Document Processing

Scavengers, taggers, and Urban Explorers all co exist, but all have different mindsets. Scavengers want copper, and other material goods they can take to sell for quick cash. Taggers want somewhere they can do street art or just put up random messages that almost never get painted over. After all the doors have been taken, walls smashed and "redecorated", all objects thrown askew the Urbex enthusiast now comes in. They explore this location to document and preserve this location and time. This former document processing facility is an example of that. Even though it is considered "abandoned", it is always changing.

Last Chance (Reflection)

Just over a year ago I came across a book of photographs titled "Ghosts in the Wilderness" by Tony and Eva Worobiec. It was an extensive work that involved documenting the abandoned structures of America. This was the catalyst for me to start my own project. Today, I have driven over 10,000 miles, seen almost 150 separate sites, and taken 15,000 photographs. The project has grown in to an obsession that I must document all these places before they are completely gone. Before, I used to not show very much of this work to anyone, but I recently had a class I had to start a blog. So here I am, making a sort of photo blog, travel log of the places I go and experience. This blog is a fraction of the places visited, but it is growing week by week.
Freedom/Urban/Exploration, I will continue to update for as long as there are new buildings to explore. My photography is growing and changing, and this project will grow and change as I do. Thanks for all who have supported and helped me in my photographic pursuits.

-N.B.

These latest set of photos are from Last Chance, Colorado. This is the first place I have ever visited and so I made a pilgrimage to see how much has changed. I kept the photos simple and pure, all shot natural light with my 50mm lens, and no post editing. Enjoy.

Small Town School

Small town schools are different then the large inner city ones. Everyone knows everyone, classes are smaller, but sports remains the center of it all. This structure has a large gym at the center and in a large "U" shape around it is all of the classrooms, library, and lunchroom. The sound of adults and children cheering in the gym has been replaced by the sound of dripping water and birds. All of the classrooms and hallways are full of discarded items and crumbling parts of the building. Out of all of these items, the hundreds of books just rotting away in a pile I find to stick in my mind the most. Is this what will become of education in the future?

Depression Era House

East of the metro area are The Great Plains. The center of the United States, it is open, quiet, and haunting. During the 1930's this house, among millions of others, were where people lived and worked. Economic hardship, drought, and isolation were why many left for the cities.
Today, this house is 20 miles from the nearest town, 40 miles from the nearest gas station. Standing here, wind whistling in your ears you feel cold, lonely, disconnected.
Every time I visit this place, I find myself to appreciate it more and more.

The Lost Neighborhood

In a small part of Colorado stands some 30 homes that are sitting empty. Victims of Eminent Domain these homes now sit all alone. Very little is known about this place. There are no records, no one wants to talk about it, it does not exist. When standing in the middle of the street surrounded by these empty skeletons, all you hear is the wind. Deer, birds, and vegetation have taken back the land.

Family Farm

I was shown this farm by a fellow photographer. It consisted of the main house, a large barn, a garage, and a silo. All of the structures were in very good condition, as they were protected by some very old and very large trees. A new development is right over the hill and soon this series of buildings will be a parking lot for a Wal-mart.