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Vacancy: Documenting the emptiness of abandoned houses and military bases

In his series Vacancy, German photographer Ralph Gräf documents the empty rooms, staircases and corridors of abandoned houses and military bases, all waiting for a new lease of life. Looking at the decay and emptiness, he paints an eery picture of what humans can often leave behind.

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© Ralph Gräf. All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

© Ralph Gräf. All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

Opposing aspects in his images generate real suspense. For instance, the almost clinical cleanliness of some rooms contrasts enormously with signs of dilapidation, while many are flooded with soft light, but contrast heavily with deep shadows. With a symmetric, central perspective – Ralph's photographs reveal the serenity of these interiors. Bright windows, with no visible structures behind them, only add to the mystery.

Ralph was initially captivated by abandoned and decaying buildings more than twenty years ago when he was still living in south Germany. His job-related move to Potsdam in 2006 quickly awoke his interest in the subject again, as the withdrawal of the soviet military forces in Germany, the annulment of the NVA (army of the GDR) and the end of the cold war left behind numerous empty, often historic buildings.

Speaking of his fascination with these places, Ralph said: "When taking photos of such buildings I don't just want to keep records of them. Rather, my aim is to capture the special mood of these abandoned, quiet rooms, which due to their vacancy and darkness evoke associations of an emotional mind trip."

If you love this kind of genre of photography, make sure you visit Ralph's website at www.graef-fotografie.de where he often shares his latest discoveries.

Via direct submission | All images courtesy of Ralph Gräf

Stark interior with patterned wallpaper, white panelled door on left and single wall-mounted lamp casting shadow on right wall
Sparse abandoned room with peeling turquoise walls and a bright window letting in daylight, creating stark contrast with deep shadows in Ralph Gräf's Vacancy series
Dimly lit corridor with white open doors lining dark walls and bright windows casting light through an abandoned building
An atmospheric stairwell with pale green railings ascends through shadowy blue-grey walls, lit by bright windows casting geometric patterns of light and deep shadows
Sparse abandoned room with peeling blue-grey walls, a small wooden stool, and a bright window casting light across the empty floor
Abandoned room with deteriorating ceiling and blue-painted walls, a bright window at the far end casting light across the empty floor
Symmetrical staircase with curved white walls, black railings and multiple windows letting in soft light in an abandoned building
Minimalist interior with sheer curtains framing large windows overlooking an empty room flooded with diffuse daylight, creating an eerie atmosphere of abandonment
Dilapidated Soviet theatre interior with deteriorating ceiling, red velvet curtains, and portrait artwork on stage backdrop beneath Cyrillic text banner
Symmetrical interior of an abandoned room with weathered turquoise walls and a large arched window flooded with bright light, creating stark contrast with shadowy corners and a deteriorating ceiling
A corridor in an abandoned building with dark walls and open doorways revealing empty rooms flooded with natural light from windows, creating stark contrasts between shadow and brightness
Abandoned indoor swimming pool with pale blue water, symmetrical arched ceiling with large oval windows, dark tiled walls and wooden changing cubicles
Symmetrical view down a narrow room with patterned walls and a bright window at the far end, bathed in soft light and deep shadow
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