Blog

How I Used AI to Plan a Moonlit Shoot of an Abandoned Church
How I Used AI to Plan a Moonlit Shoot of an Abandoned Church
This post walks through how I'm planning a moonlit shoot of a collapsing country church in central North Dakota on October 26–27, 2026, just after the Hunter's Moon. It also... Read more...
The Tone Curve in Lightroom: How I Edit a Flat Raw File
The Tone Curve in Lightroom: How I Edit a Flat Raw File
Most people find the Tone Curve in Lightroom, poke at it once, make their photo look strange, and go back to the Contrast slider. That's a shame, because the curve... Read more...
Follow the Tracks: Why Old Rail Lines Lead to the Best Abandoned Places
Follow the Tracks: Why Old Rail Lines Lead to the Best Abandoned Places
If you want to find abandoned buildings in the West and the Midwest, stop searching for abandoned buildings. Search for railroads instead. A remarkable share of the small towns, elevator... Read more...
The Drive You Didn’t Take: How Flickr Saved Me Four Hours in Colorado
The Drive You Didn’t Take: How Flickr Saved Me Four Hours in Colorado
A single Flickr caption saved me a four-hour drive to photograph a school that no longer existed. Learn why verifying abandoned locations before a trip is essential and how Flickr... Read more...
The Unmarked Path: Advanced Instagram Strategies for Finding Forgotten Places
The Unmarked Path: Advanced Instagram Strategies for Finding Forgotten Places
Go beyond hashtags and geotags with advanced Instagram research techniques for discovering abandoned churches, grain elevators, ghost towns, and forgotten places before everyone else finds them. Read more...
The Breadcrumb Trail: Using Instagram to Find Forgotten Places
The Breadcrumb Trail: Using Instagram to Find Forgotten Places
Instagram may seem like an unlikely tool for finding abandoned churches, forgotten grain elevators, and remote ghost towns, but for photographers and explorers, it's become one of the most effective... Read more...
Using Flickr to Find Abandoned Locations: A Photographer’s Guide
Using Flickr to Find Abandoned Locations: A Photographer’s Guide
Discover Hidden Abandoned Locations with Flickr While most photographers turn to Instagram or TikTok for inspiration, seasoned urban explorers know that Flickr remains one of the most powerful tools for... Read more...
Finding Abandoned Structures with Google Maps: A Photographer’s Guide
Finding Abandoned Structures with Google Maps: A Photographer’s Guide
How do photographers find forgotten grain elevators, abandoned schools, and decaying churches hidden across the rural West? For me, the answer often starts with Google Maps. Long before I hit... Read more...
Exploring the Haunting Beauty of the Witch’s House in Southern Saskatchewan
Exploring the Haunting Beauty of the Witch’s House in Southern Saskatchewan
Hidden among the rolling prairies of southern Saskatchewan stands one of the province's most intriguing abandoned landmarks: the Witch's House. With its distinctive turret rising above the grasslands and its... Read more...
Overview of Masks in Lightroom: Precision Editing for Stunning Photos
Overview of Masks in Lightroom: Precision Editing for Stunning Photos
Learn how Lightroom's masking tools give you precise control over your edits. From Brush and Gradient Masks to AI-powered Select Sky and Select Subject, discover how to make targeted adjustments... Read more...