35 Examples of Surprisingly Beautiful Urban Decay Photography

In today’s photography inspiration post, we are showcasing the beauty in the most unlikely places. This type of photography concentrates on capturing the abandoned buildings, ruined, degraded and out of use side of the city space. This is referred to as urban decay photography. Urban decay is the phenomenon whereby a previously functional city or town become run down and undesirable to live in because of environmental degradation. This environmental degradation is caused by the changing socioeconomic condition. The troubled socioeconomic condition leads to failure of businesses which lessen job opportunities. Because of this people moves away in search for opportunities leaving the area in despair.

Here are the 35 Examples of Surprisingly Beautiful Urban Decay Photography. Browse this list and take a look at the beauty of urban in its eroding elegance.

Potters Manor – extreme decay!

Potters Manor - extreme decay!
By: The Urban Adventure
A house built in 1904 and has been emptied ever since the husband of the owner died.
View Source

Urban Decline

Urban decline
By: Gallery 54
A photo of an abandoned shop in Drachten.
View Source

Downtown Lima Decay

Downtown Lima Decay
By: mat4226
A photo of an older industrial town which is located less than two blocks from the “new” center of downtown in Lima, Ohio.
View Source

Urban Decay

Urban Decay
By: mudrickphoto
Another great photo of a decayed place.
View Source

100 Abandoned Houses

100 Abandoned Houses
By: Kevin Bauman
A photo of one of the abandoned houses in Michigan.
View Source

120 Urban Decay

120 Urban Decay
By: Mark Wisniowski
Another photo of an abandoned building.
View Source

Aubes perpétuelles

Aubes perpétuelles
By: Xavier Portebois
Another photo of a decayed place.
View Source

Urban Decay

Urban Decay
By: Jonas Buntenbruch
Another great example of an uban decay photography.
View Source

Cathedral of Urban Decay

Cathedral of Urban Decay
By: JLMphoto
One of several train “barns” on the Pullman Yard property.
View Source

GEBE Factory

GEBE Factory
By: SonikGroove
A photo of an abandoned factory in Vienna.
View Source

Decay

Decay
By: Godbane
A very nice HDR photo of a decayed place.
View Source

Gemini

Gemini
By: MichelleLynn725
Another great example of a decayed place.
View Source

120 Urban Decay

120 Urban Decay
By: Mark Wisniowski
A photo of an abandoned place.
View Source

Urban Decay

Urban Decay
By: Jonas Buntenbruch
Another nice photo of an abandoned place.
View Source

Urban Decay

Urban Decay
By: Dipak49ers
A photo with dramatic saturation and gothic/comic book type feel taken in Leicester, England.
View Source

The Decay Before The Regenaration

The Decay Before The Regenaration
By: Guy Eppel
A decayed place however the colors gave the place a happy inviting feel.
View Source

Urban Decay: Closed and Sealed

Urban Decay: Closed and Sealed
By: xoxomissarixoxo
A photo of a closed and sealed abandoned building.
View Source

120 Urban Decay

120 Urban decay
By: Mark Wisniowski
Another great example of a decayed place.
View Source

Peeler

Peeler
By: antipotter
A photo taken at Chattanooga, TN.
View Source

Lubrifin HDR 9

Lubrifin HDR 9
By: Shefu-de-combinat
A photo of an abandoned refinery at Brasov, Romania.
View Source

Screened Porch

Screened Porch
By: Blind Owl Underground
Another photo of a creepy and decayed place.
View Source

Abandoned Beverly Hills Hotel, Pittsburgh

Abandoned Beverly Hills Hotel, Pittsburgh
By: astrycula
A photo of an abandoned hotel along a road.
View Source

Urban Decay

Urban Decay
By: ghostrider-in-ze-sky
Another photo of a decayed place.
View Source

Urban Decay

Urban Decay
By: Jonas Buntenbruch
Great shot of a decayed place.
View Source

Potters Manor – extreme decay!

Potters Manor - extreme decay!
By: The Urban Adventure
A house built with nice features but has already been abandoned.
View Source

Detroit Public Schools Book Depository- Entrance

Detroit Public Schools Book Depository- Entrance
By: senor miller
An abandoned building that is been used to be the storage facility for all of the Detroit Public Schools.
View Source

120 Urban Decay

120 Urban Decay
By: Mark Wisniowski
Another abandoned structure that is slowly been rotting away.
View Source

Historic Milk Can

Historic Milk Can
By: BlueisCoool
A long abandoned Milk Can factory that was never reopened since it was moved into another place.
View Source

Decay

Decay
By: Stevie Ites
Another shot of an abandoned place.
View Source

Atacul Cocalarilor Imobiliari

Atacul cocalarilor imobiliari
By: Shefu-de-combinat
A rotten structure in Brasov, Romania.
View Source

Decay

Decay
By: Jim Nix / Nomadic Pursuits
A photo of a dying old building in downtown Austin.
View Source

120 Urban Decay

120 Urban Decay
By: Mark Wisniowski
Another great shot of an abandoned structure.
View Source

Beautiful Decay

Beautiful Decay
By: McSlipec Photography
A photo taken in Winnipeg, MB.
View Source

Old railway turntable – Oxford, England

Old railway turntable - Oxford, England
By: lyon photography
A magnificent photo of an old railway in Oxford, England.
View Source

Decay

decay
By: gilbert terrazas
Great photo of an abandoned building with its paint already peeling.
View Source

2 Comments

  1. Dzinepress November 19, 2011
  2. Greg November 19, 2011