Abandoned Places

I'm not sure why I'm so fascinated by abandoned buildings and places.  For some strange reason empty homes, deserted shops and former Soviet military complexes speak to me.

I've been lucky to visit a few of these.  The creepiest was the area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant -- abandoned for nearly 25 years, it now looks and feels like the set of a zombie movie.

Then there is the former Soviet Naval base at Paldiski, Estonia. And the abandoned satellite uplink station on Nova Scotia's South Shore.

Many of these places require a special (and expensive) trip.  A case in point:  Taiwan's UFO houses.

The houses are part of a never-completed hotel complex.  Started in the 80s, it was abandoned after only a few months.  Why?  Some say ghosts, some say design.

Regardless, it still looks like a fascinating place to explore and photograph. Who's coming?

April 26, 2010

April 26, 2010
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

April 26 marks the 24th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. I traveled there in 2008 and shot a series of creep-tacular photos.

This picture shows the abandoned children's play park & Ferris wheel. Children have not played here since 1986.

More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/borderfilms/sets/72157623786153857/

My story on Chernobyl as a tourist destination (Helsinki Times): www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/international-news/6808-life-...

Contact me if you're interested in an updated version of my story or for photos. +1.604.210.1776 or +1.780.655.5583.

from the "editor and publisher" dept.

You've likely already read my Chernobyl story a dozen times... but it is appearing again today (May 21) in Vancouver's Georgia Straight. Click HERE.

Cheers!

My Chernobyl piece appeared in the April 22, 2009 edition of the Yukon News. Screen capture from their website above.

Cheers!

from the "shameless self-promotion" dept.

My Chernobyl piece is in this week's edition of Edmonton's Vue Weekly (April 23, 2009 edition).

Cheers!

from the "you read it here first" dept.

I thought my piece on Chernobyl was going to run this Sunday (4/19) in the Philadelphia Inquirer -- but it actually won't run until next Sunday, April 26 -- the 23rd anniversary of the disaster. However, if you'd like a sneak peak, I have PDF files of the layout in all its glory.

FRONT PAGE: CLICK HERE
INSIDE PAGE: CLICK HERE

If this does not work, you may need to ctrl-click and chose "save link as" (Mac) or right click on the link (PC), then choose "Download to Disk," "Save Target As...," or the equivalent.

If you do not have Adobe's Acrobat Reader, you may download it by clicking the following link: DOWNLOAD READER.