So I posted in another thread about possibly visiting an abandoned Walmart store in Pennsylvania. This would be my first "real" urban exploration adventure, as compared to more casual shoots that I've done in the past, where I've photographed through windows and open doors and such. In other words, I've never really explored an abandoned structure inside before.

Going into this prior to receiving any guidance from you all, I'm thinking that the best way to order a visit is photograph the stuff that would involve a higher risk to the photography (i.e. end of outing at the very least) if caught first, and then move downward to the lower risk stuff, doing outside photos last. The thought process is that by doing the higher risk stuff first, I get those photos done and "in the can" early before doing the simpler stuff where the likelihood of being caught is higher, but the risk is lower, i.e. being outside, I'm more likely to be just asked to leave vs. arrested or cited.

Is this about right for a sequence of events?

Depending on the circumstances, of course, I often like to spend a fair amount of time outside the property FIRST to get a feel for the place and to see if it gets a response.

If I'm wandering the grounds and someone stops me before I do anything strictly trespass-y, then I've gathered information while losing nothing real.

If I'm wandering the grounds and no one gives two shits, that's information too.

All things being equal, I would save the high (legal) risk stuff for last, when I'm getting ready to bug out anyway.

Of course, things are never equal and every place is different, so you'll just have to play it all by ear.

I usually do two trips. One of the 'risky' or interior, then one of the less risky exterior. I spend a lot of time inside places and am usually creatively exhausted. Or sometimes I wait for a better day outside. Usually I just pop out the building n bee line it out of there.

Thanks, both of you! Makes a lot of sense - more than what I came up with.

Also, I never really gave much thought to creative exhaustion prior to this, but you're right. In past creative work, it becomes evident in the work when I lose my creativity partway through, and for a road trip like I'm considering, that might be a bad thing if I shoot it all quickly.

I think it can make you safer to be seen photographing a site while you hang around, or before a close approach. Lots of people get that you're a harmless nerd and move on. They're looking for a reason not to get involved. Or anyway taking exterior shots makes me feel like I seem harmless, and helps me work up the nerve to try the door. That act I'd still do out of sight, tho.

I usually take exterior pictures when I am walking up to a building, trying to find a POE, or if I am just doing a scouting run and plan to return to gain entry at a later time. Once I am done exploring inside a place I like to "get while the gettings good" and not hang around outside.

Another thing to keep in mind, the Walmart may have a alarm with motion sensor on it. This seems pretty common on abandoned stores, especially the big box type. The Walmart across from my work was abandoned for a few years, now some businesses have moved in. Every time I would drive through the lot my radar detector would detect a low "K" band, this is common on buildings with motion sensor type alarms.

If it's a multi-storey building, factory, whatever, every single time I will start at the top and work down. I make note of where the stairs are for possible escape routes and then can keep an eye out of windows for security etc who may be approaching.

I'll then leave exterior shots until the very last.

A slight tangent; sequence of camera settings. I want to know what settings I used later on, so I know what worked well and can skip the in-camera HDR base shots. But I have felt too rushed and rattled to make note of them. (Sometimes I can hardly manage the tripod legs). A standard sequence seems helpful. I'm now using:

Automatic
Automatic with exposure compensation
In-camera HDR (makes sets of 2, on my Nikon P520, the first of which should be discarded)
Exposure bracketing, for external HDR processing (makes sets of 3 on my camera)

I'm just learning this stuff. I'm annoyed after going to a good site and not taking time to do a good job out of embarrassment or anxiety or (blush) laziness.

Ya I try to do the outside first to look for potential exits, POE's and the overall environment you're working in. Once you're inside I just try to do a sweep, but may start at the more interesting area if that's what I saw from the outside.

But it really comes down to the feel of the area.

I always make sure to take the most incriminating photos first and get them out of the way, like pics of my buddies breaking things or prying doors open. If you gut caught just put the camera in your pants and they won't find it.

How I sequence shots varies with each location. Anything with on site security or high visibility I tend to get in first and shoot exteriors last. I also take light in to consideration, for exteriors I like to shoot during dawn or dusk for better lighting. I also tend to pay attention to what is happening outside while in a location, I like to see the patterns security uses on their routes, timing of patrols etc, makes it easier to figure out when to exit and get exterior shots.