My aim is to create distinct images from unique vantage points using techniques such as light painting, shooting at night, and kite aerial photography.

Shooting in low light enables me to sculpt and manipulate the light in front of my camera, lending more control and creative opportunities. I use flashlights, off-camera flash, and colored theatrical gels—often in combination with natural moonlight—to “light paint” the scene during the exposure.

I frequently shoot in places that most people choose not to venture. Photographing abandoned buildings and other forgotten places, often under the cover of darkness, is what captivates me the most. Documenting our history and creating art in locations that soon may be destroyed in favor of new strip malls inspires a level of urgency not typically found in other forms of photography.

Much like being outdoors enjoying nature and the elements (which I also enjoy photographing), exploring abandonments is often a visceral and even spiritual experience. “Urban exploration” cuts to the core of an innate curiosity that exists within all of us; it also satisfies my sense of adventure and sometimes gives intense adrenaline rushes.

Through my photography, I hope to lend a window into a world that most people will never experience.

Become a fan of Scott Haefner Photography on Facebook