Urban Decay

Trained photographers often use children or scenic places as subjects. A cheery smile or an epic sunset makes for a great framer. But, one local photographer has found a passion for taking snapshots of some unexpected things.

Jason Baker, born and raised in Boston, calls himself an urban ruins photographer – meaning he takes pictures of abandoned buildings and decaying places. His interest in capturing remains of American history has taken him to decrepit hotels, power plants and prisons. He’s even compiled the rotting images into a few books which share pages with horror stories.

The job not only appears creepy, but could be dangerous and illegal. There’s bound to be asbestos, unsteady ceilings and creaking floors in the schools, insane asylums and hospitals that have been vacant for decades.

But The Teller thinks Baker’s most bizarre asset is the fact that he has a MySpace page. MySpace, really? Sure, he’s got a bare bones website, but it’s clear he’s spent most of his time bulking up that MySpace page with images and info. Forget Twitter and Facebook, why should Barker start conforming now? His insistence on using Myspace echoes the vacant, tumbleweed-infested spaces he photographs – the young and hip haven’t been using MySpace in years, either.

Baker might actually be onto something here. With vacancy numbers on the rise, this recession could be a boon for Mr. Baker’s business. Forget old hospitals and prisons – it’s only a matter of time before he sets his sights on empty office buildings and foreclosed homes.