Abandoned: America's Vanishing Landscape

by Eric Holubow

For a relatively young country, America is rich in decaying ruins that cover its landscape. Through his striking photography, Eric Holubow provides a glimpse inside these perilous structures to reveal the slow but unforgiving wear and tear that has befallen many of the countrys forgotten sites. What transpires is a surprising, yet undeniable beauty beneath the rubble and decrepitude. Centered in the Rust Belt, but spanning from coast to coast, north to south, and big cities to small towns, breathtaking images of nearly a hundred sites, including factories, churches, theaters, prisons, and power plants, signify the comprehensive erosion of important parts of our history. Holubow's compelling work forces us to pay attention to formerly grand, significant landmarks and institutions that have long been ignored, and reminds us of the tragic fate that they and everything we know eventually share.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Photography, Art

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2014

Reviews

[Mariℓina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this stunning book from page one! It is brilliant, with incredible photos, majestic sceneries and a unique look on photography, architecture and history!


The book is devided into 6 categories, based on what was the use of the building before its destruction: Working, Living, Learning, Healing, Playing and Praying.


Right ahead of each category there is a small, but significant intro and for every photograph there is also a small caption with additional historical characteristics and details.


The very special thing about this beautiful book is the amount of hard work the author put on this project. It is evident in every aspect of it, in every single page.


While i read it, i surely was transported back in time, visualizing of how those places were on their times of glory. That experience was bittersweet for me, seeing such prestigious buildings, being desolated and ruined.




THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

- The resolution of every picture is perfect.
- Very professional work.
- It transfer the reader into another era.
- The execution of this great idea is flawless
- I would like to see buildings from other places too.
- It contains: schools, churches, hotels, industries, apartments, theaters..

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really impressive book of photography. Abandoned buildings, especially ones that were once bustling hubs of industry and culture are so intriguing to me. I adore this.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! At once beautiful and hideous, these photographs depict a variety of decrepit and abandoned buildings from different places across America. These once-magnificent buildings, in various stages of disrepair, are displayed here in a stunning homage to modern architectural derelicts. Some were well-loved once, and others were abandoned before construction was ever finished. Holubow has preserved these images along with something of the buildings’ histories. Already, several of these structures have been demolished, and these pictures keep alive the memory of a fleeting, poignant tragedy. Haunting and unforgettable.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I have seen a lot of urban exploration / urban archeology images and books over the years. But this is, hands down, one of the best. Using full page spreads of meticulously shot and processed images, these other-worldly images are both art and emotion. A glimpse of past that is very telling about the current world in which we live.

As a photographer, I have to admit I was wowed by every single shot. There is technique - most photographers can pick up a camera and shoot an image. But the angles, compositions, and how he shot the buildings took technique into art. I really have to commend the artistic eye - using the right lens, right lighting, and right choices from start to finish to create stirring, imaginative, and ultimately very emotive imagery.

The processing of the images is a very tasteful HD - no over-the-top saturated colors or unnatural highlights/shadows. Instead, the HD is used to bring out all the details in very high contrast and difficult lighting situations. As such, details are left a bit in the shadows or brights but not completely lost as they would have been if shot using available lighting.

Pictures are captioned so viewers know exactly what they are seeing. As well, there are personal observations about several of the locations that are very informative and add to the story of the abandoned buildings.

At just over 200 pages, this book is a feast for the eyes but also for the heart. Broken down into type of building (e.g., theater, hospital, school, etc.) it also allows for an examination of different types of forgotten architecture across the American landscape.

In all, highest recommendations. This is an exquisite book worthy of repeat viewing and very well presented.

Reviewed from an ARC.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photographic books of lavish architecture abound, but Eric Holubow takes us in the opposite direction. Page after page in this incredible collection documents the decline and ruin of once-majestic buildings. As he takes us inside these decaying shells, we see firsthand the destruction of both man and nature. Some are vandalized. Some are just left to decay in the elements. Documenting an astonishing variety of buildings from factories to schools to hospitals and churches, it is amazing what mere neglect can accomplish. You have to see it to believe it. On a personal note, I was astounded to see the church where I spent four years taking music lessons included in these pages. It is nearly impossible to reconcile the glorious structure I remember so well with the photos now in front of my eyes. Even if you have never seen any of these buildings before, the sad ruins they are now will touch your heart, and make you wonder how we could let such deterioration happen to once wonderful and vibrant structures.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Abandoned is a collection of photographs grouped into five categories: Working, Living, Learning, Healing, Playing, Praying. Each category pertains to a location, where the photographer has taken photos of structures that have been abandoned. The foreword by Joshua Siegal of WhiteHot Magazine was not my style (a bit too 'airy fairy') but the introduction by the photographer was very interesting.

I picked up this book because I love any sort of abandoned landscape. I have a particular fondness for industrial sites, so working was an instant favourite for me.

The photography was awe inspiring. Some shots were breath taking, especially for someone who enjoys desolate urban or other landscapes. Each shot was obviously carefully selected for the book and not a single one was a let-down. There were definitely some stand out pieces.

The layout of the book was excellent, with each landscape taking up a full page. I read the e-book copy and I can only imagine what the book would look like in person. The images were high quality on the e-book and fully appreciable.

This book would be fantastic for a coffee table, but I believe it's best use is as a work of inspiration for artists or authors. I found the photographs really encouraging for writing, especially in a post-apocalyptic world.

[Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What made this such a great book, besides the well done photographs, was that it felt like a historical document, with information about each structure, when and by who they were built, what the were used for, and when they were abandoned. With so many buildings like these, in such disrepair and so cost-prohibitive to revive, books like this seem like very important in remembering what once was.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think books like this are so awesome!
I have always been fascinated by abandoned buildings and photography so it was cool to find a book that had both. And it was neat how it had a little back story to the buildings.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abandoned: America's Vanishing Landscape by Eric Holubow is a haunting and visually beautiful book that documents through photography buildings such as factories, hospitals, schools, USAF bases, theatres, hotels, and churches that have been abandoned for one reason or another. It is a book that, like other great art, makes the viewer feel and reexamine one's viewpoint. I highly recommend this book.

I first approached this book as one would a coffee table book. The pictures are sufficiently compelling and captioned so that the reader can easily pick up the book at any page and immediately appreciate the content of the book at her or his leisure. I next went through the book from the beginning. There are six sections of this book: Working, Living, Learning, Healing, Playing, and Praying. Each of these sections has its own essay. Written in the first person, these essays take the reader into the experiences of the photographer regarding photographing these segments. These sections make the reader aware of the both the photographer and the things the photographs do not show.

The photography in this place is fantastic and is taken from several regions of the country. For many the places featured will seem familiar and represent places they have encountered. Indeed, it is somewhat shocking how relatively new some of these buildings are. It is always surprising to me too how much is left behind. I was impressed when looking at photographs of one of the locations, that without looking at the caption I recognized immediately where it had been taken and how it had captured the essence of the location.

I would recommend this book for adults and students alike. I think this could be a great conversation starter between generations as well regarding topics such as history (personal or national), architecture, historical preservation, the reuse of buildings, waste, art, and of course photography.

I received an ARC of this book. I was not compensated for my review, nor was I required to write a review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a look into those abandoned and crumbling buildings that most of us wouldn't dare to venture within or possibly even notice. The photographs show a mixture of grandure and decay, a mixture of emptiness and abrupt departure. There is the disbelief that buildings can be left to rot and there is disbelief that the building could ever have contained what it did.

Some of the images give a feeling of sadness for what might have been or what has been lost but all of them are compelling and captivating. The captions and short section introductions provide some context for the images and some idea of the relevance of the building within its time, but the text doesn't quite give enough and you search the images for more clues of the people that used it inhabit these places and the stories that the buildings contained.

A facinating book with stunning imagery.

I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Jennifer Brinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abandoned: America’s Vanishing Landscape by Eric Holubow takes us on a journey through many of the abandoned buildings throughout the United States. His photography captures the beauty that remains within the decay. I was fortunate to get a free copy of this to review and I have to admit that looking at all of the photos makes me want to find these places and explore them myself. Many of which I also have a desire to restore and repurpose keeping the initial structure intact yet finding a new use for the core.

Whether you buy this for yourself or as a gift I definitely think this coffee table will inspire an unending amount of conversations about our history through the places we have worked, played and learned within. It is definitely worth looking at.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book. I must have it for my library collection. Lately I have been fascinated by modern ruins of buildings. I love how the author groups the buildings: working, playing, living, etc. Seeing how beautiful these buildings are/were makes it a shame that some of these building have not been turned into condos, if nothing else for the views out their broken windows. Plus, handrails!!!!! I have a thing, what can I say, and there are some of the building that I just want to pillage for the hand rails. Also, in section one on working, the insides of one of the steel mills looks like the inside of the TARDIS.

[Ralique · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photos were gorgeous. It seems the common theme in abandoned buildings is its previous opulence, that is still detectable after years of decay. The introduction to every chapter featured interesting stories that were quite verbose. I only wish that it was interspersed between some pictures to break up the text. I also would've liked to seen some more macro shots with a focus on smaller details (although I must agree that wide angle shots was a perfect medium to capture the entire environment). Lastly, I'm very curious as to the camera used.
Received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your heart will break as you flip through this coffee table book. So much beauty, wasted. So many books left to rot when others could have used them. So much graffiti on things that were already breathtaking works of art. I liked how this book chose various things that were every day life through a variety of time periods, and how some of the history was given to us in nuggets. I hope that books like this inspire some of those people who have money to waste to work to save at least parts of some of this breathtaking architecture.

[Susan O'Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visual reference of time and its toll is reflected in Eric Holubow's "Abandoned." Startling and stark, it's a time capsule of America's forgotten and abandoned structures and sites. "What transpires is a surprising, yet undeniable beauty beneath the rubble and decrepitude," publicists accurately claim. Nearly 100 sites are featured, ranging from coast to coast and big city to small. Holubow's photographs of factories, churches, prisons and more are a tribute to what was, what is. and what will be.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intriguing, beautiful, and heart breaking all at once. I've always been fascinated by abandoned buildings (especially houses), so I really liked this book. There are a few photographs from buildings in the Pittsburgh area, which I appreciated/was especially saddened by. (7/3/14)

I received an ARC from NetGalley! (7/2/14)

[Jayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up outside of Detroit and Flint, Michigan, I have a soft spot for abandoned buildings. It is so sad to see structures that were once absolutely gorgeous crumble away.

The photographs in this book are stunning. They are sad and beautiful at the same time. The images are very high quality.

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an odd duck, it's photos of abandoned buildings interiors, mostly on the East Coast and Midwest in the USA. There is very little text. I was hoping for more exterior shots for reference material.

For the average reader, this is a two, but if you are drawing post-apocalyptic worlds, this may be a five.

[GONZA · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing to say when pictures are so beautiful and let you think.

Non c'é molto altro da dire quando le foto sono cosí belle e fanno riflettere.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND SHIFFER PUBLOSHING LTD. FOR THE PREVIEW!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning photographs of my favorite subject, abandoned spaces. I'm so drawn to this type of work and these places, I find it very moving. Both sad and beautiful at the same time. I'd love to visit some of these places.

This review is based on a free e-galley from NetGalley.

[Emma Sea]

weird: not on book depository.com

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stunning photographs of complex and opulent buildings that have been abandoned and left to rot.