What Does Urbex Mean?
Urbex means urban exploration. It is the exploration of derelict buildings and other normally unseen parts of the built environment. Abandoned factories and hospitals are familiar subjects, but the term also covers places that are still in use.
UE is another abbreviation for urban exploration. Urbexing means doing it, and an urbexer is an urban explorer. Photography is one way to document these places; it isn't a requirement of the term.
Urbex slang can differ between groups and places. This glossary explains words you may read in reports or photo captions. A description of access does not mean you have permission to enter, and an empty building is not proof that it is safe.
A Glossary of Urban Exploration Terms
There are many terms you can use in urbex photography. We've grouped them by subject so you can find the meaning you need. Several of the specialist terms are documented in the explorer glossary published by Verso Books; they should not be read as a universal code or a set of instructions.
Urban Exploration Locations
- Access – The means of entering a location.
- Active or live site – A place that is still in use.
- Admin – The administration building of a former hospital or asylum.
- ARTS – Abandoned Rapid Transit Stations or Systems.
- Cracking – Exploring a location believed to be a new find. The label does not prove that nobody has visited it before.
- Bricked up – An opening blocked with bricks or cement.
- Crash bar – The push bar on an exit door. An alarm may be connected to it.
- The Fresh – Slang for sewage or being in a sewer.
- Holy Grail – An especially desirable location or exploration.
- Hot – A location attracting attention, including from security or police.
- Infiltration – Exploring without authorized access. Some explorers use it particularly for active sites; Infiltration's dictionary uses it more broadly.
- Picked – A place accessed using lockpicks.
- Portal – The point where an underground transport system emerges above ground.
- Recce – Short for reconnaissance: looking over a place before a visit.
- Rinsed – A place regarded as thoroughly explored or photographed.
- Snipping – Cutting a fence or lock. This is the term documented by Verso, rather than “sniping.” It describes damage, not an acceptable way to obtain permission.
- TOADS – Temporary, Obsolete, Abandoned and Derelict Spaces.
Rooftopping is a niche within the niche area of urbex. You can get some amazing angles from a roof.
Urban Exploration Gear
- DSLR – Digital single-lens reflex camera. It is a camera type, not a requirement for urbex. Mirrorless cameras are another option.
- High-vis – High-visibility clothing, such as a fluorescent vest.
- Overt camouflage – Dressing to appear to belong at a site. Clothing does not establish permission to be there.
What Does Secca Mean? Explorer and Security Terms
Secca means a security guard in urbex slang. For example, a report mentioning “secca on site” is referring to security personnel. The word is recorded in Verso's glossary; do not assume every group uses it.
- Prohobo – Slang for someone camping in an abandoned place with expensive equipment.
- Asylum seeker – In this specific urbex context, an explorer interested in abandoned psychiatric hospitals. Outside it, the phrase has a different meaning.
- Cataphile – An explorer of catacombs, often associated with Paris. The spelling is “cataphile,” rather than “catophile.”
- Rooftopper – An explorer interested in roofs of tall buildings for views or photographs.
- Buildering – Climbing buildings using rock-climbing techniques. It names an activity, rather than a type of photographer.
- Drainer – An explorer interested in drains or sewers. Draining is the activity.
- Lift surfer – Someone riding on top of a moving lift car. This is a dangerous activity, not a photography technique.
- Ninja – Explorer slang for someone skilled at climbing or moving discreetly.
- Noob – An inexperienced explorer or newbie.
- Trojan horse – In this context, someone who enters a site and then lets others in.
Abandoned buildings will often be falling apart, so you need to tread carefully.
Urbex Photography Terms
- Backlighting – Light comes from behind the subject, so the subject is backlit. When it outlines the subject's edges, it creates rim lighting.
- Chimping – Reviewing photographs on the camera screen. Checking a shot can be useful; stay aware of your surroundings while you do it.
- Hero shot – A standout photograph. In explorer slang, it can specifically mean a posed photograph of an explorer at a location.
- Light Painting – Lighting a subject or drawing with a light during a photograph. Light painting uses a long exposure, normally with the camera held steady on a tripod.
- Dirty shot – Slang for a grainy low-light photograph made with a wide aperture and high ISO. A wide aperture is a lens opening, not the same thing as a wide-angle lens. You do not need to set ISO to its maximum.
You can see some unique otherworldly scenes when you go urbexing.
Other Urbex Slang
These terms can appear in older exploration reports. Some describe hazardous or unauthorized actions; knowing the vocabulary is not a reason to attempt them.
- Backcabbing – Riding in a train's rear driving cab, not simply travelling in the last passenger carriage.
- BASE jumping – Parachuting from a fixed object. It is a separate activity, not a necessary part of urbex photography.
- Bait – Behaviour that draws attention to an explorer, including from security or police. It does not always mean a deliberate distraction.
- Blagging – Talking one's way into or out of a situation.
- Buildering – Climbing the outside of buildings, as defined above.
- The Bill – British slang for the police.
- Christmas or Xmas – Explorer slang for a period with little security at a site.
- Masking up – In an exploration report, this may mean covering the face to avoid recognition. It is separate from selecting protective equipment for a specific hazard.
- Usufruct – A legal right to use another person's property. It must actually exist under the applicable law; avoiding damage does not create it. For example, Louisiana's Civil Code articles 535 and 544 define the right and how it is established. It is not a general justification for entering a building.
Here is an example of backlighting against the person.
Common Questions About Urbex Photography
The words describe the activity. Planning a photograph also means checking access, the site's condition, and the equipment suited to the shot.
What Is Urban Exploration Photography?
Urban exploration photography documents the buildings and spaces you explore. It can show abandoned interiors, traces of past use, or views from places with authorized access. You don't need to trespass or climb a building to make exciting photos in this type of photography.
How Do You Photograph Abandoned Buildings?
First confirm that you can visit and where you may go. Abandoned buildings can have damaged floors and roofs. Do not assume that an open door, permission, or protective clothing makes a building safe.
From a permitted, safe position, a wide-angle lens can show the space. Look for textures, leading lines, and details that tell the story of the building. Leave objects where they are rather than moving them to arrange a scene.
What Do I Need for Urban Exploration Photography?
Keep your camera gear light. A camera and a suitable lens are the starting point; a tripod helps with long exposures when its use is permitted. A flash is optional, depending on the light and the look you want. See our guide to what to bring with you for urbex photography for more equipment ideas.
A torch and charged phone are useful, but they cannot make an unsafe location suitable for a visit. There is no single clothing or equipment list that protects you from every building hazard. HSE explains the risks of hidden asbestos and confined spaces, including dangerous atmospheres and flooding. Do not enter drains or sewers for a casual photo outing.
Is Exploring Abandoned Places Illegal?
It depends on the location, access rights, and what you do. A building that looks abandoned is not automatically open to the public. Arrange an authorized visit and check the local rules before entering.
In England and Wales, the Crown Prosecution Service says trespass is not itself a criminal offence, while particular offences involve trespass. That is not a rule for every country or every site, and it does not give you permission to enter.
Light painting is an exciting photography technique, and it can be used in an urbex setting.
Conclusion
Urbex, UE, and urban exploration refer to the same broad activity. The glossary helps you read reports and understand captions, from “secca” to “light painting.” Slang tells you how someone describes a place; it doesn't tell you whether you may enter it.
For more photography opportunities, look for permitted viewpoints and concentrate on light, composition, and the site's story. Our slang guide explains other informal terms used by photographers.