Some architectural salvagers will use the photos and locations found by urban explorers in order to find locations where they take (steal) vintage and antique stuff from old buildings. They don't follow the rule "take only photos; leave only footsteps".

Architectural salvage is the stuff (doorknobs, screen doors, window frames, light fixtures, fireplace mantels, etc.) taken from an old building to be reused. This sounds like a good idea, recycling. But, it doesn't always happen in the most ethical circumstances.

There are more sources for old building parts and vintage items than abandoned houses. So, don't assume anyone who salvages is unethical. Any building up for demolition is a good source for architectural salvage. You can also try junk yards, estate auctions and flea markets.

As an urban/ rural explorer (someone who finds, explores and photographs abandoned buildings) the architectural salvage people are a bit shady. Not all of them. But some will use the photos and locations found by urban explorers in order to find locations where they take (steal) vintage and antique stuff from old buildings.

This is not something I consider ethical. Yes, I walk around the old places. No, I do not take anything with me when I leave. Take only photos; leave only footprints.That's the rule for real urban explorers. We are explorers, not thieves, litterers, graffiti painters, or vandals.

I resent people who use my photos of old places in order to harm or steal from them. I try to be careful about who I give locations information to. But, there is no way to be really sure about anyone, even others who do take explorer photos. (You don't know what else they do when they are there).

However, each time someone takes something from an old building, there is a bigger chance the old place will be demolished or sealed up by the owner. The owner does not have to live in a place in order to own the building and it's contents. Anything on that property is not yours to take. So don't take it.

This week a new TV show is starting on the National Geographic channel. It is called, Abandoned. The show is about people going to abandoned locations and finding antiques, vintage stuff, and so on which they salvage and then sell. I wanted to know if they are taking things without talking to the owner of the property first. I was surprised National Geographic would promote a TV show which encourages people to enter and take what they like from an abandoned location.

I had to search awhile, the information is not on the site at National Geographic (at least I couldn't find it). However, on the site for Reclaimed Relics, I did find a mention of them purchasing the items at the abandoned location from the owner. So, that's a good thing. It is still a shame for the stuff to be gone. But, better for it to be saved than just continuing to deteriorate inside an abandoned place.

I'm a Canadian urban explorer, based in Ontario. I love the old places, history and thoughts of how our own future might turn out. Every explorer has their own reasons for what we do.

When i lived in Toronto, I explored downtown. My favourite places were the old buildings along Yonge, Queen and Spadina streets. Any time I caught the bus somewhere in Toronto I would find a new location to come back to with my camera. I love the old buildings with old stone work and weathered wood, glass and iron.

Urban exploration is about more than old buildings or abandoned buildings. Some urban explorers prefer drains and tunnels. Some go higher, much higher and take photographs from the rooftops of tall buildings and other tall structures like bridges. Some explorers stay on ground level (like myself). There is a lot to see right in front of you.

Do You Think About a Life After People?

I like watching Life After People and Aftermath (created by History Television in Canada). I also like books about the end of the world and how people and civilization/ society rebuild or recreate themselves. I can look at artistic creations with predictions of utopias and our possible futures for ages. I love to see how things might turn out, how we (as a society) weather the storms of our own existence. I also like to see how the buildings and other man-made creations and structures erode and weather through time. These buildings, our creations, are like our presence into the future. At some point they could be all we have left to show who we are.

This is what I feel when I look at abandoned, derelict and ruined places. There's a sense of loss, mystery and a feeling of endurance and strength.

The Red Dot

Did you ever see a sign up with nothing but one large red dot? Would you know that was a "no trespassing" sign? It is.

I think you would have to be an explorer (or at least a road tripper of some kind) to know that. Most people would see that red dot and maybe wonder about it, maybe not really notice it. An urban explorer will be curious, or already know what the red dot means.

In the city there are not many signs spray painted with red dots. City sites have nice professional signs that let you know where you shouldn't be.

However, you can't explore without crossing onto private property or going through the 'staff only' areas. Explorers have always had to take a few risks, have some adventures, in order to make their discoveries.

Find Places to Explore

• Vanishing Point
• UrbEx Barrie
• Under Montreal
• Sean Galbraith Photography
• Pipe Cleaner
• Ontario Abandoned Places
• NTROPY
• ExBORation
• Angels of the Underground
• Wraiths | Urban exploration in Vancouver.
• Urban Exploration Alberta
• urbexObsession
• Atlantic Canada Urban Exploration - Facebook
• Abandoned Nova Scotia
• Halifax UrbEx
• abandonment issues
• UER.ca - Urban Exploration Resource
• Doors Open Canada | The Heritage Canada Foundation
• Open Directory -Urban Exploration: North America: Canada
• Ghost towns in Canada
• GhostTownsCanada.ca
• Flickr: Abandoned Canada
• Flickr: Canadian Rural Ruins
• Canadas Historic Places.ca

Handy Links for Canadian Travellers and Explorers

• CAA - The Canadian Automobile Association
• Canadian Geographic

The Adventure of the Little Sad and Blue House

One of the old, abandoned rural places which I explored over the summer. The location is, Ontario.

I don't like to give away too much about the location because not everyone likes to just have the adventure of looking at an old place. Some people will still do harm, take things, or leave garbage around the site. Worst of all are those who cause damage because these places are owned by someone and they will only be left forgotten as long as they remain care-free and ignored.

Once an abandoned property becomes a problem, gets too many visitors, starts to become wrecked, the property owner will have to do something about it, like demolition. Demolition is the final end for ruined, old places. Once they are demolished there is no adventure left for anyone and, the history of the old place is just a memory.

I like to see old houses before they are gone. I like the history and the idea of documenting and preserving the history, and workmanship/ architecture of those old houses. Mainly, rural farm houses around Ontario.

There is also something sort of romantic and mysterious, alluring about an old house.

I did not go inside.

This is something many people ask and expect. But, going inside does not feel right to me. It's a personal choice. I think there is a thin line between exploring and trespassing. Going inside, just seems to cross the line for me.

Not that I have never gone inside an abandoned house. I'm careful about it. Mainly because it is dangerous. Floors are not so steady after years of weathering. Often the houses I like to photograph the most are those which are the most ruined. So, not very safe to explore them from the inside.

I'm watching the 2012 London Olympics (and enjoying the opening ceremonies very much) but, I can't help think about the past Olympic sites. So much money, construction and real estate poured into a one time event... and then? Some of them are repurposed, given new life as something else. But, not all of them.

As the Olympics grow with more events added and more countries joining, each Olympic Games needs to host more athletes, build more sporting facilities, and provide more security. Then there is the temporary deluge on city services like public transit and city maintenance workers. The expense is huge. Of course the Olympics bring in money but how do the books balance out when all is said and done and the medals have long been handed out?

How long will the countries (cities) of the world be able to continue supporting the Olympic Games as they are? It seems something will have to give. Nothing can just keep growing and expanding forever.

Anti-Olympic Network

• Counter Olympics Network
  Links people and organisations critical of some or many aspects of the 2012 Games. We also want to hold the organisers of the Olympic Games to account, to ensure the promises made to the local people impacted on by the Games are kept.

What Happens to the Olympics After the Olympics?

• BBC NEWS | In Pictures: Wembley through the years

• London Olympics (past) 1908: White City 1948: Wembley

• Invisible Paris: The 1924 Paris Olympics (Part One)

• Invisible Paris: The 1924 Paris Olympics (Part Two)

• Beijing olympic ruins News, Video and Gossip - Deadspin

• Flickr: Olympic Venues (Past Sites)

• The afterlife of Olympic villages - MSN Real Estate

• 8 Pivotal Olympic Villages And Venues Then And Now: From Moscow to London and Beyond | WebUrbanist

• After The Party: What happens when the Olympics leave town - The Independent

Abandoned Olympic Sites

• Abandoned Berlin: Olympic effort for an abandoned village

• Forbidden places: 1936 Berlin Olympic Village - Telegraph

• Nazi Olympic Village Remains Abandoned 76 Years Later

• Beijing's Olympic Ruins - China Watch - China Forum

• Beijing's Deserted Olympic Sites - The Globe and Mail

• From Ancient to Modern: Greece's Disused Olympic Arenas | Urban Ghosts |

• 12 examples of decayed Olympic sites

• Athens 2004 Abandoned Olympic Glory

The notion of urban exploration usually entails this sense of off-limits, abandoned, forgotten and neglected places. However, these places, as Josh Clark writes, were once “created with people in mind; they’re constructed to serve some function that benefits us. But [once] abandoned, these sites cease to have any sort of purpose. By gazing upon these structures as art or historical monuments, urban explorers give them a new purpose.” Hence, our call invites you to leave your “normal” world, venture and wonder through less usual paths. Please share with us your stories of encountering, examining, infiltrating, appropriating the normally unseen or off-limits parts of the urban areas around you. Imagine and image for us what you encounter and what there was once to be seen.

via 2011 Open call for entries on URBAN EXPLORATIONS « Diversity in Place Film Project Initiative.