Driving through decay

Due to the absence of posts in the past few months, some of you (the HIAT readers) asked me if I engaged into the ironic deed of abandoning the blog. Well, not that I ran out of places and thing to write about, but I got tired of posting the photos that are already out there, on the internet. Because of that, I struggled a bit and finally got myself a nice DSLR to go out and capture them myself, maybe even some of those that have not been captured before. This is one of the first sets I made with the new camera. I'm still learning the art of using a good camera, as I mainly worked with phone or cheap cameras until now, so don't expect to be amazed by the level of professionalism just yet.
This was a test run which I did from my car. It was 30 minutes to sunset and the area is full of dogs, scrap metal thieves and other dangers so I didn't go inside any of these structures. If any of my old readers are still among my present readers, you will probably recognize this area, which was posted twice before when I visited it with Alex. If not, here they are:

Communist industrial ruins

The industrial leftovers of communism in Romania

Changes are upon us!

We finally have a domain! Happy happy joy joy!

Seeing the number of visits that keep growing and growing, I decided to finally take the next step and get a domain. 

Unfortunately "hiat" seems to be a widely used term and all relevant domains are already used so I didn't have many name options to choose from, and still keep the reference to Hiat.

So, we are now a .org site, that will continuously inform people about the places that have been forgotten. A sort of derelict Wikipedia, hehe.

Please rate the posts again with +1's and Reactions, as they were deleted when the blog switched to the domain.

Also, many other changes are being planned.

Changes would include:

- Host changing

- Site redesign

- More informative articles

- Maybe a forum

- Photo submission

- Photo contests with prizes!

(Please suggest more or comment on these below.)

Don't forget to add the new link to your bookmarks!

Last cinema in town

This town had 2 cinemas that I am aware of. One was closed many years back, I remember playing there after it was closed. They eventually turned it into an athenaeum, which is nice.

The other is this one, closed in 2009 if I'm not mistaking. It's a filmless town now, like many other cities in Romania.

Abandoned commercial building - Photoshop Mode

This is the same explore as in the previous post, with different angles and just a bit of Photoshop manipulation.
Hope you enjoy.

Also, this is the last post of 2011. 

Happy Holidays and see you in 2012!

Abandoned commercial building

It's been over a month since I made these photos, but haven't gotten around to finishing the processing for the blog.

It is a commercial building in Bucharest, abandoned for a year or so. Sadly, we couldn't get inside as everything is barricaded like a zombie outpost.

Abandoned Village School

Abandoned Building

Resting factory

It's just resting its eyes ..

Restaurant in decay

Once used as a landmark for locals, situated 100 meters from the entrance to the city, the restaurant is now left abandoned, used as a home for hobos and rats, and as a public toilet.

Abandoned apartment building is getting life

After lying abandoned for the past 20 years or so, in the last 2 years it started to be occupied and as I can see it still continues to do so. Companies, a restaurant, and even homes were built here. We hope it will be totally inhabited and restored in the following years, as it's located in an area where abandoned and derelict buildings shouldn't exist.

Abandoned Sports Base

 

Author: A dude I know

Abandoned House

 

Author: A dude I know

Abandoned Youth's House

Not sure if I translated that correctly. This is a building in my city, started by the communists and abandoned since then (1989). The building has a pretty dark history, considering the junkies and hobos that used to roam around there, or the suicides that took place here. Word is that they want to finish it and use it for something cultural, but that word was spread about 5 years ago and until today nothing happened.

 Author: A dude I know

Communist industrial ruins

This is actually part II of The industrial leftovers of communism in Romania post. These are the photos that were made by the other blogger who joined me, Alex. His photos are more artistic and have a much better quality because he has more experience in this kind of photography .. and also a Canon.

Chernobyl Exhibition

Someone sent me a message on twitter asking me to mention his site on my blog, it was an automated message but it sounded interesting, so I visited his site and I think it deserves to be mentioned. I got the approval to post his photos here, so here they are. 
His photoshop modifications are weird and dark, just the way I like them.

All Images © Darren Nisbett 
darkoptics.net

Prypiat 1970

The industrial leftovers of communism in Romania

I thought I`d do something refreshing for this easter season, so I convinced a local blogger to go and explore the Chemical Plant in Giurgiu, Romania. This is Platform 1, soon I hope we will go visit Platform 2 of the Chemical Plant. It`s been a while since I`ve walked these paths, and the first time I actually had a trip especially for the blog, my first actual exploring if I may. It was quite fun, with all the "Collapse Danger" signs and biohazard areas, excellent way to spend a sunny day. I have to thank Alex again, for taking me on a lovely tour, I learned some things I didn`t know, a well documented guy he is. And this is his blog about Giurgiu.
Here is the first batch of photos, taken by me on a Samsung GT-S3350, a decent phone to take pics with, but it certainly doesn`t create art, and as a glitch that it has, some of the pics are very poor quality (made some of them at 320x240 without asking me).

Chemical Plant Platform 1 - Giurgiu, Romania

Decay of the shoe!

I was just going back home after a short shopping spree when I discovered two buildings in the backyard of a local fast food type restaurant. I don`t know what they used to be and I didn`t go in, but if you leave a comment asking me to go in and maybe even find out what these buildings used to be, I`ll do it, you just need to ask.

H.I.A.T Wallpaper

Someone made this thing for the blog, it`s kinda nice, don`t know exactly what it means but I suppose it would be an urbex explorer that definitely tries to explore the unexplorable. So, if there are any H.I.A.T fans out there, you can use this as a wallpaper.

Also this guy has some photoshop skills, if you need them ask for his contact by sending us an e-mail.

Power plant Libusin-Kladno

Sent by Lukas Morava

Unlivable environment is alive

I just received received two photos from someone who cares about Giurgiu. It pictures an environment that was originally meant for families, by the ex communist leader. Well what happened is he died and these two buildings were never quite finished. But that was no problem for the homeless, so they moved in. Some of them are living here for over 2 decades. And I have to say, they sure love TV!

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