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Janine Pendleton, a photographer and creator of Obsidian Urbex Photography, told Bored Panda that her interest in documenting derelict buildings started in August 2015 with an impromptu trip to an abandoned theme park near her hometown.
"I used to go here as a kid with my parents, so seeing its dilapidated and desolate state some 15 years later struck a chord somewhere inside me," she revealed. "I was instantly hooked! I spent the rest of 2015 trawling the UK in search of abandoned places, making new friends along the way." Later on, when she had her first trip to Europe in the spring of 2016, her hobby started to escalate and she never looked back.
Janine now travels the world to look for mysterious and other-worldly places, hoping to find an opportunity to capture stunning pictures and share them with everyone online. From the eerie aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster to the captivating abandoned places in Pennsylvania, she has seen it all.
"Quite simply, I find a lot of beauty in natural decay. No two buildings decline in exactly the same way," the photographer added. "It is always interesting to see what happens to these places when they are neglected and forgotten. Visiting [them] is like stepping back in time. You get a glimpse of a time decades in the past."
She pointed out that even when you enter the space for a fleeting moment, your own journey and that of the abandoned place are aligned as you explore. "With a click of the shutter, you capture the state of a building at a single point in time."
"With digital photography, that moment can be preserved (in theory) forever. It is rendered as millions of pixels, uploaded to computers and servers. That single snap can be shared with people all over the world through the internet and social media. In this way, these places and moments can live long after a building (and even the photographer) is gone," she said.
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We also managed to get in touch with Ola and Arek, a couple extremely passionate about history, photography, and running their blog called Urbex Travel. The duo explained they got into urban exploration because of an old gasworks in their neighborhood. "We were watching this place every day and wanted to get inside," they told us.
One day, they woke up at 4 AM, took a ladder, and just climbed over the wall. They had to run very quickly to avoid bumping into the security guard, but once they managed to get inside, the building and what they saw was astonishing. "Many people think there is nothing interesting in the empty places, but they are wrong. Well-preserved architecture which reminds us of the 19th century ... made us want to see more places like this," they noted, adding that this is how their love for the hobby started.
Ola and Arek explained that urbexing is a specific pursuit that is a fusion of a passion for history, travel, and photography. "There is a story connected with each facility and events [that influenced] the fate of their inhabitants," the couple added. "Nowadays, these people may be no longer in this world, but the buildings are the silent witnesses."
"We can see how various architectural styles intertwine and how the former industrial kings competed in the markets all over the world. In the halls, you seem to be listening to working machines, and the air still is filled with the smell of grease and steam," they continued. "It is fascinating to be able to touch upon this story that was happening right where we are."
Janine seems to share their devotion to urban exploration. "I spent most weekends and literally all of my holiday allowance from work traveling and exploring all over the world," she revealed. "I think something inside us all wonders what the world would look like if all the humans suddenly disappeared, leaving nature to reclaim the planet and out man-made trapping. I think these abandoned places give us a glimpse of that."
But while venturing into decayed buildings is a fun, exciting, and educational experience, it also comes with some risks. People are often eager to rush off to uncharted wilds of forgotten places and forget to think about their own safety. "The most important thing when embarking on anything potentially dangerous, including exploring derelict buildings, is to always be aware of your surroundings," Janine advised. "Check and double-check floors and ceilings for signs of instability, and if in doubt, always take another route."
When asked about some of the main rules to know before getting into exploring abandoned places, Janine explained that different groups of people have their own code of conduct and acceptable limits for what lengths they are willing to go to to get inside a building. "I would (hope to) say the vast majority, including myself, are entirely against any form of theft or causing damage of any kind."
"The rather cliche over-quoted 'Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints' is something you will hear often in association with this hobby," the photographer mentioned. "In essence, my advice is whatever you do in life, you need to be prepared for the consequences of your actions and follow your own moral compass."
Ola and Arek added that those considering getting into urbexing must not let the place be ruined or wrecked by vandals. "To get inside the object, we never force ourselves. There will always be an entrance, but you are not allowed to break windows or break locks," the pair explained. "If we were to do something like that, then it would be an ordinary break-in, not urbex."
They asked you to remember that even the most spectacular places can be visited, but they often require a permit. "If you see an object like Kelenföld Power Plant or Óbuda Gas Works, don't even try to get there in your own way. There is always a security guard who may catch you. There is also the risk of destroying beautiful places like this."