Photographing Abandoned Roadside Attractions with Ken Lee
02/11/25 • 33 min
Night photographer Ken Lee specializes in capturing the beauty of abandoned places through long exposure and light painting techniques. His work has been featured in numerous photography publications, including National Geographic Books, Omni Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Westways Magazine. He has spent years exploring forgotten locations—from deserted buildings to rusting vehicles—bringing them to life with carefully crafted lighting. With a deep appreciation for history and storytelling, Ken transforms these overlooked spaces into mesmerizing works of art.
In this episode, we talk about his new book Abandoned Roadside Attractions. We dive into the world of photographing these forgotten landmarks—how to find them, the ethical considerations of shooting in these locations, and the creative techniques that tell their stories. Ken shares his approach to composition, lighting, and the challenges of working in unpredictable environments. If you’ve ever been drawn to the mystery of abandoned places or want to learn how to capture them in a compelling way, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
Show Notes:
Night photographer Ken Lee specializes in capturing the beauty of abandoned places through long exposure and light painting techniques. His work has been featured in numerous photography publications, including National Geographic Books, Omni Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Westways Magazine. He has spent years exploring forgotten locations—from deserted buildings to rusting vehicles—bringing them to life with carefully crafted lighting. With a deep appreciation for history and storytelling, Ken transforms these overlooked spaces into mesmerizing works of art.
In this episode, we talk about his new book Abandoned Roadside Attractions. We dive into the world of photographing these forgotten landmarks—how to find them, the ethical considerations of shooting in these locations, and the creative techniques that tell their stories. Ken shares his approach to composition, lighting, and the challenges of working in unpredictable environments. If you’ve ever been drawn to the mystery of abandoned places or want to learn how to capture them in a compelling way, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
Show Notes:
Previous Episode
Embracing Sensuality: Boudoir Photography with Christopher P. Baker
Travel writer and photographer Christopher P. Baker has authored more than two dozen guidebooks for National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Time-Life and other major publishers. His photographs and articles have appeared in outlets such as BBC Travel, CNN, National Geographic and Condé Nast Traveler. Having led over 150 group tours to Cuba—including photography tours for Jim Cline Photo Tours, National Geographic Expeditions, and Santa Fe Workshops—Christopher is also recognized worldwide for his deep expertise in Cuban travel.
In this episode, we explore how his extensive background in travel and photography has evolved into his latest ventures: boudoir photography tours to Cuba and an art nude photo book called Sensual Havana. We dive into the details of boudoir photography—addressing its misconceptions, uncovering the artistry behind it, and discussing its potential controversies. If you’ve ever been curious about boudoir or the captivating allure of Cuba, this conversation will broaden your perspective on both.
Show Notes:
- Christopher P. Baker's Website
- Christopher P. Baker Instagram
- Christopher P. Baker's Art-Nude Coffee Table Book: Sensual Havana
- Next Episode: Photographing Abandoned Roadside Attractions with Ken Lee
Next Episode
Turning Art Into Impact: How Liz Powers of ArtLifting Is Changing Lives
Liz Powers, Co-Founder and CEO of ArtLifting, has built an art business that changes lives and communities. She connects photographers, painters, and sculptors - many facing disabilities or housing insecurity - with Fortune 500 clients like Google, Amazon, and PayPal, helping them earn income, gain recognition, and turn their passion into a career.
In this episode, Liz shares the inspiring story behind ArtLifting, how she turned a social mission into a thriving business, and what photographers and visual artists can learn from her journey. We also dive into her ambitious vision for the future - because she’s just getting started.
If you’re passionate about photography, creativity, or how social impact art changes lives, this episode is a must-listen.
Show Notes:
Big Photo Hunt - Photographing Abandoned Roadside Attractions with Ken Lee
Transcript
00:00:00:03 - 00:00:17:06
A lot of times we photograph it during a full moon. So it's it's rather bright because we're using the moon sort of as, as our own softbox or key light. So we can actually see where we're walking as well. And in that way we don't have to use a really high ISO and we can use a pretty long exposure.
00:00:20:14 - 00:00:41:26
Welcome to the Big Photo Hunt Podcast, a show where we talk with aspiring and professional photographers to help us all grow and
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