Photos of abandoned Soviet spaces and facilities cast an eerie beauty | CNN

Photos of abandoned Soviet spaces and facilities cast an eerie beauty

By Sheena McKenzie, for CNN
3 minute read
Updated 8:41 PM EDT, Thu April 20, 2017
Franco-German photographer David de Reuda's series "The Line" captures many abandoned Soviet buildings -- with haunting results. The 28-year-old spent six weeks on the road as part of the assignment run in partnership with Nikon. <br />"Under the congress room of Buzludzha, I discovered a place that seemed to be from another planet," said De Rueda of this image. "I used my torch to light it up and discovered everything was covered with ice."
Central Balkan Mountains —
Franco-German photographer David de Reuda's series "The Line" captures many abandoned Soviet buildings -- with haunting results. The 28-year-old spent six weeks on the road as part of the assignment run in partnership with Nikon.
"Under the congress room of Buzludzha, I discovered a place that seemed to be from another planet," said De Rueda of this image. "I used my torch to light it up and discovered everything was covered with ice."
Courtesy David de Rueda
The town of Pripyat is just a few miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Following the catastrophic 1986 explosion, the town's population fled -- leaving schools and hospitals to decay. <br />"This room caught my eye with its colors and decaying plant life," said De Rueda of the waiting room at Pripyat Hospital."You get the sense that time has frozen here."
Pripyat, Ukraine —
The town of Pripyat is just a few miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Following the catastrophic 1986 explosion, the town's population fled -- leaving schools and hospitals to decay.
"This room caught my eye with its colors and decaying plant life," said De Rueda of the waiting room at Pripyat Hospital."You get the sense that time has frozen here."
Courtesy David de Rueda
"I asked myself how I could capture the famous Pripyat ferris wheel from a new and original point of view. Luckily, my wish to have some snow was fulfilled, providing a dreamy ambiance that totally changed Pripyat," said De Rueda."Positioning myself on a rooftop next to the wheel, I finally captured the picture I was looking for."
Frozen Ferris Wheel —
"I asked myself how I could capture the famous Pripyat ferris wheel from a new and original point of view. Luckily, my wish to have some snow was fulfilled, providing a dreamy ambiance that totally changed Pripyat," said De Rueda."Positioning myself on a rooftop next to the wheel, I finally captured the picture I was looking for."
Courtesy David de Rueda
"This is inside the cooling tower of a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl that was never completed," explained De Rueda.
Chernoboyl Nuclear Power Plant —
"This is inside the cooling tower of a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl that was never completed," explained De Rueda.
Courtesy David de Rueda
"This is a former cafe in Pripyat. I wanted to highlight the beautiful glass work and create something unique with a long exposure and light painting," explained De Rueda."We constructed one main source of light inside the building, a second light behind the Pripyat sign to create a sense of depth and a third one illuminating the cafe's original sign."
Cafe Culture —
"This is a former cafe in Pripyat. I wanted to highlight the beautiful glass work and create something unique with a long exposure and light painting," explained De Rueda."We constructed one main source of light inside the building, a second light behind the Pripyat sign to create a sense of depth and a third one illuminating the cafe's original sign."
Courtesy David de Rueda
"This picture was taken in a disused experimental power facility near Moscow, which was closely guarded by half a dozen dogs. After a little persuasive discussion, the caretaker let us in," said De Rueda."As the sun was setting, I had a few minutes to find the perfect point of view. A chance bird flying overhead added further poetry to the scene."
Moscow Power Station —
"This picture was taken in a disused experimental power facility near Moscow, which was closely guarded by half a dozen dogs. After a little persuasive discussion, the caretaker let us in," said De Rueda."As the sun was setting, I had a few minutes to find the perfect point of view. A chance bird flying overhead added further poetry to the scene."
Courtesy David de Rueda
"Next to the Pripyat Cafe is the old bus station. It has this fascinating glass room built on the roof," added De Rueda."I wanted to create something graphic using a long exposure and light painting. This is also a self-portrait."
Self Portrait —
"Next to the Pripyat Cafe is the old bus station. It has this fascinating glass room built on the roof," added De Rueda."I wanted to create something graphic using a long exposure and light painting. This is also a self-portrait."
Courtesy David de Rueda
"On the second day in Pripyat, I had the chance to witness a sunrise from the top of Pripyat's highest building, the Fujiyama," said De Rueda."Sun rays ran in the middle of the dead city, bringing the whole place back to life for a few short seconds."
Sun Dust —
"On the second day in Pripyat, I had the chance to witness a sunrise from the top of Pripyat's highest building, the Fujiyama," said De Rueda."Sun rays ran in the middle of the dead city, bringing the whole place back to life for a few short seconds."
Courtesy David de Rueda
"In Budapest, I explored this derelict train graveyard," said De Rueda."Located in the middle of an active train depot, I felt like a child escaping reality to walk for a few hours in an imagined world of steel monsters."
Budapest, Hungary —
"In Budapest, I explored this derelict train graveyard," said De Rueda."Located in the middle of an active train depot, I felt like a child escaping reality to walk for a few hours in an imagined world of steel monsters."
Courtesy David de Rueda
Iceland's south coast, though not part of the former Soviet, also held an impressive wreck -- for those willing to make the journey.<br />"Somewhere in a deserted area of Iceland's south coast lies this long-forgotten wreck of a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. I arrived there at 4am and, as we waited, polar lights gradually appeared on the horizon," explained De Rueda."I admired this magic show until dawn and used a 90 second exposure, with some light painting added inside the plane, to capture this image."
Polar Lightshow —
Iceland's south coast, though not part of the former Soviet, also held an impressive wreck -- for those willing to make the journey.
"Somewhere in a deserted area of Iceland's south coast lies this long-forgotten wreck of a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. I arrived there at 4am and, as we waited, polar lights gradually appeared on the horizon," explained De Rueda."I admired this magic show until dawn and used a 90 second exposure, with some light painting added inside the plane, to capture this image."
Courtesy David de Rueda
Alien dreamscapes: The eerie beauty of abandoned Soviet spaces

Editor’s Note: ‘The Silk Road: Past, Present, Future’ travels east to west along this ancient trade route, exploring how traditional culture, arts, and trade have developed in the 21st century.

Story highlights

Photographer David de Rueda went on a six week road trip across former Soviet

Captured abandoned city of Pripyat, once home to the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

CNN  — 

The site of one of the 20th century’s worst nuclear disasters probably isn’t on most people’s list of ideal road trip destinations. But then, most people aren’t urban explorer David de Rueda.

The photographer spent six weeks documenting abandoned Soviet spaces – from train graveyards in Hungary, to icy congress rooms in Bulgaria, and even cooling towers at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

The devastating 1986 Chernobyl explosion forced over 50,000 residents to flee the nearby town of Pripyat – and it was here that De Rueda set out with his camera.

We spoke to the 28-year-old Franco-German photographer about his project – called “The Line” – and the strange allure of abandoned Soviet architecture.

Describe Pripyat, the abandoned city near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station.

Spending four days in a completely deserted and overgrown city is such a memorable experience; there was so much to see that I could have spent a whole month wandering around.

Visiting in the middle of winter also made everything more eerie. The whole place is completely silent; there are no birds, and no sounds – the atmosphere is really striking.

"The oven appears to have exploded in the center of the room and destroyed everything around it," said De Rueda of the derelict Pripyat Hospital.
"The oven appears to have exploded in the center of the room and destroyed everything around it," said De Rueda of the derelict Pripyat Hospital.
Courtesy David de Rueda

Are you concerned about radiation poisoning?

Of course, I asked myself whether it’d be safe to stay there for a few days. Actually, radioactivity is relatively low, so it was no problem to spend some time in Pripyat.

Areas with higher radiation levels are more restricted.

As an urban explorer, what’s in your backpack?

I like to travel light. I have a Nikon D810 full frame camera with a wide angle lens – the perfect choice for urban explorers because they are very good in low light situations.

I also have a few flashlights, spare batteries, and a small tripod. When it comes to special explorations, sometimes I need a rope, a GPS, or even a boat!

How did a flashlight become your ‘secret weapon?’

I love the ambiance of these places at night. I feel almost in another world when I’m exploring under the full moon. The light is incredible and gives a new dimension to the location.

I also like shooting when it’s completely dark because it allows me to create my own lighting, with flashlight and long exposures. There’s no limit to creativity.

"Linnahall is a former concert hall in Tallinn, Estonia. With a two minute exposure, I could reveal the architecture of the place, which otherwise sat in darkness," said De Rueda.
"Linnahall is a former concert hall in Tallinn, Estonia. With a two minute exposure, I could reveal the architecture of the place, which otherwise sat in darkness," said De Rueda.
Courtesy David de Rueda

Why do we find apocalyptic scenes so bewitching?

These scenes often look like something from another world, they seem unreal. I think the fascination with these places comes from there. They make people dream.

How does snow influence the feeling of a photo?

Snow gives a whole new dimension to a place. It looks different, the light is also very different. Two scenes in my series are covered in snow. They look much dreamier and unreal.

De Rueda also ventured beyond the former Soviet. "This is an abandoned radar station in the mountains of Italy. After almost three hours of walking through snow 50cm deep, we reached these huge frozen antennas," he said.
De Rueda also ventured beyond the former Soviet. "This is an abandoned radar station in the mountains of Italy. After almost three hours of walking through snow 50cm deep, we reached these huge frozen antennas," he said.
Courtesy David de Rueda

Do you have a favorite discovery?

Discovering the two prototype Soviet Buran spacecraft deep in the Kazakhstan desert was the most epic experience I’ve ever had.

It was a real adventure to get there, and to be able to take photographs of them was the ultimate reward. The feeling when I saw the nose of one of the shuttles with my flash light in the middle of the night was truly indescribable. This huge abandoned hangar is located in Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is still used to launch Soyuz rockets today.

What would you like to see happen to these abandoned buildings?

Some places are so amazing to explore that I’d like to see them frozen in time forever. But everything goes back to dust, that’s how it works.

Some buildings really deserve to be restored, it’s heartbreaking to see such architectural jewels fall into disrepair.

What site would you most like to gain access to?

I’d like to go to Japan, where there are many interesting places to see. There’s a ghost island there called Gunkanjima that I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time.

Breathtaking ruins of Soviet Space Shuttle Program

For $35 million, you can be a cosmonaut

Dreamland decay: The final moments of a forgotten theme park