PRISON BREAK, Fujifilm goes Urbex at Loos (Lille-France)

Last month, I spend some time in prison, well kind of... Originally an abbey, the H-15 prison in Loos, part of Lille (France), has been deserted since early 2012 and has since become a popular spot for Urbex (Urban Exploration) photographers from all over the region. 

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

A few holes in the wall surrounding the prison, make for a relatively easy entrance. And no, I did not see any "photography not allowed" signs...

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

I guess all prisons have kind of a mysterious feel to them, but since it was a very windy day, the sound of cracking roofs and slamming doors definitively added to the overall spooky atmosphere!

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

Even though I didn't see anybody else while I was there, looking at the amount of graffiti, I was clearly not the first one to visit the penal institution since its closure date.

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

One can only imagine what life behind bars is like...

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

As often is the case for Urbex photography, the roughness of the scene, makes for great HDR (High Dynamic Range) images. 

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

In order to be mobile and fast moving, a lightweight mirrorless camera system, was definitively the way to go! All images were made with the trusty Fujifilm X-T1 and the Fujinon 10-24 f4 wide-angle lens. 

One of my favourite images shot outside, was the one below of the prison's football pitch which was clearly in need for some grass-cutting. 

Prison break - Loos, Lille (France)

For more images of Lille; the 5th largest metropolitan area in France, click here, and more Urbex photography can be found here.

Remember: "One of the many things one learns in prison, is that things are what they are and will be what they will be" - Oscar Wilde

Happy shooting,

BJORN

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