Dan Bell explores dead malls throughout America
This is one of the best video playlists I've come across lately. Dan Bell goes around America exploring dead malls (both open and closed/abandoned). Watch all the episodes here.
Watch these idiots nearly get hit by a train while going into the Chatsworth tunnel
The Chatsworth Tunnel, located behind Chatsworth Park North in California is an active train tunnel. It is easy to access from many videos posted on YouTube and elsewhere and occasionally, idiots manage to almost get themselves killed while going into it.
Photographing an abandoned factory in Philly
Back in 2010, I traveled to Rochester, Buffalo, and Detroit on my own to do some exploring. It was the first and until now the only time that I've ever gone and explored so many things on my own. It was amazing. Now, 6 years later and around the same time, I went to Philly on a whim (super early might I add) and ventured into what I believe is the largest single abandoned building I've ever been to (yes, even bigger than Kings Park Psychiatry in Long Island). But first, let me tell you about another place.
I originally wanted to go see the abandoned Spring Garden School but when that didn't play out quite as planned I didn't want to waste the trip so I just played it by ear...and found myself here at N 12th Street and N Toronto Street at what I can only describe as a former abandoned factory of some sort. It was near some train tracks and I initially just wanted to see some trains but ended up climbing a concrete wall to get into this place.
It was a bit dark inside but streams of light coming through lit the place beautifully. It's been so long since I've gone into an abandoned concrete building and it felt so good to be back. This unnamed place was a surprise since I didn't really plan on going in and I'm really glad I did. Also, I saw a fox here and it scared the hell out of me.
Click inside to see more photos!
Back in 2010, I traveled to Rochester, Buffalo, and Detroit on my own to do some exploring. It was the first and until now the only time that I've ever gone and explored so many things on my own. It was amazing. Now, 6 years later and around the same time, I went to Philly on a whim (super early might I add) and ventured into what I believe is the largest single abandoned building I've ever been to (yes, even bigger than Kings Park Psychiatry in Long Island). But first, let me tell you about another place.
I originally wanted to go see the abandoned Spring Garden School but when that didn't play out quite as planned I didn't want to waste the trip so I just played it by ear...and found myself here at N 12th Street and N Toronto Street at what I can only describe as a former abandoned factory of some sort. It was near some train tracks and I initially just wanted to see some trains but ended up climbing a concrete wall to get into this place.
It was a bit dark inside but streams of light coming through lit the place beautifully. It's been so long since I've gone into an abandoned concrete building and it felt so good to be back. This unnamed place was a surprise since I didn't really plan on going in and I'm really glad I did. Also, I saw a fox here and it scared the hell out of me.
A quick preview of some shenanigans I got into this weekend
Photo by Herman Yung
Stay tuned for some photos of an amazing place that I ventured into this weekend. So glad I wore my Red Wing boots for this because I literally had to cross a small river.
The value in trespassing
Here's an interesting TEDx Vienna talk by Bradley Garrett about the role trespassing plays in a democratic society and in one's own creative self-expression. I find myself agreeing with what Bradley is saying here -- that preventing somebody from entering a premises is usually disguised as a means of security. But security from what? From terrorism and terrorists? From people potentially injuring themselves and finding the building owner liable? What sort of society are we living in where we as adults are not allowed to weigh the risks of exploration for ourselves but instead need to be told DO NOT ENTER?
Bradley then goes into how the notion of security in NO TRESPASSING signs is incredibly weak. Because in many cases, you can pay to explore places and take photos, which really wouldn't hinder anybody (like a terrorist) from doing the same and getting that information legally.
Often, I find myself just straight up walking into places I don't belong and opening doors that don't seem to be locked. I disregard the signs altogether most of the time because honestly, the consequences of being caught and told to leave isn't really all that big of a deal to me if the other side of the coin is being able to get a good view of something fantastic.
Watch the Titanic sink in real-time
When I was younger, I was fascinated by the story of the Titanic disaster. The deep ocean seemed like such a wild unexplored place and to know that there was essentially "buried treasure" there in the form of a grand sunken ship was just the stuff my young mind needed to be engaged in learning about this important part of maritime history.
Since then I've kept up with the Titanic expeditions (some led by James Cameron) and have always been incredibly interested in the finds they dig up there. Old rooms, artifacts, decaying ship parts, ocean floor sediment patterns, etc. You get the idea. The Titanic is not just a relic on the ocean floor but a doorway into ocean discovery itself. Maybe that's why I like it.
Anyway, there's this video here that shows the Titanic disaster in real-time along with CGI of the ship in water. It's a long video, about 2 hours, but it's a neat way to depict the events of that night on April 15, 1912 without going through the dramatic love story of films centered around the ship.