Elevator Pitch - photographic essay

This is the pitch I gave to the class about the topic for my photographic essay.
I feel that it would be an exciting challenge to represent nature in a powerful way, taking over objects and structures constructed and left by mankind - a force that is most often represented as being the most powerful. I think that it would portray the message that as humans we are destroying our planet by not keeping it clean or regenerating abandoned buildings - and nature is fighting back against this.

I received very positive feedback on this idea as the class found it to be an interesting approach - particularly to street photography. It was also suggested that I could capture how graffiti is a kind of decay performed by humans and not nature as there is a large amount of it in our surroundings.

Mind map of ideas/thoughts when exploring the theme.

EXAMPLES OF URBAN DECAY PHOTOGRAPHY

By Julie Shiel, Source: www.darkroastedblend.com

Source: www.obviousmag.org

Source: www.wallcoo.net

By Joe Collver, Source: www.hongkiat.com

Source: www.kateyestudio.com

As shown in these images, as well as those on my mood board in my pitch, it is evident that urban decay photography is of a very wide spectrum. It can range from large buildings in decay, to smaller objects or textures.
To me, these images show objects and buildings that were once of vital everyday use and are now forgotten about and abandoned. They demonstrate the history of these subjects and how it contrasts to the present. This says a lot about our society today. It demonstrates how we do not take care of our environment as how we are always focusing on new, better things. We live in a developing world therefore we leave things behind - regardless of its history or its effect on the environment.
Certain urban decay photographers are extremists - they can also be known as 'urban explorers'. They venture into derelict buildings and abandoned sites that are usually overseen seeking 'beauty in decay'.

TEST SHOOT

I am happy with the first image shown here, as I feel that it is of good quality and demonstrates the type of decay that I was aiming to find. However the second image is slightly off focus and I feel does not portray the theme of my project.