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 trent
      
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
 |  |  | Random tips.
< on 3/24/2010 5:37 PM >
|  | | | A thread for a bunch of little quick tips not really worthy of their own thread. They may be obvious no brainers to many, but they're all things I've learned either the hard way or were 'lightbulb' moments while exploring this hobby.
Here's some of mine:
-Rarely one would ever suspect the gentleman wearing a suit as a serial trespasser. I've found that after-work urbex in work clothes is awesome. I'm thinking about buying a thrift store suit for the hell of it.
-Umbrellas are great credibility props (if it's raining) and can also be used to shield your face from others while walking straight by staring at a potential POE. Again, traditionally umbrellas and trespassing usually aren't seen together.
-Always take a small little glance around a corner before fully stepping around it. You never know who/what will be there.
-Determine what audible sounds yours gear/clothes make when running, climbing, or even tiptoeing and how those sounds change depending on the surface you're walking on.
-If you think you might be carrying too much gear, you are.
-Always keep your gear secured/tied/strapped/zippered/etc into your pack or your body. If it's lose odds are you'll drop something at the worse possible moment.
-Make sure you know exactly what that switch on the wall does before you turn it on.
-When seen, know exactly when to run away, when to casually walk away, or when to engage the person who saw you. Make sure your partner(s) know the same.
-Just because it looks sealed, doesn't mean it is.
-It's amazing what one can accomplish if you make it your #1 priority.
-While inside, it's a good habit to often look at what's going on outside.
-Carrying the tripod and camera around in public while near the location may be a bad idea. Dressing like a commando or bum is a bad idea. Dressing like an upstanding citizen is a good idea.
-Creatively manage your footprints in the snow.
-Know the difference between the buildings you'll get arrested in and the buildings the cops will tell you to get the fck out of and never come back. In the former, be well prepared and planned before attempting.
-Know your story for the day so that when you speak it you feel like you're speaking the truth and don't even have to think about it. Make sure your partner(s) are on the same story.
-Have a good idea on how acoustics work in or next to buildings as well as out in the open.
-Know who the exact owner of the land you're trespassing on is. You'll be better at guessing the security there if you know who you're dealing with.
-Sunday morning is typically a great time for urbex. Also, sometimes rush hour during the week can provide surprisingly good cover as people are more concerned about getting home. Other times night is the best. Pick the best time according to the location, not your personal convenience.
-Know when to call it. If you suspect someone might have seen or heard you. Don't push your luck. There's always another day.
-Draw absolutely no attention to yourself. On the approach when people see you, you want to be forgettable, not rememberable. After all, you're just an ordinary upstanding citizen wearing a backpack, remember?
-Never separate yourself from your gear. You never know when you'll suddenly need it and you never know when someone unexpectedly show up at the location along with you.
-Know when the 'I was just taking pictures' excuse might make your situation worse. E.g. government or active industrial/infrastructure locations.
-Loose straps on bags/tripods will get caught on things.
Meh, that's enough for now. Some of these might seem odd or stupid but every single one has come in handy for me. Most of these I've either learned during close calls, have prevented close calls, or are just general urbex experiences most have.
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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dsankt
Location: live and in the fresh
| |  | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 1 on 3/24/2010 6:15 PM >
| | | | Posted by trent
-Make sure you know exactly what that switch on the wall does before you turn it on.
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Killjoy.
sleepycity.net: watch out for the third rail baby, that shit is high voltage. urbex and urban exploration photography |
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trent
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 2 on 3/24/2010 6:24 PM >
| | | | Posted by dsankt
Killjoy.
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That's my middle name. I have had multiple interesting experiences with switch-flipping partners however...
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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KeyGrip
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 3 on 3/26/2010 8:45 PM >
| | | | Care to share any switch-related stories? I'm curious now.
Audaces Fortuna Iuvat |
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wildandgreen
Location: south of the south
Gender: Female
stole my smile from a chesire cat
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 4 on 3/26/2010 11:37 PM >
| | | | Posted by trent
-Rarely one would ever suspect the gentleman wearing a suit as a serial trespasser. I've found that after-work urbex in work clothes is awesome. I'm thinking about buying a thrift store suit for the hell of it. |
thrift stores clothes can lead to some very stylish ue
dance like you can't hear the beat |
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KeinLicht
Location: Pickering, Canada
Gender: Male
I must explore...
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 5 on 3/27/2010 4:16 PM >
| | | | My work clothes are all dusty and dirty, which basically makes them ue clothes already.
I am considering that thrift store suit now...
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trent
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 6 on 3/27/2010 6:27 PM >
| | | | Posted by KeinLicht
My work clothes are all dusty and dirty, which basically makes them ue clothes already.
I am considering that thrift store suit now...
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Yah, typically when I 'spore I'm wearing really crappy cloths I don't mind getting rusty/dirty/torn etc. However, I'm sure I come of looking like a scrapper, homeless, or up to no good.
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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dsankt
Location: live and in the fresh
| | | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 8 on 3/27/2010 8:54 PM >
| | | | Posted by KeyGrip
Care to share any switch-related stories? I'm curious now.
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Why be a spectator, go out and flip your own switches. Fun times.
sleepycity.net: watch out for the third rail baby, that shit is high voltage. urbex and urban exploration photography |
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 9 on 3/27/2010 9:02 PM >
| | | | Posted by dsankt
Why be a spectator, go out and flip your own switches. Fun times.
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Not everyone can explore places with switches (that still do anything).
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rob.i.am
  
Gender: Male
Carpe noctum
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 10 on 3/27/2010 9:07 PM >
| | | | Posted by bfinan0
Not everyone can explore places with switches (that still do anything).
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Of course they can. Sometimes you need to think outside the box.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob666/ |
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 11 on 3/27/2010 9:09 PM >
| | | | Posted by rob666
Of course they can. Sometimes you need to think outside the box.
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I explored an abandoned [railroad] switch today...found to my surprise that it was the only abandonment on the 15km of erie canal i biked.
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trent
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 12 on 3/27/2010 10:08 PM >
| | | | Know how the change in season will change the environment and potentially change how you have to approach your goal.
e.g. I have a location where you're basically walking through people's back yards. In the summer they can't see you from their houses due to the foliage. In the winter all the leave are gone and for the homeowners it's strange to see a homeless-like looking guy walking around their yard with some kind of strange device (a tripod).
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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jjbigups
Location: Boston, MA
Gender: Male
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 13 on 3/29/2010 9:54 AM >
| | | | This is really good stuff.
The one thing I'd mention, mostly just because I want to say something, is in response to:
Posted by trent
-Always take a small little glance around a corner before fully stepping around it. You never know who/what will be there.
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Although this may be a good idea in a lot of situations, it's not necessarily the best thing to do if you're infiltrating. When you exit a room and someone sees you down a hallway, they have basically no idea what room you're coming from. If you walk out like you own the place, they'll assume you own the place.
On the other hand, if you stick your head out to do a back-and-forth, you look suspiciously like someone who doesn't belong there and who doesn't want to be caught. Both of which are true, but you don't have to tell them that.
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trent
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 14 on 3/29/2010 10:17 AM >
| | | | Posted by jjbigups
This is really good stuff.
The one thing I'd mention, mostly just because I want to say something, is in response to:
Although this may be a good idea in a lot of situations, it's not necessarily the best thing to do if you're infiltrating. When you exit a room and someone sees you down a hallway, they have basically no idea what room you're coming from. If you walk out like you own the place, they'll assume you own the place.
On the other hand, if you stick your head out to do a back-and-forth, you look suspiciously like someone who doesn't belong there and who doesn't want to be caught. Both of which are true, but you don't have to tell them that.
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Thanks. I agree with the scenario you described - it may not fit well. The reason I mentioned it was because when I was existing some basement stairs up to the ground level outside, just as I exited a truck drove by and the driver turned and looked at me with a puzzled look. If I were more careful, he'd never see me.
Where I was going with this was that you don't necessarily peak around each corner, but as you walk make sure you're looking ahead/around carefully. Some people walk around a corner and then look. I'm suggesting to be looking and scanning carefully while you're going around the corner.
However, this also give me inspiration for a new tip:
There's no rules to urbex and no certain technique that works every time. Again, the technique must match the location.
[last edit 3/29/2010 7:53 PM by trent - edited 1 times]
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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trent
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
| | | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 15 on 3/29/2010 7:50 PM >
| | | | For finding an entry, start by looking from a far away point and progressively get closer until you find your POE. Only get close unless you actually have to or are making entry.
Start on the internet maps. Determine what areas/sides of the building will be more likely to have a good entry and good cover. Then look at it while driving by, from cross the street, or from a parking lot next door while still drawing absolutely no attention to the location. The goal is to only get as close as you need to and learn as much as you can about the place right up until you have to get very close and enter.
From the distance, pick out 2-3 potential building/security weakness you think you should work on or check out more closely. Even better if they're out of site of people/cars like behind the building or in an alcove (hell, or even roof). Now you can more quickly walk right up to the building and have better a success rate of getting in quick since you have a primary goal and two backup goals instead of just winging it.
What's not suggested is to just walk up with your urbex backpack/tripod/camo pants, walk around the building, looking all around, randomly pulling on boards and doors, looking like what exactly what you are: Some sketchy person trying to break in.
Now of course if the building is a shithole that no one cares about, yah, walk right up there. This is meant more for places that may be a little more risky. Also, there's that urbex saying along the lines of 'the unlocked door is always going to be the one you didn't try'. Yes, you should never write off a potential entry. But, the trick is trying to balance checking every possible entry and picking the perfect successful entry on the first try. You might have to find a nice middle ground. There's always exceptions to the rule though.
[last edit 3/29/2010 7:55 PM by trent - edited 1 times]
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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metalpandalives
Location: Chattanooga/Knoxville, Tennessee
Gender: Male
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 16 on 3/29/2010 8:07 PM >
| | | | If you can, try to bring a good talker. A confident person. The only time I ever brought my extremely confident, well spoken friend we were caught on a roof and he talked us out of it.
Sounds stupid, but it's so true.
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bdgr
Location: Chicago Adjacent
Gender: Male
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 17 on 3/29/2010 9:49 PM >
| | | | Don't lick anything. It may look tasty, but it rarely is.
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MindHacker
Location: Suburbs of DC
Gender: Male
If you spot a terrorist arrow, pin it to the wall with your shoulder.
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 18 on 3/30/2010 2:30 AM >
| | | | Posted by metalpandalives
If you can, try to bring a good talker. A confident person. The only time I ever brought my extremely confident, well spoken friend we were caught on a roof and he talked us out of it.
Sounds stupid, but it's so true.
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Could you give us some example patter? I've talked myself out of being on the wrong side of a locked gate (with a car), but never off a roof... I don't doubt you, I just want tips!
"That's just my opinion. I would, however, advocate for explosive breaching, since speed and looking cool are both concerns in my job."-Wilkinshire |
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metalpandalives
Location: Chattanooga/Knoxville, Tennessee
Gender: Male
| | Re: Random tips.
<Reply # 19 on 3/30/2010 2:37 AM >
| | | | Posted by MindHacker
Could you give us some example patter? I've talked myself out of being on the wrong side of a locked gate (with a car), but never off a roof... I don't doubt you, I just want tips!
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My friend just explained we were only taking pictures, not trying to be destructive. He asked about who owned the building and for their number in case we ever needed to go back. Very friendly and respectful.
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