Urbex is nowadays mostly about blowing your eyes away with astonishing pictures, mostly post-processed, with an “arty” kind of setup, or simply HDRed. However, Klaus is not that kind of guy at all. He’s more interested in the history of those places, and he truthfully document things the way they are.

Who are you?

Just a simple guy, born 1962. Living in the west of Germany. Started urbexing around 25 years ago before it was popular. Finished it, when it became popular and mainstream. I do still update my website – but mostly with old pictures.

What is your favorite urbex moment?

The initial moment was at a former coalmine (Zeche Zollverein), when I jumped into a scenery, which was like the workers had left some hours ago. After visiting some ruins before this gave me the impression, how locations also could be. Later this location became a museum. But mostly impressed I was by the castle of Mesen, which is demolished now. After seeing pictures at the website of Henk van Rensbergen this was a place-to-go for me. I still remember, how much I was impressed by the huge building, the chapel, the basement, the achitecture. A moment which I don’t want to miss in my memories.

The worst urbex moment?

Everytime, when I see vandalism. But beside this I remember, when I was hiding myself in the small door-tower of Chateau Noisy. Outside – only some meters away from me – the guardian had left his dogs. He was gone into the forest to feed animals and the dogs stayed there at the castles ground. The building in which I was hiding had no closeable door and lurking from the inside I could see the dogs. Inside the building was something, which looked like the sleeping-place of an animal. I expected every moment, that one of the dogs would come inside or that I had to stay there the whole night – and at the next day I had a very important meeting in the company. After waiting 40 minutes the guardian returned and took his dogs with him. I was not in the mood to stay there any longer and left very soon.

Which is your favorite spot? and the one you’re dreaming to go to?

My favorite spots? Perhaps those I’ve never seen and never will see. Whitley Wonder (now flooded as far as I know?)  or the Maunsell Sea Forts… Ah – and of course Castello Di S.

Gear, favorite lens or photographic technic?

I don’t like tripods. Whenever possible I worked without – and payed the bill with trashed pictures. Sometimes I think I never will learn…

Well, during my life I used about a dozen of cameras. From pocket-sized cameras up to medium format. All in analog and digital versions. Perhaps the last one, which I will use for the rest of my life, will be my Panasonic GF-1. A good compromise of everything. Not a heavy weight monster like my former Mamiyas, very small if it is necessary and I can still use my old Zeiss-lenses.

Favorite websites?

I don’t like those sites which look like clones due to ready-for-use-templates and which have no individual profile. I don’t like it, if people only collect locations and don’t seem to care about their history. I don’t like all those similar looking pictures with overdone tonemapping aka ‘urbex-HDR-style’. So, this reduces the candidates a little bit… Some of my older favourites can be found here. I know that some new and very well done websites are online, which are not included in this list. But perhaps I will find the time to do this some day…

Here are a few more pictures of Klaus…

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