urban explorers
Ruin-roaming hobbyists
Urban explorers are people who investigate man-made spaces not intended for public access—abandoned buildings, storm drains, subway tunnels, rooftops, and other off-limits structures.
The practice, often called urbex, combines trespassing with photography and documentation.
Urban explorers typically follow an ethic of take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.
- cityLarge populated area
- photographyCreating images from light
- storm drainsUnderground channels for runoff
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- derelictAbandoned or neglectful
building · catacombs · discovery · flashlights · ruins · respirators · danger signs · no trespassing · rooftops · roof access · climbing · underground tunnels · bunkers · ghost towns · infiltration · street · rappelling · urbex
- urban subculturesravers, breakdancers, graffiti artists, street artists, b-boys
- hobby enthusiastsbirdwatchers, coin collectors, stamp collectors, fossil hunters, rockhounds
- leisure travelerstourists, sightseers, visitors, travelers, vacationers
- photographersAnnie Leibovitz, documentary photographers, Gordon Parks, portrait photographer, event photographers
- seekersseekers, seeker, treasure hunters, searcher, fortune seekers
urban explorersauthorized personnel
People granted official access
museum visitors · security guards · building inspectors · real estate agents · maintenance workers
urban explorersmountaineers
High-altitude peak scalers
trail hikers · forest rangers · nature enthusiasts · wilderness campers · wildlife photographers
urban explorerspreservationists
Advocates for protecting historical sites
renovators · construction workers · developers · urban planners · architects
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