Bored Panda wanted to get professional photographer Dominic's opinion on keeping our cameras, other gear, and ourselves safe during outings in nature and during urban exploration.
"Know your limits and be aware of your surroundings. If you're in an abandoned structure, make sure you know where the closest exit is at all times," he said to focus while exploring.
"You never know who or what might be living in or just lurking in the shadows. Just be safe at all times and leave if you're uncomfortable; there is a reason you're feeling that way," the photographer pointed out that you should trust your gut.
We were curious whether, generally speaking, a camera's in-built flash will be good enough when exploring dark places.
"A built-in flash is certainly bright enough, but the results will be poor. Built-in flash is harsh and direct, which leads to brutal lighting and just a poor result," Dominic told Bored Panda.
"Bump your camera ISO up in dark places or carry a tripod and take some long exposures if you want to utilize the natural light of a dark setting," he suggested.
"An alternative for added lighting would be to use a flashlight and quite literally paint your scene with light. Light painting can add a really awesome effect when done right," the pro noted that this can be the perfect time to experiment with some more artistic solutions. The end result might surprise you!
Meanwhile, photographer Dominic said that there are certain advantages to using traditonal film or disposable cameras, as well as polaroids, instead of staying all-digital.
"This forces someone to print off their images and also become a better photographer with manual settings. Seeing your images printed out is something timeless and special. It's important that we have hard copies of our images because they stand the test of time and are how the future generations will be able to see what their ancestors looked like."
Right out the gate, it’s important to remind everyone that your safety is paramount. While the Call to Adventure might be hard to resist for some, it’s absolutely vital to temper that passion with a healthy dose of prudence.
Before heading off to any abandoned and potentially risky spot on your yellowing parchment map, you should tell a few people about where you’ll be. That way, in case there’s an emergency and you get hurt, either they or the authorities can come and find you. What we’re trying to say is, don’t keep it secret from your loved ones that you’re out exploring deserted places.
At the same time, urban explorers should know it’s not an activity that should be done solo. While everyone might want to feel like a protagonist, it’s really hard to stress enough just how important it is to have a sidekick with you on your travels.
Two heads are always better than one, especially when traversing (possibly) haunted and (potentially) trap-ridden ruins, in search of treasure and glory. And two sets of eyes are, potentially, even better: there’s a greater chance of spotting danger in advance. And if one of you gets hurt, the other can call for help. So bringing at least one other person with you should be your goal… provided that they aren’t a total newbie.
Obviously, you shouldn’t break the law, but urbex at its very core lies in a morally and legally grey area. You’re walking around abandoned buildings and, well, most of them belong to someone.
Get to know the law and the rules regarding urban exploration in your area. If you happen to meet the authorities during your activities, remember to be polite and friendly. Don’t be hostile or rude to people who only want to keep you safe and the property from being damaged. Odds are that if you’re decent to the police or security, they’ll probably let you leave with only a verbal warning. So, know your rights, be a decent human being, and everything will probably turn out okay.
Before you head out the door, you should probably spend some time researching the place you’re going to visit. Learn about its history, the layout. Familiarize yourself with how the surrounding area looks and if other explorers have gone there before. While there’s no such thing as being 100% prepared for _any situation_ in life, doing your prepwork can help you avoid a lot of headaches down the line.
If you know for a fact that there are rickety staircases and crumbling floors at that definitely-not-haunted-house at the end of the street, you’ll know to be extra careful and what areas to avoid. You might also learn that so-called abandoned locations aren’t all that abandoned… something to keep in mind if you don’t want trouble.
