Digital Camera World (2019-06)

Photo Answers

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com JUNE 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^101

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Forbidden

places

Our reader

Matthew Hampshire

his photo was taken in an abandoned

seminary in England, although I have also visited

many European countries in search of these places.

My thinking was to capture the contrasts between

the left side of the corridor, which has endured

many years of water ingress, and the right

side, which was relatively undamaged.

I am quite obsessive about symmetry and trying to

get everything as square as possible when I shoot old

buildings. Wandering around abandoned buildings

can be a real adventure, from trying to dodge the

security that may be there to finding a way in

without causing any damage.

Our expert

Andrew James

t sounds like you have been well and

truly bitten by the urbex bug – and this image and the

location are terrific, so I can see why. I really like your

observation of the moss that’s formed under the

leaky roof against the area that is still relatively dry

and consequently, moss-free. That carpet of moss

really brings a verdant richness to an otherwise

near-colourless scene, and you’re drawn into

the room and all the little details it has.

I can’t fault your composition either. It is

a masterstroke to use the symmetry of the

two arches off that central wall, so well done

for taking the time to really work out an

effective framing for this abandoned room.

The only area that I feel could be improved is the

atmosphere your shot portrays. I’d like to see the

right-hand side drop more into shadow. I realise

this would lose some of the detail, but it would

give a greater sense of an enclosed space

and make the image much more moody.

T

I

Verdict

Beautifully worked

composition

Excellent sharpness

from front to back

Atmosphere is

important, so experiment

with darkening the corners

and the right-hand side

to set the tone

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