My relationship with abandoned buildings is a bit complicated. On one hand, they fascinate me, they’re pure history, full of stories, and they always manage to surprise me in some way. Beyond that, they’ve given me some of the best photographs I’ve ever taken. They’re treasures I come across from time to time on my travels, and they never fail to brighten my day. I never get tired of photographing them.
On the other hand, the fact that a building is abandoned doesn’t necessarily mean it’s common property, a public space, or a free-for-all playground where we can do as we please. Abandoned buildings have owners too, they’re private property and deserve the same respect and care we would give any other place. Stepping into one always makes me feel a bit complicit in the mistreatment they often suffer. Of course, time and the elements take their toll, but much of the deterioration comes from human activity, visitors who leave their mark. It’s a sad reflection of how little civility we show when no one is watching and no one is judging. The least we could do is leave the space as we found it.
The photo I’m sharing today was taken in a building that is currently under renovation, although it looks like the work has been put on hold and is now awaiting continuation. It’s an impressive building, and I’ll be sharing more photos of it another day. For now, I’m focusing on one particular room that caught my eye because of a triangular cut made in one of the walls. I can’t imagine what purpose it serves, though surely there is one, but from a photographic point of view, it really works. The combination of that triangular opening and the window in the background creates a strong composition. It’s the kind of image that would look great on the cover of an album.
