Urban Exploration Photography

In Urban Exploration Photography: A Guide to Shooting Abandoned Places, photographer Todd Sipes offers a great introduction to "UrbEx" shooting, with its focus on photographing abandoned man-made structures. Sipes begins with a focused discussion on preparation for this unique genre of photography, including what to bring, both photography-related and other (such as clothes and accessories). Then he dives into the "How to Shoot" chapter, which discusses how composition plays a role in UrbEx photos; the three major shooting styles in UrbEx photography; general guidelines for camera settings and gear; why you should bracket your shots; and how to approach shooting in the dark (including light painting, using flashes and gels, and using an intervalometer). Following that is the "What to Shoot" chapter, where Sipes discusses organic and synthetic elements present in the UrbEx environment (such as overgrowth, graffiti, paint, and machinery), as well as qualities of light to look for when shooting abandoned structures.