The Reluctant Urban Explorer

When I posted my first guest post here at Monochromia I said that I did a little UrbEx. Let me explain.

It all started with me seeing some shots from a local abandoned psychiatric hospital. They were taken by a mate, also a photographer who lives almost as a neighbour to the building. He invited me along on a shoot and it scared the hell out of me. That is why I don’t do this kind of thing too often. My disposition is on the nervous side. When I do this kind of shoot I just have to concentrate so hard that it’s mentally exhausting. If I stop to think where I am, I’d run, and run fast. It’s a horror film waiting to happen. However after a few days I just want to do it again. It’s a strange kind of drug, if that’s not too strong a word for it. At least I got a few good shots before It all got a bit too much for me 🙂

Camera:- Leica MP

Lens: – Nikkor 20mm f2.8 manual focus lens on a Novoflex LeiNik adaptor.

Film: – Ilford Xp2 at ISO 400 exposure about a quarter of a second.

Just Drivin’ By … in Black & White

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

Each time I drive up the dirt road to visit my friend Cherie, I look at this barn. I can’t tell you how often I’ve taken a shot and just how often it didn’t work. This time, though, the light was right. Check out the color version on Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things and let me know what you think.

Sunny in London?

Black And White Photography, Photography

Black and white image of London taxi in foreground, London double-decker bus in background, entering a roundabout.

Nikon D90, 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, extended to 58mm, 1/800 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200

A beautiful day in London makes for empty black cabs and double-deckers.

Visit visualventuring.com for more images from my camera.

Autumn Tree

Black And White Photography, Joerg, Photography

This picture was again by pure chance and it was shot again in the Bird´s mountains. I was there with my dogs, when we stepped out the forest and this is what we saw. I didn’t think the dogs would mind me stopping to capture this image.

More of my images can be seen at – The Things As They Are In Pictures

Rule Of Thirds – Joe’s Style

Black And White Photography, Joseph, Photography

Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujinon XF 55-200 OIS R lens – 1/15 @ f/4.8 – 200mm – ISO 320

OR we could play Tic-Tac-Toe !

Take that Emilio or should I say touché 🙂

More of my images can be seen at – The Visual Chronicle

Street Style

Black And White Photography, Elina, Photography

I like how the bike completes her look.

Over Run

Black And White Photography, Joseph, Photography

This building which is over run by English Ivy is on the grounds of the Central Islip Psychiatric Facility which has been closed for years.

I would like to dedicate this post to a blogging friend named “West” who just adores vines, and her images can be seen at – West 517

I you would like to view more of my images they can be seen at –

The Visual Chronicle

That Night

Meho

He opened the door and a woman stood there on the porch with anxious eyes.

May I help you? Says the man.

Oh… I just want to see Eric.

Eric? There is no Eric in here

No Eric… ? Are you sure? Damn…

Of course I am…

She said nothing more, took two steps back and, just before he closed the door, he seen the depth of the inevitability in her face.

There was nothing to add. Nothing more to say. She had already thought of this possibility but wouldn’t believe it. What she feared the most in the last 6 years was now a reality….

The Reader

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

The title should read “Never think you are finished for the day.”

The picture above, “The Reader” is an example of that. I’d spent the morning taking pictures while on a visit to the city of Bergen here in Norway. The weather was cloudy and it was raining, which will come as no surprise to people that live in Norway.

I’d kind of given up for the day after taking some lackluster shots while walking the streets. I was looking forward to lunch. We ended up at a restaurant famous for its Fish soup. While waiting for our order (It was lunchtime and the place was busy) I noticed a lady sitting by the window reading. The light was perfect. I slowly raised my Leica MP and shot off a couple of frames of Ilford XP2 between the shoulders of my friends sitting opposite me.

The result…well you can judge for yourselves.

So, as I said never think you are finished for the day 🙂