Something about Belgium’s abandonment seems to be very appealing to Dutch photographers. Late last week, Resource Travel had a talk with Roman Robroek, and this week we are happy to present to you some of Brian Romeijn‘s work, the Rotterdam-based urban photographer behind Preciousdecay Photography.
In 2009, after going through some life changing events and looking for some sort of distraction, Brian bought his first DSLR camera. Wandering around in his hometown, he started to appreciate its architecture and its people. During some photography classes, Brian eventually developed an interest in abandoned places.
The Dutch photographer quickly learned that Belgium has quite some interesting abandonment. One day, he discovered a Grand Orient Express train, built in the 1930’s and left to rot on some forsaken railway ever since its last trip in 2009. Brian found a way inside and was able to capture the beauty of its spookiness.
Where did this passion come from?
It has always fascinated me to walk around in buildings that were abandoned for whatever reason. It almost feels like stepping into a time machine. I love to try and feel the emotions of the past and capture the atmosphere of the present. If I can then transfer those things through my pictures, and make people ask themselves what happened there and why, I feel I have succeeded.
The excitement of being somewhere you are not supposed to be, is a nice change from my busy office job.
Isn’t it dangerous to be an “urban explorer”?
It can absolutely be dangerous. That’s why they advise to never go alone. I did do that once or twice, but I would not advise it. Like that one time I went to a villa that had an awesome bathroom on the second floor. The stairway’s steps were super slippery, and once I got upstairs, I noticed that there was hardly was any floor left. I made it to the bathroom with my camera and tripod via a ten centimeter ledge, but, in retrospect, I must say that that was not my brightest idea.
The only reason I get away with doing something illegal, is because people see that I have a camera in my hand and nothing in my pockets.
There is a lot about HDR on your website. Would you say that that’s your signature technique?
It’s ideal to take pictures of places with high contrast, like a dark room with a lot of light outside. Furthermore, I like the atmosphere HDR generates, especially in my type of pictures. But that’s personal, I guess.
I just want people to ask themselves questions when they see my pictures.
In need of more of Brian’s work? Head over to his website, his Facebook page or follow his Instagram account.