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I recently saw the article on Bored Panda about liminal spaces and it is something that has been a personal interest for me as well for a long time. Looking at some of the photographs, I do think I sought after the feeling of liminality in them.
The feeling of being in a transition phase, passing from one space to another, whether it be the uncertain state of an abandoned building, which once housed life and now waits for either demolition or refurbishment or the lands beyond massive fells or the depths of whispering forests as if passing over an invisible threshold of the horizon or a boundary within the depth of a forest would take the journeyer to a new world or realm. In psychology, there is a term called "event boundary," which the brain uses to encode information into segments for easier organization and access.
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A classical example of an event boundary is passing through a doorway, whereupon the person oftentimes forgets what was the reason for entering through a doorway. For the mind, the passing over of this boundary creates a definition between what was and what is now. Liminality is also a term that is associated with rites of passage, where the participator no longer holds the pre-ritual status, but the post-ritual status is yet to be achieved.
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Liminality is a state of fluidity, where old orders and meanings of things no longer hold true, and the orders and meanings are yet to be established and are a space where these can be created. Maybe the intrigue of the liminal spaces, the exhilarating yet also terrifying, could be explained by the event boundaries.
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Mary Rose Kent 3 years ago
This looks like the sort of place where you think you know where you’re going and then suddenly you realize you have absolutely no clue as to where you actually are.
Maybe the images hold elements, like a building with an uncertain fate, or what lies beyond the horizon of the forest, are thresholds for the brain to compile information and ready to assess what is coming next. Looking at these images that seem to display liminal spaces stuck in this state where the journey to new information has just begun but has not yet reached wherever they would lead leaves the brain in a state of constant wondering. This is just my interpretation and not saying it's an actual scientific consensus!
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Mary Rose Kent 3 years ago
All of the textures make it look like something out of a Fritz Lang film.
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Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 3 years ago
I put of Lofi music to help the puppy sleep and this image makes it so much better
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VersaceDreams 3 years ago
Story: This place is an abandoned family owned car repair shop that eventually went out of business after being in the family for decades. It's been in this state since 2008 when the family started losing money. No one in the town has batted an eyelash at it, and now it's home to many bugs and critters.
Juuso Voutilainen (Submission author) 3 years ago (edited)
These were the premises of a motorcycle gang if I remember correctly, so not too far off!
Load More Replies... Mary Rose Kent 3 years ago
This looks like the sort of place where people who kidnap little children take them to be held for ransom. [I probably have an overactive imagination and have watch waaay too many movies in my life.]
Draco's Dragonfly 3 years ago
Hahaha I was about to say s.t. along these lines. Your remarks seem really dark! I would be the happy camper frollicking about and you'd be looking for signs of danger. This particular picture, however, does look creepy, but I focus on the birthday flags so it can't be all bad. Right? Right? ....where did you disappear to? Hello? ;)
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What do you think ?
denzoren 3 years ago
I really like posts like this. You don't need any words to feel the pictures. You can feel the warmth or coldness, you can feel the atmosphere as if you're standing there.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
I appreciate this! I was thinking of naming the pictures, but then again I thought that maybe I'll just let the images do all the talking. I'm very glad if they work as intended!
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Sierra P. 3 years ago
Great vibe...urban exploration is underrated imo and pictures like these have a beautiful mix of intensity and anonymity. my favourites are the ones with warm lighting, they're kind of nostalgic but also make me feel like a dust spore observing a still world
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Thank you! I'm glad I could nail the atmosphere
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kristinak911 1 year ago
Beautiful... slightly "otherworldly", stark but stimulating...Not just eye catching, but Mind catching, dream like, and strangely calming, with just a touch of mystery.
Yehudit Hannah Cohn 3 years ago (edited)
Although I didn't always feel the liminality--perhaps even more off-center paths specifically leading nowhere? if you follow me--I liked many of the images: the capturing of light and color is stunning.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Aye, I did post many of these in a sense that I was also searching the feeling of liminality, these are good comments, there is always more to learn! Thank you
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Ellkje0805 3 years ago
Stunning! Such beautiful photographs! Looking forward to your future posts on BP
Kenny Kulbiski 3 years ago
The solitude of the nature photos makes me want to be there. The empty urban ones, for the most part, make me glad I'm not.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago (edited)
Those spaces do express the two modalities of a same feeling. Like you said, in nature mostly solitude and in urban spaces loneliness. Both intriguing in their own right
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Anam 3 years ago
A strange silence took over me. The feeling of being alone, leaves crumbling under feet, serenity mixed with undertones of creepiness. Thoroughly enjoyed the post! It's almost a 3D experience.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
I am so grateful to hear this! The atmosphere you described was pretty much spot on with what I tried to convey
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Lyone Fein 3 years ago
These are fantastic photographs. I wish you could have given some brief descriptions to clue us in regarding the locations.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Thank you! I was thinking about some brief descriptions, but then I thought I'd just leave them to be interpreted by the observer. I have been giving brief descriptions in the comments when people have asked though!
Load More Replies... Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago
These are fantastic. I believe that to do this kind of photography well you need to have the ability to look at places with a different kind of eye/observation. I have found that it requires a level of concentration and presence like nothing else. I can't describe the headspace I'm in when I take photos like this. I don't find it, it finds me.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago (edited)
Thank you! I think it sometimes it's more like places and moments are waiting for someone to discover them rather than someone discovering the places and moments
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Miz Melatonin 3 years ago
These are just the type of places I love to go muck around in.... I didnt know there was a name for it. I always thought I was just weird
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Urban exploration is the term for checking out abandoned buildings, if you were thinking that! I'd guess liminality is more of a feeling which can come from any place, natural or manmade, as long as it has these qualities of being a threshold space
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Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Truth, I did not maybe nail it perfectly in all of the posts. That image certainly gives this kind of an uneasy feeling, like awaiting for something to happen so that the stagnation displayed would go away. Amazing example!
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Cécile V. 3 years ago
We have seen so much about these remote places or abonded that it is getting boring. It pleases the photographer, congratulations
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
My photos don't always connect with all of the people, and that is okay, I do agree that there are plenty of posts that might be similar, but then again I would imagine there's room for different interpretations of similar things. Thanks for checking out the article and dropping the comment!
Load More Replies...
Aedan B. 3 years ago
most of these arent even liminal spaces lol. like, dope photography! dont get me wrong! but i think photographer has mistaken "abandoned places" with "liminal spaces". a liminal space is a space believed to exist in between dimensions that carries over both existences, where the expected hits the unexpected. most of these dont really do that. a completely abandoned forest is expected. a dilapidated building is expected. e.g. a walmart at 3am is a liminal space. a playground closed up or at 6am before kids get there is a liminal space. heck, even early pics from chernobyl before it got overtaken by nature is considered a liminal space. most of these pics are just... abandoned or already naturally empty places. the liminal spaces in the linked article are impeccable. these seem to miss the mark of the meaning. love the photography tho. the misty look the photogrpaher got has rly got an eerie surreal look. very ace!!
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago (edited)
Hi there and thank you! You have some good points here, and I do agree with them, like with example the Walmart at 3 am and or playground waiting for kids to come there, these are actually very good examples. Though I guess the experience of a liminal space can be differing for every experiencer. I did try to explain my experience as well as I could in the description. I appreciate your constructive criticism, and I do agree that a "correct" liminal space (if such exists) could be closer to what you described.
Load More Replies... denzoren 3 years ago
I really like posts like this. You don't need any words to feel the pictures. You can feel the warmth or coldness, you can feel the atmosphere as if you're standing there.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
I appreciate this! I was thinking of naming the pictures, but then again I thought that maybe I'll just let the images do all the talking. I'm very glad if they work as intended!
Load More Replies... Sierra P. 3 years ago
Great vibe...urban exploration is underrated imo and pictures like these have a beautiful mix of intensity and anonymity. my favourites are the ones with warm lighting, they're kind of nostalgic but also make me feel like a dust spore observing a still world
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Thank you! I'm glad I could nail the atmosphere
Load More Replies... kristinak911 1 year ago
Beautiful... slightly "otherworldly", stark but stimulating...Not just eye catching, but Mind catching, dream like, and strangely calming, with just a touch of mystery.
Yehudit Hannah Cohn 3 years ago (edited)
Although I didn't always feel the liminality--perhaps even more off-center paths specifically leading nowhere? if you follow me--I liked many of the images: the capturing of light and color is stunning.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Aye, I did post many of these in a sense that I was also searching the feeling of liminality, these are good comments, there is always more to learn! Thank you
Load More Replies... Ellkje0805 3 years ago
Stunning! Such beautiful photographs! Looking forward to your future posts on BP
Kenny Kulbiski 3 years ago
The solitude of the nature photos makes me want to be there. The empty urban ones, for the most part, make me glad I'm not.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago (edited)
Those spaces do express the two modalities of a same feeling. Like you said, in nature mostly solitude and in urban spaces loneliness. Both intriguing in their own right
Load More Replies... Anam 3 years ago
A strange silence took over me. The feeling of being alone, leaves crumbling under feet, serenity mixed with undertones of creepiness. Thoroughly enjoyed the post! It's almost a 3D experience.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
I am so grateful to hear this! The atmosphere you described was pretty much spot on with what I tried to convey
Load More Replies... Lyone Fein 3 years ago
These are fantastic photographs. I wish you could have given some brief descriptions to clue us in regarding the locations.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Thank you! I was thinking about some brief descriptions, but then I thought I'd just leave them to be interpreted by the observer. I have been giving brief descriptions in the comments when people have asked though!
Load More Replies... Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago
These are fantastic. I believe that to do this kind of photography well you need to have the ability to look at places with a different kind of eye/observation. I have found that it requires a level of concentration and presence like nothing else. I can't describe the headspace I'm in when I take photos like this. I don't find it, it finds me.
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago (edited)
Thank you! I think it sometimes it's more like places and moments are waiting for someone to discover them rather than someone discovering the places and moments
Load More Replies... Miz Melatonin 3 years ago
These are just the type of places I love to go muck around in.... I didnt know there was a name for it. I always thought I was just weird
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Urban exploration is the term for checking out abandoned buildings, if you were thinking that! I'd guess liminality is more of a feeling which can come from any place, natural or manmade, as long as it has these qualities of being a threshold space
Load More Replies... Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
Truth, I did not maybe nail it perfectly in all of the posts. That image certainly gives this kind of an uneasy feeling, like awaiting for something to happen so that the stagnation displayed would go away. Amazing example!
Load More Replies... Cécile V. 3 years ago
We have seen so much about these remote places or abonded that it is getting boring. It pleases the photographer, congratulations
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago
My photos don't always connect with all of the people, and that is okay, I do agree that there are plenty of posts that might be similar, but then again I would imagine there's room for different interpretations of similar things. Thanks for checking out the article and dropping the comment!
Load More Replies... Aedan B. 3 years ago
most of these arent even liminal spaces lol. like, dope photography! dont get me wrong! but i think photographer has mistaken "abandoned places" with "liminal spaces". a liminal space is a space believed to exist in between dimensions that carries over both existences, where the expected hits the unexpected. most of these dont really do that. a completely abandoned forest is expected. a dilapidated building is expected. e.g. a walmart at 3am is a liminal space. a playground closed up or at 6am before kids get there is a liminal space. heck, even early pics from chernobyl before it got overtaken by nature is considered a liminal space. most of these pics are just... abandoned or already naturally empty places. the liminal spaces in the linked article are impeccable. these seem to miss the mark of the meaning. love the photography tho. the misty look the photogrpaher got has rly got an eerie surreal look. very ace!!
Juuso Voutilainen (Post author) 3 years ago (edited)
Hi there and thank you! You have some good points here, and I do agree with them, like with example the Walmart at 3 am and or playground waiting for kids to come there, these are actually very good examples. Though I guess the experience of a liminal space can be differing for every experiencer. I did try to explain my experience as well as I could in the description. I appreciate your constructive criticism, and I do agree that a "correct" liminal space (if such exists) could be closer to what you described.
Load More Replies... You May Like “View From My Window”: 30 Mesmerizing Scenes People Snapped Right From Their Windows 50 Times People Were So Taken Away By The Beautiful Scenery, They Just Had To Snap A Pic Of It 86 Photography Hacks To Take Your Photos To The Next Level
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