety signage). These will help you add more of a story to your body of work. It’s details like these that add depth and a sense of tactility to a series.

4. Focus on One Color to Highlight Emotions

Color brings scenarios to life. Even in the depths of a dark industrial site, our eyes are programmed to gravitate towards areas of color. Incorporating color into your industrial photography is one effective way to create a more dynamic image.
Humans intrinsically associate color with particular emotions. Different hues can add a certain atmosphere to an industrial photograph too.
Think of the yellow sparks off a grinder, the red of molten steel, the blue hues of daylight creeping in. Color can be used to reinforce the story behind each individual image.

3. Include Industrial Workers

The industrial hum of the urban landscape seems to indicate a life in itself. But it’s humans that are at the heart of the machine. Photographing people at work may feel intrusive, but often people are happy to have their photo taken. Just ask!
If you are going to photograph right alongside workers, you may need to wear extra protective gear. There’s a chance that this could make it difficult to operate your equipment.
Make sure you have your neck-strap on, and make use of a tripod or solid surface where you can.

2. Change Your Perspective For More Dramatic Photos

Industrial photography gives viewers the opportunity to see a world they may never have encountered in person. The creative use of perspective takes this one step further.
A well executed perspective image positions the viewer at the site of the camera. Try placing your camera on the ground (out of the way of workers). Or make your way to a high point and photographing the scene below.
You’ll find that unusual perspectives tell more about the language of the environment than a standard viewpoint.

1. How to Photograph Abandoned Industrial Sites

There are many abandoned and neglected industrial sites dotted around the world. Some are crumbling in disarray, others are surprisingly intact. Though many are accessed illegally and vandalised, they still make fascinating photography subjects.
And while you may be tempted to access the site yourself, its worth getting in contact with the owner first. That way you’ll save yourself a fine or a ride to the police station if you’re unlucky.
Photographing an abandoned industrial site requires serious caution. You won’t have the benefit of a safety officer. There are hazards like broken glass and unstable surfaces that can be hard to steer clear of.
But exploring the life-cycle of industry through abandoned architecture is an interesting facet of industrial photography. Just ask permission first and proceed with caution.

Conclusion

Industrial photography is a great way to create an engaging body of work. Whether it’s documenting networks of grimy machinery, taking portraits of workers hard at work or capturing the detail of the industrialised landscape.
While industrial photography may take you outside of your comfort zone, it’s well worth the trip. Maintain personal safety, follow instructions and be sure to post your results here!

Advanced Techniques

Capture It All

If you’re looking for inspiration for your urban exploration photography, look no further than this Video Course that covers everything your iPhone camera can do. Join an experienced photographer on an adventure in Mexico and learn at your own pace with simple step-by-step video lessons.

Tips for Urban Exploratioin

Legality

The first thing I’d like to cover is the legality of Urban Exploration Photography. This is because as much fun as it is, it often involves trespassing.
Whether anyone cares that you’re trespassing or not is another matter, but it’s trespassing all the same.
Some people even go so far as to break and enter. For me, this is a line which I’m not willing to cross. I’m not a vandal, I’m a photographer.
The two locations you’re going to see in this post were photographed without breaking anything, and without leaving a mark. We came, we took photos, we left.
There are a lot of vacant buildings around, but some will be guarded by security. This is so that they don’t end up in the same state of the buildings you’ll see in my photos.
Urban Exploration Photography is very common to security. Some will be kind enough to allow you to take photos anyway, provided you stay within a certain area. You don’t get what you don’t ask for.

Location Research

Finding a location is actually a lot easier than you may think. It’s getting the address and into the building that’s the tricky part.
The best place to look is in a forum.
A lot of forums will not divulge the location of the places they’ve explored. This is because they don’t want just anyone accessing them, and to prevent attention from the police.
If you’re a forum member and you send them a message, they will usually tell you. Failing that, a Google search often helps.
The photos in this post were taken about an hour’s drive away from where I live. I’m sure you can think of some abandoned building that you pass every day (hello recession) that you can access.
There are also countless forums dedicated to this form of photography. Some popular ones here in the UK are:

• 28 Days Later
• Derelict Places

A quick Google search for ‘Urban Exploration [your area]’ should produce plenty of results.
The two locations you’ll see captured in this post are an old all-girls boarding school, and a lime works factory in the town of Cocking. Yes, really. Both of these were found by looking on a forum.

Safety

I can not stress how dangerous this can be. People have died in the past. There’s a good reason why these buildings are closed off: they’re not safe.

• Never go alone. Always have at least one other person with you. Trust me, this can be quite a scary hobby, because you never know who or what you may find, so bring a friend. Me and my friends even had a pact not to make each other jump.
• Tell other people where you’re going. That way if you disappear through some floorboards, someone knows where to look for you.
• Bring torches. The electricity is going to be shut off in many locations, and they’re often overgrown which makes them even darker.
• Wear tough boots. The amount of broken glass you’ll find is ridiculous. From people breaking in, or teenagers using it as somewhere to drink.
• Wear layers. It’s better to catch your jacket or jumper on a rusty nail, than your bare skin.
• Depending on the location, a hard hat’s not a bad idea either.
• A face mask or respirator is a good idea if there’s a lot of dust or harmful chemicals.
• A penknife is also really helpful because you may find you need to cut something. This can be anything from your clothing, to some bushes in your way.

If you can’t find any friends who want to come with you, remember to check the forums and see if anyone wants to join you. It’s a good way to meet people with similar interests to you.

Photography Equipment

I personally can’t pack light. I’m going to San Francisco next week, and I’ll probably bring twice the amount of clothing and camera gear that I’ll actually use.
I brought a big bag of stuff, but I barely even changed my lens. Here are the essentials:

• A wide angle lens. You’re shooting inside a lot of the time, and confined spaces mean you need a wider angle.
• A flash isn’t a bad idea if you have the time to play around with it, and the option to take it off-camera.
• A tripod is a must. These locations are often dark, and it pays to be able to take a long exposure to account for this.
• Lens wipes, as you may come across a lot of dust or moisture.
• Spare batteries, for the camera, flash and torches.
• A backpack. A shoulder bag may be easier, but if you have to climb up or through something, you need a bag that’s not going to swing around.

That’s about it really. You should be able to fit all of this into a small backpack, which makes it much easier to access.

Techniques

Research the buildings fully before you try and access them. Find out what other people have said, and whether there’s security, squatters, etc.
Have a walk around the building first to find the easiest and safest entrance. And ask in the forums how others got in.
Once you’ve accessed the building, you’re likely going to be shooting in low light.
This means either a long shutter speed, a wide aperture, or a high ISO. It depends on the equipment you have with you.
If you’ve got a tripod, then aim for an aperture of around f/11, and ISO about 400, and see how long your camera says you should be setting the shutter for.
And remember where to focus.
If you’re shooting handheld, then that means that you will need a wide aperture and a high ISO. This prevents camera shake from appearing in your photo.
You could also use a flash for this, but I would only recommend it if you have a way to take your flash off-camera.

As long as you remain safe and aware of your surroundings, you shouldn’t have a problem getting some great photos. If you run into security, it’s not the end of the world.
Just go out and have fun.
Wanna know more about urban photography? Check out our new post about urban exploration gear next!

Advanced Techniques

Capture It All

If you’re looking for inspiration for your urban exploration photography, look no further than this Video Course that covers everything your iPhone camera can do. Join an experienced photographer on an adventure in Mexico and learn at your own pace with simple step-by-step video lessons.