Urban Decay Obsession and Urbay Decay Photography: a new fascination with decaying places? Is it an obsession in the making?

There are new terms to describe the Urban Decay Obsession. These are “ruin porn”, “urban exploration (UE or URBEX)”, “urban decay photography”, and “ruins photography”. Furthermore, it is a new form of tourism that has developed in the past ten years.

Chilean-born photographer Camilo José Vergara, a famous street photographer, began photographing urban and degraded sites in the USA in the 1970s.  He compiled several books documenting his works, encouraging many others to follow and take up this form of photography. 

From time to time, photographing old and abandoned places makes a stark change from wildlife, landscape and portrait photography. 

In addition, for some, there is a fascination and beauty behind boarded-up old and abandoned decaying buildings, factories, residences and ancient ruins. Sadly, some sites have fallen into disrepair, which makes the layers of decay, peeling paint and wallpaper, rusty fittings, graffiti, and hints of untold stories of what life might have been.

The mystery of urban decay

For this reason, urban decay photography evokes a certain kind of mystery. Entering old and abandoned places with anticipation, not knowing what you will find, is very exciting. While trespassing can be considered when armed with a camera and not bolt cutters, you are usually quietly asked to move on if caught. There is also a risk of physical danger, such as rotting stairs, mould, asbestos particles, and squatters.

A point often overlooked is that the chances of accidents occurring in these unsafe locations increase as more photographers become involved in urban decay photography.

In addition, there seems to be a never-ending fascination with modern decay with abandoned buildings, ghostly towns, and derelict amusement parks. 

Furthermore, old rusty cars, dust-covered abandoned furniture, and dilapidated buildings reeking of forgotten memories are not traditional subjects photographers tend to focus on. However, many feel the irresistible urge to seek them out purposefully and document them.

For these reasons, officially guided tours are now legally permitted to gain access to many abandoned sites. These places have been made safe and managed for tourism.

Eastern State Penitentiary

The Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia closed in 1971. It is now a museum for guided tours. It is considered one of the most haunted places in the USA, with its forbidding high stone walls, crumbling corridors, and bare cells that once housed thousands of hardcore criminals, such as Al Capone.

During its 142 years of operation, inmates succumbed to madness, disease, murder, harsh torture, and frequent suicides.

St Johns Orphanage for boys

The Orphanage for Boys opened in 1912 and closed in 1978. During its 66 years of operation, it was home to 2000 young boys. Accordingly, The Sisters of Mercy were in charge of providing a home and education to needy boys.

Mittagong Maltings

The Malting Company of New South Wales was established in 1899. It produced malted barley, an essential ingredient of beer, in 1905. Tooth and Co. expanded the plant’s capacity to three malting buildings. The buildings ran a total production until they were extensively damaged by fire in 1942. Following repairs, they reopened in 1953. Another fire occurred in 1969, and the Malthouse one was closed permanently. Malthouse two and three continued producing until 1980. Another fire burnt out the silo and roof. It was then closed permanently and put up for sale in 1981. Eventually, in 2019, it was sold to developers for $6.5m.

Graffiti artists and photographers seem to be drawn to old and abandoned buildings.