There is something tangibly unsettling, yet powerfully moving in shooting abandoned or decaying settings: these places are often full of rich history, yet they are now derelict or destroyed.  It is a moment of sad recognition that people lived in these places where life was once bustling, yet now they lie in ruin.  But... if you look long enough, there is still a deep, sweeping beauty there: it is not always obvious.  At a longer glance, these places have a story to tell, and that is why shooting abandoned or run-down places speaks to me on a personal level; and moreover, in an allegorical sense.  Any of us who have suffered hardship, great loss, deep pain or sadness have at some point all felt like these abandoned places look.  Yet, lying somewhere in the rubble, is an interesting story, a rich history, and a lingering hope that others can still see that flicker of beauty and purpose within.

Abandoned, urbex (urban exploration), and rural decay is a relatively new genre of art photography or photojounalism.  There is an alluring pull to photograph places that once were hubs of activity, but are now in disrepair.  Some of these photos come across as spooky or eerie, yet anyone who can appreciate them can also recognize the story behind them; and rather than associating them with loss or fear, they are considered darkly moving, creative, or hauntingly beautiful.