Urban Decay C&C

4-age

Just took some test shots for a project I want to do about urban decay in my city. Basically the city I live is in western Japan, it is slowly having its transport links with the rest of Japan cut off. As such it is becoming more and more rural, I want to express this through these photographs.

I dont know if these photos will be to everbody/ anybody's taste, but please hit me back with some feedback.



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TelePaul

Not sure about the subject matter in that I'm not convinced that it conveys the theme you were hoping to convey. I rather like pictures of junk though, and I rather like the colours here. I'd be inclined to take them at face value though. I like 3,4 and 6 the best.

magicbastarder

TelePaul wrote: »

I'm not convinced that it conveys the theme you were hoping to convey.

i think the problem here is that irish people may have a different notion about what constitutes urban decay!

TelePaul

magicbastarder wrote: »

i think the problem here is that irish people may have a different notion about what constitutes urban decay!

I was expecting buildings Moreover, to me ruralisation (it's an actual word, I promise) isn't necessarily synonymous with urban decay, or even a bad thing for that matter!

4-age

Thanks Paul. I just came up with the idea of it the other day. I'm new to photography (only got my camera in March) and figured having a theme might help me to take interesting pictures(even if my pictured only matched up loosely to the theme).

I didn't really know how to express it. Maybe ruralisation is the word for it. I'm not commenting on whether it is good or bad, I just wanted to document it. Sorry I'll try to grab some pic of buildings next time.

TelePaul

4-age wrote: »

Thanks Paul. I just came up with the idea of it the other day. I'm new to photography (only got my camera in March) and figured having a theme might help me to take interesting pictures(even if my pictured only matched up loosely to the theme).

For sure, for sure, and technically, these are really nice! I tend not to try and shoot with a particular theme in mind, I have trouble getting enough half-decent shots without worrying about a unifying theme!

TelePaul

4-age wrote: »

Sorry I'll try to grab some pic of buildings next time.

Mate, you take pictures of whatever you like.

pete4130

To me they just show old/broken items and don't convey urban decay as such. I think you need to take a step back and give a better overview of the area than isolated items like bike seats or broken cranks...they are just pictures of bike seats and broken cranks and don't convey any real urban decay, the location, the rate of decay etc....

4-age

pete4130 wrote: »

To me they just show old/broken items and don't convey urban decay as such. I think you need to take a step back and give a better overview of the area than isolated items like bike seats or broken cranks...they are just pictures of bike seats and broken cranks and don't convey any real urban decay, the location, the rate of decay etc....

Thanks for the advice Pete. I get what you mean. I guess I'm working in reverse here, fixating on the minor details when I should be looking at a bigger picture so to speak. Next time I'll try and get a bit more into the frame.

In re: the broken bike seat, it's actually a whole bike that's been devoured by a bush.:D If I get a chance to reshoot I will include more.

I just want to thank everyone who has given me feedback. As a complete beginner, it's encouraging to hear constructive criticism from people you respect.

5uspect

One issue I have with them is that the point of view is from your own height looking down on these objects. Therefore we see a view of some old rubbish in a way we're already quite useful.

Try to get low, very low, or even look down from the top. Give us an interesting perspective on the subject that we may not expect. That way you can make these things interesting. Putting the shot into context doesn't always mean getting more into the frame.

shemwhistler

I don't have much more to add to what's been said, but one thing that stands out to me is the pedal in #5 was that 'staged'? Even if not it looks just a little too parallel and to me feels staged.

I know that staging can be useful, I just wonder if it could be a bit more organic in that one.

pete4130

4-age wrote: »

Thanks for the advice Pete. I get what you mean. I guess I'm working in reverse here, fixating on the minor details when I should be looking at a bigger picture so to speak. Next time I'll try and get a bit more into the frame.

In re: the broken bike seat, it's actually a whole bike that's been devoured by a bush.:D If I get a chance to reshoot I will include more.

I just want to thank everyone who has given me feedback. As a complete beginner, it's encouraging to hear constructive criticism from people you respect.

I think the images would work as part of a bigger series where you can see more of the context regarding the urban decay surrounding them, so people can relate the smaller details with the bigger picture and see the relationship between the tight crops and the wider shots. Don't forget people/portraits can be an integral part of urban decay too. They are still living in these dilapidated areas and represent a large aspect of who, why, & how this decline has happened and the consequences to the community that the (anti?)social aspect of the isolation, poor economy and decay has affected the area. I think to really get into this project you'll find yourself going off on many tangents with portraits, urban exploration, social documentation, decay and find that its far greater than you might have first anticipated in terms of being such an immense and incredible subject to document.

I think its a really good idea/project you've set for yourself and it could take weeks, months or longer if you decide to slowly build up a series of images making it a really good way to get to grips with your photography. I think you've got some good images and building around those can make a strong body of work.

puddles22

i dont think the images depict urban decay but i do like pics 3 4 5

4-age

shemwhistler wrote: »

I don't have much more to add to what's been said, but one thing that stands out to me is the pedal in #5 was that 'staged'? Even if not it looks just a little too parallel and to me feels staged.

I know that staging can be useful, I just wonder if it could be a bit more organic in that one.

No, none of the shots are staged. All of the bikes in this picture were in an apartment block`s parking area. I shot this standing parallel to the bikes, it seems that the pedal fell of and the owner decided to just leave it and the bike where it laid.

BlastedGlute

I want to live in japan or south korea! Are you japanese? If not do you speak the language fluently?I quite like your photos,nice colours on the first and last shots!

4-age

I didnt have much time to shoot today, so not the greatest images but I hope the can put a little more context.









@blastedglute
I'm not Japanese I'm from Dublin. I speak near enough fluent Japanese. Would recommend a trip, but living here (ie. teaching English) is not a great career choice.

4-age

So after taking all advice on board, I decided to head out today and get some more shots. I got low, I got high, I got wide, I got buildings and I got people, but most of all I got more confidence in approaching new situations and people.
I still don't know if people will see the theme I had in mind but here they are.

pearljamfan

i like them , the rail tracks one on your pix.ie is a nice one, what camera do u have and do you do alot of pp or is it an in camera arty thing??

dr strangelove

Really love the last pic - love the way the lighter colours of his clothes make him stand out from the darker background, and really like his facial expression - was it posed?