>>2996373just did upstate NY to Detroit and back. I'm not an urbex guy but almost all the open abandoned homes in Detroit had squatters. Jefferson Chalmers and Mexicantown were just pure gnar. The Packard factory is home to what my local assistant called "Detroit Diamonds", shattered windows. People just hang out around the corner waiting for people to go in and jack shit out of the car all day long. Never saw DPD.
Cleveland was similar but a bit more populated and with more foot traffic for similar weather so it was a bit easier to work.
Pittsburgh was cool. If I was an urbex shooter, Pittsburgh would be my first stop. Lots of industry, not a lot of squatters.
If you just want abandoned homes, rural areas are also very good. I've done some good images in old barns and abandoned homes in the Finger Lakes/Otsego Lake area of upstate NY. Almost 0% chance of squatters once you're 4+ miles from gas stations or post offices. My number one thing if there are cars in the vicinity that look abandoned is to check the license plate registration sticker. Is it valid or expired last year? Possibly still in use and someone mulling around.
