I discovered the Pope of Urbex while visiting Art The Hague. Daan Oude Elferink, also known as Daanoe, is a Dutch photographer who travels the world to capture abandoned, decaying, and forbidden places. This is what is known as Urbex, short for urban exploration. According to his website, his love of adventure began in childhood, when he often explored abandoned factories. Today, he goes to great lengths to reach these hidden places, climbing walls and rooftops or crawling through tunnels. These locations are usually closed to the public, often dangerous, and sometimes (often) illegal to enter. The results are stunning. Daan Oude Elferink has built up an impressive collection of images of wild, forgotten places, full of raw beauty, where nature slowly reclaims what humans have left behind and the traces of human presence gradually fade away. Too many pictures to reproduce here, so I selected only a few of my favourites. Pope Daanoe continues to spread his message urbi et urbex by means of stunning exhibitions, amazing books and an impressive immersive experience.
