Decay: Weekly Photography Theme
Your challenge this weekend is to take and share a photo on the theme of ‘Decay’.
I was originally going to make it ‘urban decay’ (suggested by Casey Myers on Facebook) as I know many of our readers live in urban environments where there are lots of opportunities to photograph run down buildings and areas – but not everyone is in the urban setting so lets make it a little more general and open to interpretation.
You may wish to take an image of an urban setting that is ‘decaying’ or perhaps a landscape suffering from environmental abuse, or a run down machine….. really anything that has some element of decay will work. Use your imagination and creativity.
Once you’ve taken your best “Decay” image, upload it to your favourite photo sharing site and either share a link to it below or embed it in the comments using the our new tool to do so. Please note it sometimes takes us a while to approve comments with images as there’s a moderation queue – particularly over the weekend.
If you tag your photo on Flickr, Twitter or other sites with Tagging tag it as #DPSDECAY to help others find it. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.
PS: don’t forget to check out some of the great photos shared last week in the ‘Artificial Light’ challenge.





186 Responses to “Decay: Weekly Photography Theme” - Add Yours
October 9th, 2010 at 5:25 am
Here’s my a decay photo I took last week. See it on Flickr
October 9th, 2010 at 5:39 am
This is Yorus Castle at Anadolu Kavagi, on the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey. It has certainly decayed over the years.
October 9th, 2010 at 5:41 am
This is Yorus Castle at Anadolu Kavagi, on the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey. It has certainly decayed over the years.
October 9th, 2010 at 5:47 am
October 9th, 2010 at 5:51 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonoughue/4168598398/in/set-72157622958776118/
October 9th, 2010 at 6:06 am
Scavenge
October 9th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Bar
October 9th, 2010 at 6:29 am
Urban decay in a the former steel mill town of Pittsburgh:
See it on Flickr
October 9th, 2010 at 6:46 am
here is a left to dust train station http://www.flickr.com/photos/dacogent/4852111965/
October 9th, 2010 at 6:46 am
I live in a small town, so we have a good amount of decaying tractors around
October 9th, 2010 at 7:01 am
Hope this link works okay for my blk & wh Photo of “Decay of Virginia City, Nevada”
https://www.dropbox.com/photoshow/Virginia%20City%202002_600DPI_copyrighted.jpg#gallery:0
October 9th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Man oh man…this is my specialty. It’ll be hard to pick just one photo.
Check out the rest of my photos at flickr if you get a chance.
October 9th, 2010 at 7:48 am
A picture of a painted door in decay
October 9th, 2010 at 7:56 am
This picture is the interior of an old hutterite community home in a now abondoned village. (Grand Forks BC) The village was called the “Singing Village” and a sense of calm and peace comes over you as you walk this amazing property. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodibirston/5028251267/
October 9th, 2010 at 8:01 am
This picture is from the interior of an old abandoned communal home. The home one of two large buildings that housed a community of Hutterites in Grand Forks BC. The village was called the “Singing Village” and a sense of calm and well being enters you as you walk the proerty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodibirston/5028251267/in/photostream/
October 9th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Here are two of mine…
First is the “holey” hymnal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425436@N08/5062956067/sizes/z/
And then an abandoned and forgotten fuel pump:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425436@N08/5062955447/sizes/z/
October 9th, 2010 at 8:32 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11249990@N06/5019671911/
October 9th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Here is my version of decay..
[/url][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanmccoyphotos/5049759532/]Lensbaby rusted car[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/deanmccoyphotos/]Dean McCoy Photography[/url], on Flickr
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanmccoyphotos/5049759532/]
October 9th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Here is my version of decay..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanmccoyphotos/5049759532/
October 9th, 2010 at 9:38 am
October 9th, 2010 at 9:47 am
October 9th, 2010 at 9:56 am
the church crumbles.
October 9th, 2010 at 9:59 am
My version of decay:
October 9th, 2010 at 10:03 am
My photos of a house I would visit as a kid.After the lady that lived there pasted the house has been neglected.
October 9th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I’m not sure if it fits into the time frame but here is an old decaying Ford.
October 9th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Here is an old decaying Ford
October 9th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Just took this photo this afternoon…it is a southern sculptured pine borer living in the decay of a pine tree that was destroyed by lightening…
October 9th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I took this photo on a recent trip to Bradford, Pa. The whole town is depressed, but actually a new Denzel Washington movie was just filmed there. Maybe because of the older run down look of the town. It’s not a bad town just needs some TLC.
October 9th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
the “holey” hymnal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425436@N08/5062956067/
October 9th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
when gas was 0.00 per gallon….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425436@N08/5062955447/
October 9th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Decay of Days Gone By…
October 9th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Decay in my garden
October 9th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
October 9th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
October 9th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I dont know why i am not able to see the link i am posting! Keeping fingers crossed this time
October 9th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/canonpicsmya/5063492295/
October 9th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Visit The Gallery - CLOSED DOOR
October 9th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Couple of pictures from a junk yard in Arkansas.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joncromwell/?saved=1
October 9th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Here’s mine:
October 9th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Woopsie, let me try that again. Great topic, btw.
October 9th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Here is a shot of decay that I took recently and posted to FLICKR http://www.flickr.com/photos/kritione/4845136797/
October 9th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
One of the Crypts in Pere-LaChaise cemetery in Paris. Amazing that such a famous cemetery with so many notable characters would fall into the state of ruin much of is in today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lendog64/4263174226/
October 9th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Rural decay…
October 9th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Took this one a while back: http://picasaweb.google.com/samwhited/Portfolio#5456433946459551074
October 9th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
one last try. Sorry for the spam everyone
October 9th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
My version of decay:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grace3737/2952934594
October 9th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
http://andthenshesnapped.blogspot.com/2010/10/decay.html
October 9th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
A hovel on Es Pujols beach in Formentera:

October 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
On an old disused farm in South Africa:
October 9th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
I actually have a “Decay” exhibition kicking off in Belfast this week
anyway here is my attempt
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flixel/5064533810/
October 9th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Here’s one I took a while ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwjford/4025567904/
October 9th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Hey all,
well this was taken today at work (New Plymouth Airport)
I hope you enjoy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinnerphotography/5063957357/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinnerphotography/5063969791/
October 9th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
October 9th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Taken on an old abandoned farm in South Africa. I liked the mood of the place. Silent, slight wind in the trees, no sign of habitation whatsoever. Very brooding.
October 9th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
A detail from an abandoned building in Montreal, Quebec
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zb_ws_QugItZbwn6h0xtXw?feat=directlink
October 9th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Taken by Rolleiflex 3.5F, E100VS@Adelaide, South Australia
October 9th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Decay… here is a my photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marianosilva/4876801397/
October 9th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
October 9th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_edzz/4478316236/in/set-72157624892018040/
October 9th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
just posted to Flickr and my Aminus3 photoblog. Took this yesterday in Red Hook, Brooklyn…
http://aaronsmith.aminus3.com/image/2010-10-09.html
October 9th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Urban Decay – Meat Shop

October 9th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/solopolo/sets/72157624998369815
October 10th, 2010 at 12:47 am
This is a house I would visit as a child.After the lady whom lived there pasted on this is what fifthteen years of decay looks like.
October 10th, 2010 at 12:50 am
October 10th, 2010 at 1:03 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/byasphyxia/486707534/in/set-72157602242419179/
October 10th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Decaying Warehouse On The Canal
October 10th, 2010 at 2:39 am
October 10th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Decayed building….here is my photo
http://zain.zenfolio.com/facade/e1ebaaf43
October 10th, 2010 at 7:14 am
Some more decay..

October 10th, 2010 at 7:15 am
More Decay
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanmccoyphotos/5049756732/
October 10th, 2010 at 7:50 am
This photo was taken in Bradford, Pa. An old factory town. It needs some TLC but is full of charm.
October 10th, 2010 at 9:13 am
Please come and look at my abandoned asylum images
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniel-Bullock-Photography/111938448861353?ref=ts
October 10th, 2010 at 9:14 am
DECAY, hows this one, taken recently in the indian himalayas, its a goat skull in a high alpine meadow
35mm
F/7.1
1/500
iso200
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikerobby/5066215218/in/photostream/
October 10th, 2010 at 10:04 am
What’s left of a 300 year old church.
October 10th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Decay at the eastern state penitentiary.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/irelanct/4851160115/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irelanct/4851159437/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irelanct/4851775552/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irelanct/5065788943/
/
October 10th, 2010 at 10:16 am
October 10th, 2010 at 11:13 am
You can see mine on my photoblog. Title “Old and Worn”
http://kryssiesdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-and-worn.html
October 10th, 2010 at 11:13 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larrysc/4320257749/
Abandoned school.
October 10th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Decay or Tired Iron.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mclephan/4068442867/
October 10th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
End of an Era. Studebaker Plant in South Bend, IN.

October 10th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
My “decay” photo (from Brazil)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexmoralles/4051892159/
October 10th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Here my try. Some photos may be added later today.
Please feel free to comment and teach me.
October 10th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Taken on a disused farm in South Africa:
October 10th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
October 10th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Adding to the Decay challenge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/talsi1/4559404676/
October 10th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
decay – http://www.flickr.com/photos/kavya-b/5067083692/
October 10th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
I was unable to get out this weekend but, here’s some decay I saw last week.

October 10th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
October 10th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Here’s one of my urban decay pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ng87/4158903178/in/set-72157622558431303/
October 10th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
October 10th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5060675703_847ecd2f6d_m.jpg
October 10th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
October 10th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Sorry posted the first one wrong.

October 10th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I’m on a roll!

October 10th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
October 10th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Doh – put the wrong link in the first time
October 11th, 2010 at 12:07 am
October 11th, 2010 at 12:10 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sambeth/4753221768/
October 11th, 2010 at 1:44 am
October 11th, 2010 at 2:58 am
I love everybody’s different versions of Decay, new to all this and am stunned by some of the talent on this page!
October 11th, 2010 at 4:30 am
Some others added here
October 11th, 2010 at 4:34 am
October 11th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Here are a couple I took this afternoon …
and
October 11th, 2010 at 8:53 am
I took one more picture this weekend for decay –

October 11th, 2010 at 9:56 am
I have always loved this topic.
“Decaying With The Angels”
October 11th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Hello,
This is my first time… I hope you like my photos and feel free to comment/criticize:
October 11th, 2010 at 11:34 am
This picture was one that I strugled a lot before taking it. After I realized that what I was looking at was a decayed body slipping out of the broken wooden coffin, I questioned if this was ethical. After all, this was someone’s son or daughter, perhaps wife or husband, friend and lover.
Yet, this pieced coffin damaged by the fallen pieces of ceiling in a crypt pr mausoleum in the Recoleta Cemetary in Beunos aires tells a story. Albeit a sad story of perhaps the inexistant visits from the family or even the missing vigilant eye of onsite caretakers. I said a prayer and asked for leanience in my aim to try to find someone to restore respect to this passed soul.

October 11th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
October 11th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Here is my entry for the Decay Assignment

October 11th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Here’s what I got this afternoon! (My very first post, so I am hoping it will work…)
Old schoolhouse
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs381.ash2/65900_1343152193965_1686051953_682268_3395439_n.jpg
Old gambling house (so I am told)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs828.snc4/68858_1343152353969_1686051953_682269_8037391_n.jpg
Like I said, this is my very first post to DPS. Let me know what you think!
Thanks!
October 11th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
**I don’t think I did it right the first time, I apologize for the duplicate post!
Here’s what I got this afternoon! (My very first post, so I am hoping it will work…)
Like I said, this is my very first post to DPS. Let me know what you think!
Thanks!
October 11th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
This fascinating old farmhouse is giving way to decay alongside a country road in NE Oregon.
October 11th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
http://flic.kr/p/8J6jLs
October 11th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waynechengg/5071026160/

October 11th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Here is my first contribution, took this a while ago though.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I really like this theme!
Check my site or my photostream for more urbex/decay shots.
Cheers,
Marc
October 11th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I really like this theme!
Check out my site or my photostream for more urbex/decay photos.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
There are several factory/truck buildings for sale around here. This is from a window from one.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
By the beach. A truly deeply interesting theme. I love it. Colours, textures and sometimes not knowing what it is.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Taken last week while I was working at the power plant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48037107@N03/5045124839/
October 11th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Taken last week while I was working at the power plant.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alberdiana/5068745936/in/set-72157625134379680/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alberdiana/5068149379/in/set-72157625134379680/
October 12th, 2010 at 12:11 am
I thought this was cool, a bit of modern decay
October 12th, 2010 at 12:49 am
[IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3561491535_371928e8e5_z.jpg[\IMG]
October 12th, 2010 at 12:52 am
October 12th, 2010 at 1:15 am
I keep trying to post…but it’s not working.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:15 am
Staying strong while everything else around falls apart
October 12th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Bathroom Decay
October 12th, 2010 at 5:48 am
Here is mine. Feel free to comment/critic/etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybg-photography/5072265625/in/photostream/
-Lily
October 12th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Great series – I love the lighting and textures generally. Here is an HDR shot I took the other day just after sunrise of a sunken ship in Richmond, BC. More on my Flickr stream.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Here’s my decay photo….
October 12th, 2010 at 9:53 am
My decay photo: “no one’s home (another view)
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/tma_steve/5073613616/]
[/url][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/tma_steve/5073613616/]no one’s home (another view)[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/tma_steve/]Steve Stanger[/url], on Flickr
October 12th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Some colorful shelf fungus.

October 12th, 2010 at 10:38 am
http://picasaweb.google.com/107105331735573006454/Decay#5526950212751865170
October 12th, 2010 at 11:07 am
My two entries…
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5073705740_5955bc4fea.jpg
Face of Decay
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5073174665_5ed0976a95.jpg
Field of Decay
October 12th, 2010 at 11:21 am
October 12th, 2010 at 11:23 am
October 12th, 2010 at 11:31 am
October 12th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
A picture of a construction site wall that, at one and the same time like, looked like a piece of installation art work and a gutted wall.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Here is my decay photo….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whizvish/5073522513/
October 12th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Here is my decay photo….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whizvish/5073522513/
October 12th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
The best stuff I’ve ever scene of decay is at http://detroiturbex.com/
October 12th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
October 12th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
October 12th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Taken in Belitung Island, Indonesia
October 12th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
October 12th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Found an old icehouse in Ludington, MI with this door barely hanging.

Nikon D80; Nikon 18-200 lens at 31 mm; ISO 100; f/9; 1/100
October 12th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
October 12th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
-JamesC
October 12th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
An old piece of strip mining equipment I found out in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere when I was trying to find a new road to take home. It’s a pretty frequent model of mine.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
An old piece of abandoned mining equipment in a field in the middle of nowhere. I found it one day when I was trying out new roads home, which is something I frequently do. It has since become a steady model of mine. Taken somewhere in the relative vicinity of Terre Haute, Indiana.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
http://jgray1975.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/galveston-1-of-1.jpg
Hotel destruction after Hurricane Ike a few years ago.
October 13th, 2010 at 1:04 am
Trying again to get this new Flickr embedded picture to work…
October 13th, 2010 at 1:08 am
Try three (hopefully will be a charm)…
Face of Decay

Field of Decay

October 13th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Here are couple more that I think illustrate the topic of decay as well: Please comment – We can only get better through feedback.
You can view more on my blog.
October 13th, 2010 at 3:07 am
October 13th, 2010 at 3:10 am
My boyfriend has shot at the Yonkers power station before but this was the first time I went. I was amazed and humbled at the same time. It took a while for me to find my photographers eye here since I have a tendency to shoot on a smaller more compact level (food photography being my specialty) but when I finally started to really “see” I couldn’t stop. http://pberge.zenfolio.com/heidinormand/h4da7f64#h327db8b2
October 13th, 2010 at 3:18 am
Pink Room
October 13th, 2010 at 3:21 am
Pink Room
October 13th, 2010 at 3:40 am
My photos, starting a series where neighbors does not have the same idea of the decay of their houses:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_ignorante_feliz/5069433065/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_ignorante_feliz/5069432701/
October 13th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Sorry, didn’t get the link right the first time around. A picture of some sunflowers that I took this weekend.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11373336@N00/5072871035/
October 13th, 2010 at 11:47 am
here is my version of decay
October 13th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Do you see a heart or a rooster? A door from an old station that is decaying.
October 13th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Natural decay – mangroves in Far North Queensland
October 13th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
this is my “decay”.
EXIF: CANON EOS D400, lens 18 – 55 mm
date taken: 10/12/2010
ISO 100
f/ 4.5
1/60 s
focal length 18 mm
edited with corel draw and lightroom
flash fired
October 13th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
the picture didn’t show, i’ll just share you my link, then..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nipasir/5074040747/
October 13th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
[url=http://www.garypaakkonen.com/Nature/Nature-stuff-1/6977984_icDMj#1045665970_KuJmi-A-LB]
[/url]
Natural decay of a Lilypad in a marsh at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada this weekend (10-09-10)
Nikon D300s
Nikkor 55-200/4-5.6 AF VR
1/400th sec at f5.6
ISO200
focal length 190mm (285mm equivalent)
handheld/natural light
October 13th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
clicked at kalpa, Himachal Pardesh
this was an old baggers house in a hotel property.
what fascinated me was the atmosphere around
making it more beautiful.
October 14th, 2010 at 12:26 am
Not sure why my photo did not show up in the post above nor why another comment did not get published. Sorry if this is a repeat for anyone. Happy shooting!
October 14th, 2010 at 12:57 am
For this weeks challenge ‘Decay’
October 14th, 2010 at 1:56 am
This is my apport for today
October 14th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Here is my work:

October 14th, 2010 at 8:06 am
October 14th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Here is a shot I took a few weekends ago at the abandoned Yonkers Power Station.
October 14th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Cant seem to add my photo so here is the link to it. Natural decay – mangroves in Far North Queensland.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54802953@N07/5077620800/
October 14th, 2010 at 11:58 am
My picture didn’t show. Here is the link….
For ‘decay’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5knowltons/5078558324/
October 15th, 2010 at 4:38 am
Man-Made Decay.
Or is it Man-Made, made better?
You Decide…
October 16th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
October 16th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
I congratulate, your idea is magnificent
Greetings from the Speedy DNS
October 17th, 2010 at 4:49 am
October 17th, 2010 at 4:51 am
decaying tractor
October 17th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I know I’m late for this assignment, but I wanted to share my natural decay – my dear hostas heading for the unknown.
October 17th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/poetryinmotion40/5087225623/
October 17th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
October 18th, 2010 at 11:42 am
November 21st, 2011 at 3:10 am
From an antique store in North Carolina.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35501802@N06/6369917915/in/photostream
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