The Weathered Spyglass

“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” -Søren Kierkegaard

If you were to ask me in person what my realm of photography consists of, I would call it architecture in nature photography; it’s easier for those who do not understand why my niche does what it does. For those who are more open, I love to say that I am a photographer who specializes in forgotten memory capture. Ever since the pandemic, there has been an uptick in urban exploration and though I am happy to see more amazing captures, I have noticed that there is an uptick in vandalisms resulting in higher negative opinions of urbex and the destruction of what were amazing locations that deserved to be remembered as they were first found and protected by those who find them.

I first got bit by the urbex bug in early 2017. I have been interested in abandoned locations since I was young and always wondered how a location ended up in the state where I discovered it. I recall the first house that I had explored. It was across the street from my prior workplace and the property had been placed up for sale; so, if anyone had asked me what I was doing, I had the excuse that I was looking into the property potential. It was an older farmhouse. It was white and had what was once a beautiful wrap-around porch with the doors kicked in and windows shattered. With my phone, I documented the location. I fell in love with how the English ivy took over the old, glass windows and the once beautiful kitchen with the one chair by what was once a wall phone. The nostalgic smell of my grandparent’s attic invited me in further and the entire time I was there, I was transported back in time where the good food flooded the halls and the heart of the house glowed.

Of course, I couldn’t not share what I had found. I started a social media page with all the relevant hashtags that I could think of, followed fellow explorers, and it took off from there. Originally, I did not label myself as an urbexer or a photographer; I was simply a wanderer who took okay pictures. Over time, I got better with my documentation and sharing that my passion for abandoned photography really took off. I am proud to say that I am self-taught and that I work with what I had already. I would say that I wish I was taught how to use a manual camera prior to using an automatic as its made me custom to the quick stuff (permission to chuckle). If I’m being honest, with how quick I am in and out of locations, the automatic is almost a necessity.

Now I get the question of how I got this light and that texture with the one camera I have and a kit lens. The answer, the majority of it is luck. Understanding where the sun is at that time of day that you’re exploring is key. I am jealous of some of the fancier equipment that other explorers use, but I am happy to have developed my unique style. I still shoot with my Sony A6000 with my 15-35mm lens with a polarized filter. No tripod, only my knee and whatever stable floor I lay on for certain texture and angle shots. My method of shooting makes me feel more connected to the location that I am shooting and therefore have more respect for the location.

This connectedness that I have developed is felt through my captures. Although I wasn’t the viral explorer like others, I pushed my work more out there. It will always be work to ensure that my portfolio has recent works and demonstrates growth, but I am grateful for the journey that I have been on. I had applied for international exhibitions with the work that I was known for, and it took off from there. I had been apart of digital exhibitions in Athens, Hanoi, Bogota, Limassol, & Barcelona, but when I got to see my work in Philadelphia, that was when I knew that my work was good enough for me to continue my photography journey. It is tough work as an independent photographer in the beginning, and I did not get an actual magazine feature until 2023 when I was given a nine-page article about my work and technique. I then earned two features in another magazine followed by a selective two month international exhibition of 65 other artists. I am writing this is 2024, so who knows what is in store for the future.

To you, the reader, the advice I want to give you is that the road is hard, and with meaningful support, hard work, and patience, you will go far in whatever your heart leads you to do. My godfather, though he was not able to be with me on this journey, always told me that,

“Whatever you choose to do, be the best at it.”

I leave you with this. If no one has told you, I believe in whatever sets your heart ablaze and all-in-all, you can do it.