Urban Exploration Photography: A Guide to Creating and Editing Images of Abandoned Places

Urban exploration photography–sometimes called “urbex”–is a unique photographic genre that requires specific skills in order to produce compelling photographs. In Urban Exploration Photography: A Guide to Creating and Editing Images of Abandoned Places, photographer Todd Sipes walks the reader through everything they need to know about composing, shooting, and processing photos of 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 chapters on shooting, where he covers the role that composition plays in urban exploration photography; the three major shooting styles or uban exploration 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). He also covers what kind of subject matter to shoot, including organic and synthetic elements present in the urban exploration environment (such as overgrowth, graffiti, paint, and machinery), as well as qualities of light to look for when shooting abandoned structures.

In the second part of the book, Sipes tackles post-processing, including discussions of the various “styles” in urban exploration photography, as well as the actual post-processing techniques that take place in Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as third-party plug-ins. He also dedicates a section to “Things to Avoid” in post-processing, such as “HDR fever,” “over-saturation,” “halos,” and “chromatic aberrations.”

You’ll start with preparing for a shoot, including what to bring, what to wear, and when to go. Then you’ll dive into shooting with an in-depth look at composition, subject matter, and various techniques that can be used for different circumstances. After gaining a thorough understanding of how to shoot, you’ll get a detailed look at Todd’s post-processing workflow from start to finish using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, Google Nik Collection, OnOne Perfect Photo Suite, and more. You’ll finish off with complete walkthroughs of select images that you can step through using the author’s raw camera files.

You’ll also learn:

• General guidelines for camera settings and gear
• How to shoot in the dark
• How to select the best subject matter
• What qualities of light to look for
• 32-bit HDR and luminosity masking
• How to bracket your shots
• How to avoid common mistakes
• Numerous other tips and tricks that will save you time in the field

Todd Sipes is an award-winning photographer who resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He specializes in urban exploration and concert photography, and has explored and photographed countless abandoned structures, beginning at an early age in the forests of Virginia. With a deep-seated interest in history, he earned his BA in American history at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and then pursued his MBA at the University of San Francisco. When Todd isn’t getting his hands dirty exploring, he plays drums, loves to travel, snowboards in Lake Tahoe, and spends time with his wife, Harasyn. Find out more about Todd and his work at www.toddsipes.net.