Jacinta is an urban explorer. She photographs abandoned and derelict sites on her Olympus M10 Mark II Mirrorless camera and often on her phone.
While I love photographing these places, the experience itself is as important to me as the photographic record I make. I don’t do much editing when I take photos, preferring to leave the images as natural as possible. The site is the hero of my images, not camera techniques. The existing lighting in these derelict places is really interesting, with strangely beautiful shadows and contrast. Damaged walls, dirty, smashed and boarded up windows also create amazing lighting effects.
When asked if she thinks she will stop urban exploring any time soon, Jacinta said, NO! I will probably do it forever! Just like people with the urge to seek out galleries, my friends and I have the urge to seek out derelict spaces. When you think about it, it’s not that different. These spaces arguably share similar exhibition, lighting and spectacle qualities.
As a young artist, I feel I have a lifetime ahead of me. People might see being 18 as a disadvantage, but being this young means I have many years ahead of me to continue doing what I love and progress to where I want to be.
Check out Jacinta’s extended story at Hoodie Mag.