Abandoned buildings are gaining in popularity amongst intrepid modern day explorers. "Urbex" or Urban Exploration, is the exploration of the normally abandoned, hidden, or off-limits parts of cities or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, or abbreviated to "UE". No urban target is safe from documentation. Sites such as www.abandonedjourney.com show the world the inside of a 50 level abandoned skyscraper, a 1940's rusting, graffiti covered, art deco Power Station, and an abandoned 8000 seat indoor stadium that is to this day, mentioned in the Guinness book of records.
Many explorers find decay of uninhabited space to be profoundly beautiful and some are also proficient freelance photographers. Abandoned locations can be, at times, heavily guarded with motion sensors and active security. Others are more easily accessible and carry less risk of discovery. Abandoned sites are also popular among historians, preservationists, architects, archaeologists, industrial archaeologists, and ghost hunters.
With the rise in the relative popularity of urbex, thanks in part to sites such as Abandoned Journey, there has been increasing discussion on whether the extra attention has been beneficial to urban exploration as a whole. However, the unspoken rule of urban exploring is "take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints". stated that genuine urban explorers "never vandalize, steal or damage anything." The thrill for the explorers comes from that simply of discovery, and perhaps taking a few great photos to share with the world.
Indeed, as wikipedia states:
The nature of this activity presents various risks, including both physical danger and the possibility of arrest and punishment. Many, but not all, of the activities associated with urban exploration could be considered trespassing or other violations of local or regional laws, including—but not limited to—invasion of privacy and certain broadly-interpreted anti-terrorism laws
It seems it can be a "hobby" fraught with danger. All the more reason to appreciate the amazing stories and photos from urban explorers around the world.
