The otherworldly element that haunts bando photography is undeniable . The images have a tendency to lend themselves to the dark side , even if unintentionally . Where once a place was inhabited , the removal of a comforting human element invites fear and unease .
Urbexer Corey Smith experienced this eerie sensation when he visited an abandoned prison in Joliet , Illinois . Coincidentally , the jail had served as the set for Smith ’ s favourite television series Prison Break .
“ It was so surreal being in the filming location and seeing all the spots that I remember seeing in the episodes ,” Smith describes , “ When capturing the images of the cafeteria , gym , and jail cells , it was as if there was still this creepy feeling of life .” With a humorous note , he adds , “ Not many people can say they broke into and out of prison !”
Similar to the prison in Joliet , the absence of life and lack of humanity are felt more acutely in bandos . An example of this can be seen in neglected theatres , with hundreds of decaying seats lined with empty , rotting cushions , seeming to await a performance that will never again be delivered from the vacant stage .