A passion for structure, a love for photography, and a high tolerance for heights, bugs, dirt, and spooks, has led me into some pretty interesting buildings. Who knew I was one of thousands of people around the world who enjoy exploring and documenting the larger artifacts of our species?
That said, I have been lucky at finding legitimate entry into some neat places. Some of them are occupied, some not.

311

This is a walk through set. If you want to turn around click on the bottom (sometimes the side, depending on where you are and what turning left or right will do). If you're at a door sill and want to go into a room click in the middle of the shot. If you want to go through a door, click on it. Some rooms have detail shots in them which focus on windows or other interesting items.
As of now, there is no text on the pages. Some former residents visit my site, and may not be interested in how fascinated I can be with the grit and decay. For example: In the back section, on the top floor, at the end of the hall, past the "dart door" is another back hall, and it ends in an outhouse. Below said outhouse is an animal cage with a thicker than usual back wall (so no, they did not poop on their goats).

(…sigh) I wanted this house. If I could have bought it I would have opened a kosher vegetarian inn. Located in Island View (just north of Fredericton), it is a Post Victorian farmhouse built in 1915 to replace an earlier home that burned. These people had some cash. They put in only the best, and the house shows. When these photos were taken, it had been vacant for 13 years. I was new to photographing interiors, and used film (so couldn't tell the limitations of my shots until too late), but some convey the magic of the place. The owners burnt this heritage building down in the fall of 2006.

Houses Along the highway

These are random houses who have caught my eye. There are a lot of abandoned places in this corner of the world. People have no idea what they have. They move out and let the ground claim hundreds of years of history. When I can, I explore.

Cemeteries

Cities of the dead. The pages in this section detail several graveyards which are the only remnants of the communities destroyed by the opening of Base Gagetown, a huge army base established in 1953. My family was among the displaced. We are still bitter. Among the other cemeteries here: one that had to be rescued from forest overgrowth due to neglect, old Loyalist graveyards of Fredericton and Saint John, and one buried grave (buried burial). Then there are the European cemeteries: Prague, Krakow and Venice.

Blasted Abbeys

One of the best ways to see how a place is built is to look at it without all the filigree. There's a strange beauty to ruins. I know I am not the only person to feel this way. I may, however, take the interest to an unhealthy level. Ah well.

As I was touring the UK with family, the bus tour hit upon several dozen cathedrals and abbeys which had been destroyed by Henry VIII in his war against the pope. I enthusiastically trucked through them all. In the meantime, my kin rolled their eyes, stayed on the bus, and bemoaned yet another "Blasted Abbey"

St. Mary's Rectory

This lovely Victorian had been in constant use until very recently. The parish council have found themselves in the unenviable state of having to demolish it. I was able to go shoot it before the demolition was completed…but only just.

I intend a walk through like the 311 house, but that will take some time. For now, there are selected pictures.

 

Ottawa Jail Hostel

This is an occupied building, being used as a hostel. I visited in the off season and spent three nights alone on a cell block. I explored a bit on my own. I believe I may have photographed some ghosts.

Grey Gables of PEI

Prince Edward Island is known for two things, Potatoes and Ann of Green Gables. Don't panic, Anne didn't live here. Also, this is pretty much the last you will see of the potatoes.

Cities and Towns

Interesting like buildings, but bigger, and with more stories.

Links

These are the real urban explorers. I am in awe. Some of them are bringing neglected parts of our world to light, others are daring to see behind t he fence, others are awakening ghosts. You HAVE to check out Opacity! The guy's an absolute artist.