Empty Spaces: Photojournalism Through the Rust Belt

by Johnny Joo

Once in a while, a man-made structure is left to rest, becoming just another one of natures many manikins to stylize and destroy as it pleases. The structures become a victim; a marionette to natures decay. Our Earth and its elements blend together in the destruction and beautifying of these areas sat to rot. A scorched barn, flooded apartments, a factory filled with decay; walls covered in peeling paint, pulled up to reveal another color underneath, as if nature has painted its own mural through texture and ruination. The hard cover edition of this book can be found here - were these places vacated? And why are they left to sit, uncared for? The remains of a person’s bedroom, bed still intact, covered in a layer of mold and dust. Walls surrounding with cracked complexions and vivid, yet transparent voices telling a story of time. Living through the history of abandonments as you explore what once was an entirely different scene; now transformed into a desolate, yet incredible, stimulating image of complex patterns and great detail. Examining these details, studying and reflecting on them, in conclusion, piecing its story together; that is urban exploration. Upon entrance to a large warehouse, a calming feel, and natural aura of water damaged floors fills the air around you. Dismantled ceilings above you, while miscellaneous objects scatter, covering the floor of the room in which you stand. You are surrounded by a large silence through stale air, standing beneath the rafters, and a roof filled with holes. You are enclosed by walls covered in the graffiti of street artists who have previously passed through. You are immersed into a whole new world of imagery within your own street corners, or open fields. A whole new vision of art, created on our Earths very own canvas, painted by Mother Nature, and time itself.Through this book, we will take a journey through the rust belt to see the unseen and find the forgotten.

Genres: Photography

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2014

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing photos. I love that he takes us places we cannot go ourselves and shares them so openly with us.

[Kelita Deems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the way Johnny captures the history and the soul of what he photographs. We can learn from history. We should!

[Kelly K · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE.
I follow Johnny's work on Facebook as well as subscribe to his blog and I love reading about his encounters with the abandoned and taking in his photography of local areas.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew Joo was a great photographer. I didn't realize his eye for detail extended to his writing.

If I rank this four instead of five stars, it's only because Joo has even better work coming in his future.