Every year,the Centre d’histoire de Montréal is doing a photography contest, this year subject was: Montreal Industrial. Being an urban photog like me, you can’t ask any better. So I did my best and submit what I could, with my couple month of experience behind a kodak.

The result are fairly impressive, since 3 out of my 4 pictures were chose among the 50th or so best picture submitted and are now exposed at the museum.

The exhibition will end on september 7 2008, and I suggest you to take a look by yourself. There’s some amazing photography and talent to find. And don’t be shy to comment my own work.

More informations HERE.

Sebastien N.

And btw, a french version is on the way @ http://laccesinterdit.wordpress.com/

I was sitting in a corner, looking at the location around me. Then I saw that broken door giving me a dirty look with the crispy walls falling apart, the sun reflecting on the cold icy floor, and the stairs added some strange line to the scene. Everything was there and a song came right up to my mind:

I got a candle
And I’ve got a spoon
I live in a hallway with no doors
And no rooms

Under a windowsill
They all were found
A touch of concrete within the doorway
Without a sound

How did I get here
And what went wrong
Couldn’t handle forgiveness
Now I’m far beyond gone

by Shinedown, Save me.

As we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.

by Led Zeppelin, Stairway to heaven.

I’ve been asked multiple times, either by friends, cops or just about anyone looking at my photographies, why I am shooting in such environment and what bring most of us (urbexer) in abandoned structures.

Well, first of all I have to confess, I love how these places smell. But more seriously though, it is a big challenge and a real school to learn on how to deal with the ambiant lighting and to create my own with whatever I have in my pocket. You also have to keep pushing your creativity further and further to makes something ugly looking beautiful. And honnestly, do you know alot of place with easy access that gives you the opportunity to have such a look on the city ? I don’t…

So here we go, new stuff from this cold*ss neverending winter:

I guess these pictures speaks for themself, but lets try it with some lyrics about an angel…

No time permits to open up
When you’ve been hiding thoughts so strong
She’s been holding out for an angel to come along
No reply from the sky
But she just keeps looking up
She just keeps looking up now

by Crossfade, Broken like an Angel.

Hope you enjoy these one… It was freaking cold, my feet were completly white and hurted for 2 days, and to top it off, my equipment almost got submerged in the process.

There’s not much to say about this bulding. Obviously, they closed the place down because it wasn’t realy greenpeace friendly, we all know there’s better thing to do with old waste than burning it. But I’m sure alot of you walked at least once next to it, and wonder what these 2 big funnels are. So here we go:

The inside:

And we found a nice park bench, what a good place to chill out.

While I was working on a industriel photography contest, I went on the railway to shoot the old “incinerateur” next to it. Made my way on a carriage and snap what I think, is one of the best picture I could ever submit.

Then I put my tripod on the ground and tried to take a second shot without any actual subject, when all of sudden, a train made its way to me at full speed from behind. Needless to say, I was scared and stuck between the carriage and the incoming train screaming at me to get the f* out of his way.

That was close !!! Put my gear back in place and shot what I previously had in mind.

As I packed my stuff inside my car, I turned my head around and 2 cops showed up and went on the railroad to expect the place and probably, tried to catch that crazy guy. I wonder what’s the fine ?

Don’t try this at home, and kids, stay out of the rail road. Be safe

A couple times ago, I had the chance to make my way in one of the most amazing abandonned complex in N/A. We opened a door and here it was standing still and looking at me to get it final ration of grain after nearly 15years of loneliness. Relic of another time and true symbol of Montreal’s industriel revolution.

A real city’s emblem, that shiny red sign has been flashing for nearly 60years. But it may come to an end since the complex was bought by a competitor.

SAVE OUR SIGN !!!

More infos here.

So nice upthere, but did you ever stop 2min to think about what all this concrete is realy hiding ? The contrast is astonish and speak for itself.