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Matthew Christopher / abandonedamerica.us
Photograph taken at the Angeronia Medical Center.
Reporter's notebook by Jane Derenowski, NBC News
Things sound different in a place where no one goes.
Words echo off walls in empty rooms.
Real or imagined creatures scurry through mysterious puddles.
Shadows fall in strange places.
Time doesn’t stop in abandoned buildings, it just moves differently -- and before their ultimate demise, photographer Matthew Christopher is determined to document the life, purpose, and deterioration of these structures.
Photographer Matthew Christopher , Abandoned America, photographs abandoned sites across America. He documents the lost history and soul of structures as varied as homes, steel plants and asylums.
They aren't just brick and mortar, wood and windows -- Christopher believes the abandoned buildings dotting America’s landscape also have something of a soul. He wants us to remember our country’s neglected factories, schools, churches, and hospitals before they are gone forever.
He started this project 10 years ago while working in the mental health field. Some of his first photographs were inside a deserted asylum.
Matthew Christopher / abandonedamerica.us
Photograph taken at Harmony House Inn.
Matthew Christophe / abandonedamerica.us
Photograph taken at Galilee Steel administrative offices.
Since then, he’s documented dozens of abandoned buildings across the country and presented their stories at galleries and on his website, abandonedamerica.us. The goal, he says, is to highlight the economic failures leading to their downfall and the social impact on communities fractured by the closing of these neighborhood mainstays.
Photographer Matthew Christopher , Abandoned America, explains his passion for taking pictures of abandoned sites across America. He documents the lost history and soul of structures as varied as homes, steel plants and asylums.
We met recently at the partially deserted Holmesburg Prison near Philadelphia. It was eerie, but there was a certain beauty in the stillness and things left behind. Inside, it reminded me of a quote by French composer Claude Debussy who famously said, “Music is the space between the notes.” The places Christopher photographs tell their stories with silence and extraordinary light – the spaces between the life and death of a building.
His pictures make me feel like someone told me a secret.
Christopher is a thoughtful man, melancholy in his assessment of decay -- and I feel lucky he shared his art and technique with us. I am also grateful to NBC News photographer Bob Riggio for documenting our adventure inside a place almost no one goes.
Matthew Christopher / abandonedamerica.us
Photograph taken at First National Bank.
Leave a Comment:
Some of those buildings look like they're in desperate need of a wrecking ball.
That statement describes most of Philly. There is no housing shortage...there is a clean-up shortage.
I think America is the only country with 'Throw away' buildings
Yes, and there are always unscrupulous landlords in big American cities willing to charge $2000 per month for walk-in-closet sized, roach infested apartments in buildings which are almost ready to collapse.
I'm not sure I see much beauty there...
Steve-2570999
Not true. There are plenty of 'Throw away buildings' all over the world, especially in Russia, Asia, and South Amercia. Check out this site, you'll be amazed at how many 'abandoned' places and things there are throughout the world.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/UrbanGhosts
URBANEX is awesome ,just be careful ! lots of cool structures to explore ,but please don't burn or steal everything thats inside
When urban exploring I don't burn or steal anything that's inside. :D
I want to know where all those motorcycles are at. No telling if there are any classic ones there.
Looks like a giant recycling job ahead of this country. Start with the road and bridge system of this country.
I found this video fascinating about how much is just left to decay when these buildings and structures could house people. Most, though, are so run down that they should be torn down. I guess they make a good host for Ghost Hunters.
I find it ironic that in the same post, there is an article about a $177 billion restoration for St. Patricks Cathdral. Aren't we as Christians supposed to take care of the homeless and helpless, "as we do onto the least of them, we do unto Christ".. and agree with Poet930...we could put that $177 BILLION to restore and house people affordably. Just seems there is so much wrong with the thinking these days on what really matters. The "referee lockout" got more news coverage than the mess happening in the Middle East and we all know the news reports what people want.
Million, not Billion. Still, point taken.
And what exactly do you as a Christian do to help the homeless and helpless, people that the Catholic Church most certainly DOES help? The cathedral is an historic monument of national stature, not just a local, Catholic "thing", and is worthy of preservation. Irish immigrants (who were often poor) had no issue with their pennies being used to build it, as it was a source of religious AND civic pride for them. So too should we be proud of our libraries, museums, and other public buildings; or would you suggest that we let them fall into disrepair and use the money for something else? Society should always help the poor, but part of what makes "society" is it's great buildings that are part of our common cultural heritage.
Restoration of an old building, whether a church or something else, also puts people to work, too.
The woodwork in the picture of the First National Bank appears to be worth salvaging. The old growth timber used in some old stuctures will never be available again and can not be replaced.
Agreed. The red brick from the Galilee Steel offices could also be salvaged.
I don't know if they are still active anymore due to the housing bust, but recently at least, here in S.Fla., there used to be crews who would go through old houses and buildings before they were torn down to recover the pine flooring. Back in the day (before widespread a/c) houses were built elevated (not on slabs) and often had pine floors. The coloring of the wood after 50-100 years cannot be simulated and there was quite a business in recovering it for use in new homes.
I thought the same thing. While the pictures where hauntingly beautiful, I couldn't help but look at the materials that where salvageable. The First National Bank still had some beautiful looking woodwork that I would love to remove and restore.
That's what I was thinking codger I would love to salvage the wood trim & door jambs from that bank. You would never be able to find wood like that these days. A lot of the trim is not even real wood anymore.
Chris, they still do it in S. GA I know a man that has a business that does this. The old heart pine can go for as much as $20/board ft.
All that old stuff sucks.
And you, too, will be old, someday. If you are wise and lucky enough.
Spoken like a true young one.
Talk about your fixer upper . . . .
There are reality TV shows where antique dealers find "treasures" to sell in places like these. There are also photos on Flickr that add a human element to old abandoned buildings. flickr-dot-com/photos/dianapappas/2181068911/
If you want to see more pictures like this; just do a google search for "Urban Exploration" - there are a number of sites (like www.detroiturbex.com) out there with wonderful galleries of photographs from abandoned buildings.
There is no shortage of RuinPorn in Detroit. It is a very common past time. In fact the rotted out remnants of the rust belt are quite fascinating. www.detroityes.com has a solid gallery, spanning just about every major building that still stands, yet remains unoccupied.
Gives you an emotional glimpse into the past.
Its not a look at the past,it's a look at the future.
Gorgeous shots, you can almost see them for what they used to be...
Magnificent! The next thing we will have is dandy collection of photos of dogs defecating and such and all will proclaim them a brilliant new wave of artistic photography. The emperor has no clothes!
Another great amazing website dedicated to photography of forgotten places around the world.
w.opacity.us
There is a strange beauty in these old buildings. There is a short time (relatively speaking) between when a place is abandoned and it is all but gone. In 10 years these building will be shells and 30 years after that they will be gone or just piles of rubble.
There is (I think) an even better website along these lines - in large part due to the photographer's amazing sense of composition.
Take out the spaces: w w w . abandoned-places . com
I think this man needs to come do some photography at my house.
My heart bleeds everytime I see an old abandoned building being left to rot. Some of the architecture and amenities in the buildings should be preserved. But it takes money and forsight to do that. And someone on here posted about the homeless. Yes, if the buildings were at least not so rotten and dangerous they would probably do well for the homeless. We are such a wasteful nation or should I say species?
I feel the same, when I pass an old building, especially a home, that is falling in decay. I wonder about the people who spent time there and lived there lives. I feel that every building has a story to tell, besides the beauty of design.
Love the video of the photographer speaking about what the photos and the architecture means.It is interesting that sometimes we forget to think that these buildings were once used in a great way with people and living in their time.I agree the building materials in these buildings should be salvaged before they tear them down,If a building is worth fixing it should be preserved.He made me think differently as almost if he were to write a story of the past.
So what will the archaeologists and anthropologist have to dig up in about 2000 years? We are recycling the stuff and burning the people. A couple more dying (pardon the pun) professions?
Someone needs to do a "barn" version of this, for all the barns, tobacco sheds, etc., that are falling down in PA, NY, NC, and other mostly Northeastern states.
Many are quite elaborate, since often they were custom built to suit each farmer.
I want to know where those motorcycles are located.
I just want to say that in respect to all photographers out there, don't use stories about a specific photographer's work to shamelessly self promote your own. First, it's rude. Second, it's transparent. Whether or not you are also an urban explorer makes no difference to me. By plugging your own website, you are undermining the value of this particular photographer's work and that is not a classy thing to do. Keep your integrity and don't use threads like this one to troll, devalue another artist, or self-promote. If you have something relevant to say about our society, culture, historic buildings, preservation, sustainability, than please share your thoughts, but if all you're going to do is blow your own horn, save it for your facebook wall.
Also, Tea Party Downgrade, you may want to check out the article the photographer wrote about the label "Ruin Porn." It is an interesting read and may add a lot to your understanding of what these images are about. Here is the link: I agree with Matthew that the label has done more harm than good to photographers who have chosen abandoned spaces as their primary subject. To me, it is insulting to the subject and photographer, a pretty misguided analogy that itself has become a linguistic fetish of sorts.
In regards to the post above, the article about ruin porn can be found at the photographer's website.
I think that many of the comments are missing the point of the story. In any case, it is a beautifully written blog by Ms. Derenowski and unique, captivating story. Thankyou!
If the building is condemned. At least save that cornice woodwork.
Matthew Christopher's photography is wonderful artwork! He certainly captures the Abandoned America that surrounds us daily - but which we rarely see or pay attention to. I, too, love to take pictures of old buildings - from the outside - abandoned in rural areas, that depict lives that have gone by. I always wonder what the stories are and who lived and worked there. Thanks for posting this!!