I am looking for some interesting places in Boston to take photographs of. Mainly, I am looking for grungy looking places with a lot of graffiti, or basically some abandoned places which have good looking but run down textures.

October 12, 2007 10:45 AM

I am looking for some interesting places in Boston to take photographs of. Mainly, I am looking for grungy looking places with a lot of graffiti, or basically some abandoned places which have good looking but run down textures.

I am looking for some interesting places in Boston to take photographs of. Mainly, I am looking for grungy looking places with a lot of graffiti, or basically some abandoned places which have good looking but run down textures. (example: http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8388/sonicsyndicate2006mn4.jpg)

I want to do a series of photoshoots that involve bright/perky looking models against grungy backgrounds of buildings, walls and etc.

I haven't lived in Boston for too long so I am looking to explore some places that will be photo friendly. I also live atop the train station on blue line so I hope to get to these places via the MBTA.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.

posted by cheero to media & arts (8 comments total)

Some of the best graffiti is alongside the mass pike where the commuter rail runs. Getting down there is the tricky part but it is definitely grungy enough for you.
posted by pwally at 10:53 AM on October 12, 2007

Take a look along the outbound side of the Blue Line. There's a ton of graffitoed buildings in East Boston after Orient heights.
posted by Gungho at 11:00 AM on October 12, 2007

Some of the older and non-gentrified buildings in Fort Point would fit the bill. A Street, Drydock Ave. Or the rail yard near BU.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:17 AM on October 12, 2007

I seem to recall a lovely little pocket of decay on the water between the Charlestown and Zakim bridges. I'm not sure how accessible it is, though. I've only ever looked at it from the bridge.
posted by dreadpiratesully at 1:14 PM on October 12, 2007

There is some good stuff near the Neponset river bridge on the bike path (way down the west side toward the end of the bike path near here) when you start going under bridges and stuff, it is kind of dark but gives you that spooky run down feel.

Also from 14 beacon (a building down town near the state house) if you go up a couple floors (use the steps) and look out the windows there are some very strange looking old school chimney things that look pretty sweet.
posted by stilgar at 1:53 PM on October 12, 2007

Walk down the commuter rail tracks near Porter Square. Don't get hit by a train.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 3:38 PM on October 12, 2007

Boy, if you could expand your geographical horizons a bit, you're not that far from a lot of Massachusetts and Merrimack River mill towns such as Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill, which are loaded with the kind of venues you seek. One of my favorites, reachable from Boston by public transportation, is Waltham, where I used to live, that has a number of sites along the Charles River, in the south of the city, that you'd love.
posted by paulsc at 4:48 PM on October 12, 2007

There are a bunch of old factory buildings, many slowly rusting away, along Hyde Park Avenue and Business Street, where Hyde Park becomes Readville.

No subway access, but you can get there on commuter rail (to Readville) or bus from Forest Hills (you want a bus to Wolcott Square).
posted by adamg at 7:48 PM on October 12, 2007