Lens-Artists Challenge #344 – Abandoned

Wow what a challenge Anne, I doubt there would be many of us that wouldn’t have photos that we could use for this week. ABANDONED is an theme that seems to appeal to many photographers, myself included.

I have been known to pull over onto the side of the road to take photos of old shacks and houses. I have also been fortunate to have people take me out where my mother lives to take photos of houses that are no longer homes.

I have picked houses and structures that are really abandoned and are being left to rot. There are places that have abandoned homes and other things, but in some ways they are being preserved in some way for people to go and visit. More like a museum of what life was like back then. For example, I was thinking of including photos of Port Arthur, but it isn’t really abandoned. It looks like it could be, but it isn’t. They will do everything they can to preserve what is left. Bodie in California also comes to mind.

I have a selection for you, I suspect they are just a small selection of what I have. I am sure I have forgotten heaps. These are all from Australia and most are from up around where my mum lives. There is an old car that I know many of you would have seen before and one that I have photographed a lot. There is some old machinery that we drove past when driving around in places and I have no idea where it was.

This next gallery is from 2022 when I went to Coober Pedy. This is an opal mining town and over the years it has got smaller and smaller as it gets harder and harder to find opals. I think that is what happens in most places like this. It also means that nearly everywhere you go around the town you will find old abandoned machinery and vehicles. Even an old spaceship.

I would like to thank Anne from Slow Shutter Speed for being our host, it is a great challenge Anne. It is nice to get an opportunity to bring out some of my abandoned photos again.

Please take a look at Anne’s post, she explains it and shows some great images of Abandonment.

If you would like to participate in this great challenge then go to the following link to find out how to join the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. Don’t forget to put a link in your post back to the host.

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51 Comments

  1. What a collection! These Lems-Artists challenges are great…. really must try to participate in one….. soon perhaps… but now off to África!!,

    1. Thank you Geoff, I agree, they are great. YOu should do one and see how you go, it is about your go to places this week, it is a good.

    1. I took an old rusty truck yesterday when I was getting my truck inspected at a country garage! It is great to find these shots.

  2. This theme was made for you Leanne! Your photos are all excellent although it’s the abandoned buildings that perhaps appeal to me more then the machinery etc. I especially love that last shot in the first gallery, from Hopetown. I hope everyone else opens your galleries as the photos deserve to be seen larger!

    1. Thank you Sarah, I do love abandoned. I remember taking that shot, it was starting to rain as I was taking it on the side of the road over a fence.

  3. I’m fascinated by older, abandoned places and loved to think about their story. I especially like the old abandoned shack kind of in your middle set of pictures on the right.

    1. They are fascinating, I agree Beth. Their stories can be fascinating. If it is the one I think you are talking about, the stone one with no roof it was abandoned because the built a dam there, so most of the time it is now underwater. Thank you Beth.

  4. Fantastic images, Leanne. Not to overlook the abandoned buildings, but I love what you do with skies. The abandoned schoolhouse (upper right) is my favorite.

  5. Beautiful displays of that which was no doubt once loved then abandoned, Leanne. I, too, avoided sites that were once abandoned, but now preserved.

    1. Thank you John, yeah, I agree, it is sort of sad to see. That’s good to hear, I don’t think preserved places have the same feel.

  6. Thanks for participating Leanne! This is my second time trying to leave this message, so it may be a repeat. My favorites are the sunset pictures where the item is in shadow surrounded by a deep orange sky.

    1. No problem Anne, I had to participate in this one. I guess all the problems with leaving comments isn’t fixed yet, so annoying. Good to hear which ones you like Anne, thank you and thanks for hosting.

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