London Urbex Photography

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sooyeshun

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Hi there,

I guess the title already stated much what I'm going to ask. Please bear with me a little. Thanks. lolz
Photographing touristic places is a kinda boring for me already.
Lately I'm interested in urbex / asylum photographing. After browsing through some derelict photos in London. I would love to try and gain some experience on photographing abandoned buildings/ structures.
I've been inspired by some other forum, 28DL etc and an urbex photographer - 'contamination zone'.

I'm planing to visit to Menillnium Mills in East London first. Then plan on other abandoned hospital -west park , springfield etc

My question is that does anyone here knows how to GET INTO the building, I assumed they are all restricted area or maybe is sealed from public, I have get to none of the derelict place. Pictures of urbex photographer shown that it's possible to get into those places.
What kind of equipment should I need (beside camera+tripod)? Do I really needs a pair of boots ,raincoat etc? how about torchlight?

I'm complete novice that needs help pls....:):):)
 
Do not break into places, thats asking to get you nicked. Most people find a way of getting in, maybe open windows or cellar doors that are broken, some climb to upper levels which are often left open (dangerous)
Safety gear, a hard hats a good idea, combined with a yellow jacket may let you just walk in, head torches are handy (and always carry a spare torch) A dust mask is also a good idea, many old building have asbestos or other bad things laying around. Always let sombody trustworthy know exactly where your going, so thay can get help if you have an accident, remember many of these old building are unsafe, rotten floors are common, as is broken glass.
Also remember you might not be the only person in there, druggies or chaves might be using the place so take care.
 
My only advice would be too start off small. Swanseamale had it more or less sewn up advice wise. (the hard hat and vest thing has worked a few times for me, a clipboard helps as well ;))

I would recommend 28DL website, but don't go on with all guns blazing asking for access details because it will get you nowhere. A site like 28DL requires you to take a bit of time to earn their trust. Try and meet up with like minded people from the site and go explore with them, solo explores are extremely foolish IMO.

But mostly, enjoy it. Half the fun I have is trying to find a way in, doing research on the site etc. :D
 
Sound advice so far, but just to add dont carry a knife,screwdriver etc as if you do get collared by the police they will throw the book at you.

Urbexers moto 'take nothing but photos,leave nothing but footprints'
 
It would be wrong to tell you how to trespass.

Very secure place nowadays, the first floor is even more secure ... and they have a real patrolling security guard.

I know many people have got in in the passed, but you may find you'll be disappointed.
Lots of asbestos in the mill btw.

Take a mobile and make sure its charged in case you end up breaking a leg…. The first floor is twenty feet up and there is no direct access.

:thumbs:
 
Thanks guy for so much help!

As I dont have a car to travel, therefore i only can rely on public transportation. I really stretching my luck hoping that get close to my place (Croydon) which is London or anywhere near.
I'm still very curious how do people get into even in Bunker, Underground etc etc
I wish to try some which is more popular, safer and done by most urbexer. Just experience before doing more challenging one.

Thanks

Another site I gain my knowledge is
http://prettyvacant.fotopic.net/

regarding www.derelictlondon.com - Paul Talling, I've already got his book since June..


regards
 
sooyeshun said:
Thanks guy for so much help!

As I dont have a car to travel, therefore i only can rely on public transportation. I really stretching my luck hoping that get close to my place (Croydon) which is London or anywhere near.
I'm still very curious how do people get into even in Bunker, Underground etc etc
I wish to try some which is more popular, safer and done by most urbexer. Just experience before doing more challenging one.

Thanks

Another site I gain my knowledge is
http://prettyvacant.fotopic.net/

regarding www.derelictlondon.com - Paul Talling, I've already got his book since June..


regards
Click to expand...

Ah, my friend Lucy, aka Rookinella. ;)
 
on the junkies note, I have a maglite to see with, and its big and heavy. Tripod is good but kinda needs to be in your hand and mines usually slung across my back

just a thought
 
Go with experienced people and don't do anything you're not comfortable with. Take water and wear thick soled shoes/boots.
 
Good news to me guys,
There's always a building abandoned near my house (5 mins walks perhaps). I walk pass it everyday to work, to train station, etc. Its been sealed off since the day I moved there, it worth a few millions quid but not sure why the owner didnt wanna sell it. Or maybe the owner is dead? It's about size of combination of 3-5 shop lots.

Sunday morning, after the rain, I plan to go do some grocery shopping in Morrisions as usual. Surprisingly, one of the seal came off. I then went home and grab my trusty 450D and 580ex and head towards it. Had my boots on (Karrimor from sports world). Start snapping. I was alone. I didnt go too deep in as I'm not experience and not confident. Pigeons are inside that gave me a jump. LOL

Later since i'm there i decided to walk around the building and search for more. I walking on an opened parking space. Its flat ground, so I browse my picture and walking -NEVER scan through your pictures while walking. Because I never expect an opened ManHole appear there in an opened carpark space (no cars parking there as barriers closed). Fortunately I saw it before i fall in it. Thanks god!

enjoy some pics here. not the best out there.

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15138_325387875297_544570297_982706.jpg


15138_325383515297_544570297_982697.jpg


15138_325387865297_544570297_982706.jpg
 
Nice shots, did you have fun?

Probably stupid, but my first urbex experience was a lone outing to a Mental Asylum in Hellingly. It was awesome, and extremely scary. I'm glad I did it on my own though as it made the experience really spooky!

Probably wouldn't do one on my own again though as I now know the risks involved.
 
The closest I've come to this sort of thing was in Johannesburg a few years ago. Most of the CBD is high rise, with shops at street level and offices above, and a lot of businesses abandoned the area because of crime and grime in the late 1980s. I spent a few days "exploring" the upper floors and basements of the derelict buildings trying to work out how burglars got into the client's stores on the G/F, with no visible point of entry from the outside. Thousands of rats, lots of pigeon skeletons (the birds got inside, and couldn't find their way out again), and some illegal immigrants squatting in the cellars, when we eventually got down there. An interesting experience, and the photographs are probably still in archive copies of the reports somewhere. I didn't keep them.

Looking back, it was dodgy. The illegals were pretty harmless - just frightened, poor, people - but the inner city was a bit like a war zone. I carried a Surefire, OC, a 9mm (legal in SA, with a licence) and an ASP, as well as the camera, notebook and so on!

I came across a couple of urbex sites when I was looking for info on abandoned military installations, and noticed the level of interest in former hospitals and asylums. OK, whatever, but I was a bit puzzled by the number of posts about the "morgues" (mortuaries) and post mortem tables, if they were still in place. Quite a few photographs too. I find this bizarre. Any thoughts?
 
maybe take a tourch with you next time with 2 sets of spare batteries

even if it is light and you have plenty of time things can happen unexpedidly and a tourch can be used for 2 things a nice object for hitting scum bags if they try to nick your gear and the obvious one is light
 
wegotitugetit said:
maybe take a tourch with you next time with 2 sets of spare batteries

even if it is light and you have plenty of time things can happen unexpedidly and a tourch can be used for 2 things a nice object for hitting scum bags if they try to nick your gear and the obvious one is light
Click to expand...

A Surefire is a torch. They're designed for police, military and security applications, and even the small - pocket sized - ones are powerful enough to dazzle someone at short range in sunlight. Only downside is the expensive lithium batteries and short run time (60 minutes) but you can carry lots of spares in a pocket. There are better options, with LED technology, now.

Big Maglites do make good clubs, if you know how to use them. I've got one, but it was a nuisance to carry and awkward when you're working. The Surefire, backed up by OC and a pistol was more practical. I know they're not legal options in the UK, but this was in a different time and place.
 
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