Went on our first urban exploration - Abandoned Pub/Hotel

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Picked up another photographer as we wanted to do our first abandoned exploration , we arrived at the destination and looked for a way in. We found good access and climbed through , the place was big inside with alot of rubble on the ground (however it was wrecked). As we moved to the back of the hotel/pub we could see another part to it , but it was pitch black. On the floor was a huge trap door but it was welded shut, To one side was a corridor with toilets but nothing of interest inside apart from a nest of mosquito's

We decided to look for a way upstairs , where was the stairs! we found another side passage but this one wasn't easy to get across. The floor was gone and all that could be seen was a hole to the cellar a very nasty drop!
Found some planks of wood and made our way across , doing indiana jones style movements along the way. Finally we made it across and at one edge was a door , opening the door was a large slope down to blackness it was probably the cellar something we will go back to ( our torchs had bad light ).

At the stairs we could see more rooms one was a kitchen but this had another hole in the floor so could only do some shots from some angles. We walked up the stairs slowly only to be greeted by missing stairs but still we went on!.

At the top of the stairs was more rooms alot more , the interesting part of being upstairs was large holes in the walls. Looking through the holes you could see down into the cellar , we even found old bedding perhaps a tramp used to stay here.

Took more shots and left , throughout the entire time we heard noises and thought someone else was in there with us but with all the windows smashed open wind could easily make anything move. After the explore we left hopeing to go back some other time!

Shots coming later! , i'll post my friends shots aswell when he is finished with is.

[james_death]

Sounds great and a little resident evil

[ElCapone]

looking forward too see the shots

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Forgot to say , cheers Blinkerz for coming along nice to know about the bulb mode and i need a camera shutter release :lol:

We learnt alot just being there , what worked and what didn't , we do need a high powered torch though some areas are so black even my eyes couldn't adjust!

[CarlukeDave]

Sounds creepy, I got scared just reading that!

Look forward to seeing the pics

[Pirate Neilsouth]

First lot of pics , Please note that some photo's could not be taken any differently because the area was dangerous and one wrong move could mean a drop into the cellar below. Certainly a broken something would've been the result!

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/0.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/1.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/2.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/3.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/4.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/5.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/6.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/7.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/8.jpg

[Pirate Neilsouth]

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/9.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/10.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/11.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/12B.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/13B.jpg

[Ashers]

buy it and regen it

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Anyway here's the rest!

15
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/15.jpg

16
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/16.jpg

17
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/17.jpg

18
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/18.jpg

19
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/19.jpg

20
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/20.jpg

21
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/21.jpg

22
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/22.jpg

[Pirate Neilsouth]

23.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/23.jpg

24.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/24.jpg

25.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/25.jpg

26.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/26B.jpg

27.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/27.jpg

28.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/28.jpg

29.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/29.jpg

30.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/31.jpg

31.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel%202/33.jpg

[Witch]

Wow! Talk about atmospheric! Excellent set of pics there - they do exactly what these sort of shots are supposed to IMO - document your exploration process. The processing too is spot on for my taste - well done you!

[Pirate Neilsouth]

wow , thanks Witch!

Thats really kind of you :)

[blinkerz]

really good set neil!:)

[wilmorh]

:notworthy: There are some excellent shots :clap::clap:

[Borats Baby]

Superp.

The way you were going on eariler, I didn't expect much. These are fantastic !!

Certainly, I would be very pleased with them !

Favourites are 3 and 18 and a few others which I forgot the number of. But they're all fantastic !!

[marky_h]

Fabulous stuff, well done :clap:

[Forbiddenbiker]

3, 13, 20, 27, 28 ... are some of my faves. :thumbs:

Great set, :clap: you certainly made the most out of the place.

Number three is my number one, I like the way it tells its story and its blank walls add to its simplicity comp wise.

[Moos3h]

Superb photos - could you let me into how they were processed? It looks HDR-like?

Look forward to finding out how you got that look!

Cheers,
James

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Thanks guys n girls , i got some abuse on other places for using hdr but i don't care i like hdr maybe its because i play too many games aswell heh heh :D

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Here are some side by sides

NORMAL

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/Machine.jpg

HDR

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/8.jpg

-

NORMAL

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/stairs.jpg

HDR

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/Abandoned%20Hotel/9.jpg

[james_death]

Nice shots, for me 3 /5 /13 and 27 i think. Thank you for sharing

[Ashers]

pirate u could probably buy that building cheap, renovate it and hve a working pub, what was the pub called?

[Ocean Rum]

Really atmospheric. Feels like Ive been there myself.Great set.:thumbs:

[oldboy2000]

Great shots....quite spooky!

But would liked to have seen a picture of the Building from the outside....

[Pirate Neilsouth]

pirate u could probably buy that building cheap, renovate it and hve a working pub, what was the pub called?

Well i thought it was the roman galley but that is another closed pub not this one... I've tried looking for details on this place on mumorus pub sites but no go.. Its along the a299 towards the m2 near herne bay. If anybody has any info on this place and pictures of what it used to look like that'd be awsome!

Thanks for the replies everyone

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Great shots....quite spooky!

But would liked to have seen a picture of the Building from the outside....

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/NeilSouthDivinePhoto/AbandonedBuilding.jpg

[hillwalkinggirl]

What a shame it's fallen into wrack and ruin. It looks like it was a lovely building. I really like your HDR versions, they capture the mood of the place.:clap: I haven't tried any HDR yet but these pictures are inspiring me to find out more about it.

[Byrhtnoth]

Good shots there Neil :thumbs: and the processing is spot on, well done :clap:

[Pirate Neilsouth]

What a shame it's fallen into wrack and ruin. It looks like it was a lovely building. I really like your HDR versions, they capture the mood of the place.:clap: I haven't tried any HDR yet but these pictures are inspiring me to find out more about it.

Thanks ! , just warning you through if you do try hdr some people really hate it even if the image's you take get great responses from many others. At the end of the day if you like it and the overall feedback is good , thats all that matters :thumbs:


Good shots there Neil :thumbs: and the processing is spot on, well done :clap:

Thankyou Byrhtnoth :woot:

[oldboy2000]

Cheers mate....

What a lovely looking building to let just go to ruin !

Bet it's still owned by a Brewery and waiting for land prices to go up...

[foodpoison]

Those are some absolutely outstanding shots.
Really captured the atmosphere, and the processing is spectacular.
Huge :thumbs: for you!

[hillwalkinggirl]

Thanks ! , just warning you through if you do try hdr some people really hate it even if the image's you take get great responses from many others. At the end of the day if you like it and the overall feedback is good , thats all that matters :thumbs:





Thankyou Byrhtnoth :woot:

Hi Pirate,
I think the hdr looks good, it just depends what you are aiming for. I like photos which show everything as it really is, but I also like the artistic approach, whether HDR or photoshopped. The only thing which I think is important is that it should be stated whether it's original or artistic licence.

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Agreeing with you hillwalkinggirl , even without the hdr effect on these shots there wasn't a great deal of difference of how spooky this place was :D


- Cheers Foodpoison

[Alan Neilson]

Very nice set of documentry photographs, love the colours on some of them really add to the effect. Ilke the HDR's that helps to make it stand out.

[Wraith]

Abuse?

Really don't like HDR for UE photos but whatever floats your boat I guess.

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Cheers Alan!

[bsmotorsport]

comparisons of normal and hdr show the hdr to be a winner, how can you argue with results like that, turn normal pictures in to stunning images that realy suit the subject. Like every single one!

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Abuse?
.

No such thing , when people take photo's of abandoned buildings they edit it in some way if its not resizing and cropping this is then different from what the eye saw at the time... Hdr is no different but it brings out more detail its more in your face , but some people don't like it and will refuse to like it because it seems not to fit in with the crowd.

There are people out there who refuse to use digital cameras, (in my day the oldies complain).... Doing darkrooms or taking film to be developed!

:thumbs:

Maybe i should not have done HDR , but would i have got the same responses from so many people that they like such and such? , who knows

[Wraith]

But looking at the HDR photos make it seem much more interesting than the site actually was. So very nice photography wise but Urban Exploring wise it's a thumbs down...

[Pirate Neilsouth]

But looking at the HDR photos make it seem much more interesting than the site actually was. So very nice photography wise but Urban Exploring wise it's a thumbs down...

Thats fine , i could do this... Keep the originals for urban exploring and post those.. Also do hdr so this appeases both sides

:thumbs:

[Skinny Pete]

Some great ones the processing works really well. Very nice.

[AliB]

I LOVE the HDR in these. My favourite is the one shot through the window. Really atmospheric.

[Forbiddenbiker]

But looking at the HDR photos make it seem much more interesting than the site actually was. So very nice photography wise but Urban Exploring wise it's a thumbs down...

Thats fine , i could do this... Keep the originals for urban exploring and post those.. Also do hdr so this appeases both sides

:thumbs:

You both seem to get that...:thinking:

I don't and I'm interested as to what you mean guys

I'm making the assumption Wraith, that you see 'Urban Exploring' as a style in some way, where as I see it as wandering around in old sheds taking photos....

Is there an degree of 'honesty' to the subject required, have peoples got together and made a set of rules?

I can understand the possible good principles to that effect...
I'm just surprised (And not surprised, ;) ) that these don't fit.

Hope this is Ok to ask on your thread Neil.

[Wraith]

But the trouble is with HDR you can make something that is a pretty bad explore (like a shed) interesting and then people end up traveling to the other end of the country to explore what is actually a boring shed.....

I'd much rather see the images as the explorer saw them and not sexed up.

[Ajophotog]

Love the processing on these and very creative shots they are too. Dunno about going into these old building though, all looks a bit creepy to me. :clap:

[kelack]

:thumbs: Great set there, really like the processing

[tigerimages]

Was the one of the toilet done on a long exposure and lit with your torch?

[Les McLean]

I really need to eat my hat, I think for the first time ever, I've seen a set of HDR images that work, and that I like.

Not to take anything away from the subject matter, which in most of the shots you have done it full justice anyway.

Cracking series.

[Ashers]

the problem is id wanna buy all the derelict buildings and do them up coz i think i
ts sad they cant be used *** buying business property and homes is so expensive these days

[Dark Star]

Cracking set, well seen, well taken, well processed - exhibition material imho!

[beefykoala]

Love the processing! Could anyone point me in the direction of a how-to or info on how it's done, it's a style I'd love to adopt.

[Pirate Neilsouth]

Was the one of the toilet done on a long exposure and lit with your torch?

7 exposures , one was 1min+! , no torch used there was just enough light from a corner of another room :thumbs:


Love the processing! Could anyone point me in the direction of a how-to or info on how it's done, it's a style I'd love to adopt.

http://www.vanilladays.com/hdr-guide
http://www.backingwinds.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-create-professional-hdr-images.html
http://range.wordpress.com/2006/07/15/modern-hdr-photography-a-how-to-or-saturday-morning-relaxation/

Although i do hdr in photomatix - tone mapping e.t.c i don't stop there , further editing is done in corel paint shop pro photo x2. I'm not happy till i see what i can do in corel! :woot:

Thanks for all the kind comments guys n girls glad you like them :thumbs:

[albertxiao]

evil~~~

[benneh]

I really need to eat my hat, I think for the first time ever, I've seen a set of HDR images that work, and that I like.

Not to take anything away from the subject matter, which in most of the shots you have done it full justice anyway.

Cracking series.

Out of interest, why do these ones 'work' where others have not?.