Abandoned palaces in Poland make for haunting images

By Barry Neild, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 9:03 AM EDT, Mon July 28, 2014
Polish photographer Patrycja Makowska takes incredibly detailed shots of ruined buildings but refuses to divulge their location.
Forgotten grandeur —
Polish photographer Patrycja Makowska takes incredibly detailed shots of ruined buildings but refuses to divulge their location.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Makowska began shooting about 12 years ago after visiting a ruined castle in Muszyna in southern Poland.
Hole in the roof —
Makowska began shooting about 12 years ago after visiting a ruined castle in Muszyna in southern Poland.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Makowska says she doesn't want people to find the location of her images because "these places are destroyed and devastated, it's better for them to have been forgotten."
Blue ballroom —
Makowska says she doesn't want people to find the location of her images because "these places are destroyed and devastated, it's better for them to have been forgotten."
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Many of Makowska's images are given enigmatic names. This photograph, possibly of a derelict church, is titled "Darkness."
'Darkness' descends —
Many of Makowska's images are given enigmatic names. This photograph, possibly of a derelict church, is titled "Darkness."
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Occasionally Makowska's images feature abandoned objects -- such as an old armchair -- that give them a poignant, human touch.
Abandoned objects —
Occasionally Makowska's images feature abandoned objects -- such as an old armchair -- that give them a poignant, human touch.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
This image of two windows under a vaulted ceiling veined with decay is enigmatically titled "Ethereal Dreams."
'Ethereal Dreams' —
This image of two windows under a vaulted ceiling veined with decay is enigmatically titled "Ethereal Dreams."
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Another room, another abandoned object. This time a mottled old rocking horse in what perhaps could have been a very ornate nursery.
Rocking horse —
Another room, another abandoned object. This time a mottled old rocking horse in what perhaps could have been a very ornate nursery.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Makowska, who lives in Warsaw, says she now wants to turn her lenses to nature, particularly "mountains, meadows and sea."
Crumbling corridor —
Makowska, who lives in Warsaw, says she now wants to turn her lenses to nature, particularly "mountains, meadows and sea."
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Many of Makowska's images feature sunlight shafting through windows or roof holes to pierce the dust and gloom.
Shafts of light —
Many of Makowska's images feature sunlight shafting through windows or roof holes to pierce the dust and gloom.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Makowska's former career as a history teacher may have helped the detailed research she carries out to track down her abandoned subjects.
Swirling staircase —
Makowska's former career as a history teacher may have helped the detailed research she carries out to track down her abandoned subjects.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
"The location of these places is hard work, the research involves maps, historical books and old guides and talking to people who live in the areas of the buildings," Makowska says.
Studying the past —
"The location of these places is hard work, the research involves maps, historical books and old guides and talking to people who live in the areas of the buildings," Makowska says.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Makowska says she began shooting with old Russian analog cameras, but has since acquired more modern Nikon and Canon gear.
Forgotten corners —
Makowska says she began shooting with old Russian analog cameras, but has since acquired more modern Nikon and Canon gear.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Makowska says she also wants to tackle human subjects. "This would be a breakthrough for me because so far my work hasn't involved any people or portraits," she says.
From places to people —
Makowska says she also wants to tackle human subjects. "This would be a breakthrough for me because so far my work hasn't involved any people or portraits," she says.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
As with many of Makowska's photographs, this image, titled "Everything Will Fill With Light," could almost be a painting -- although the graffiti is a giveaway.
"Everything Will Fill With Light" —
As with many of Makowska's photographs, this image, titled "Everything Will Fill With Light," could almost be a painting -- although the graffiti is a giveaway.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Another image with an enigmatic name. This is "Symphony of Destruction."
'Symphony of Destruction' —
Another image with an enigmatic name. This is "Symphony of Destruction."
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
This image, titled "Memories of Days Gone By" contrasts the unreal aquamarine and copper color scheme of the elaborate interior with the brightly lit, natural greens of the trees outside.
'Memories of Days Gone By' —
This image, titled "Memories of Days Gone By" contrasts the unreal aquamarine and copper color scheme of the elaborate interior with the brightly lit, natural greens of the trees outside.
Courtesy Patrycja Makowska
Stunning photos of secret derelict palaces

Story highlights

Former history teacher Patrycja Makowska specializes in photographing dereliction

Makowska refuses to reveal the location of the buildings, saying they should be forgotten

Her images show vast ornate ballrooms, swirling spiral staircases and elegant chapels strewn with rubble

CNN  — 

Patrycja Makowska likes to give enigmatic names to the extraordinarily beautiful photographs she shoots of crumbling palaces.

But that’s not where the enigma of her work ends.

Despite creating alluring images of abandoned buildings, she’s determined to keep their locations a mystery.

“Places reflect our soul, tell the forgotten story of love, disaster, war, as well as ordinary life,” Makowska, a former history teacher from Poland, tells CNN as she tries to explain her shroud of secrecy.

“Everything passes, even the power of past times is often forgotten. And that’s why I don’t give any addresses, because often these places are destroyed and devastated, it’s better for them to have been forgotten.”

Not, however, forgotten by Makowska’s cameras.

She uses old analog Russian photo equipment and lenses, plus some more modern Canon and Nikon equipment to create images that pay homage to the original grandeur of these baroque structures.

With otherworldly titles such as “Ethereal Dreams” and “Lost Under the Surface,” her photographs have an unrealistic quality more closely associated with paintings – but the incredible detail on display would take more than a lifetime’s worth of brushstrokes to recreate.

‘Urban explorers’ journey through abandoned buildings

Swirling spiral staircases

The images show vast ornate ballrooms, swirling spiral staircases and elegant chapels strewn with rubble.

Sunlight shafts bore in through broken windows or holes in roofs. Sometimes an abandoned toy or chair adds a poignant human touch to the dereliction.

Makowska, who lives in Warsaw, took up photography about 12 years ago. Her first subject was a ruined medieval castle in the southern Polish town of Muszyna. During stays in the UK and Iceland she says she realized there was “magic” in forgotten places and began seeking them out in her home country.

Finding her subjects takes effort, she says.

“The location of these places is hard work, the research involves maps, historical books and old guides, and talking to people who live in the areas of the buildings.”

Her refusal to identify where these buildings will at least prevent them from becoming “ruin porn” destinations – a status deplored by some places trying shake off economic decline.

Makowska, who now works in IT, says she has been inspired by people’s reactions to her work into pursuing further projects.

On her list is nature photography – “mountains, meadows and sea” – and documenting “URBEX,” the sometimes risky global trend of urban exploration that occasionally involves trespassing on dangerous structures.

She also wants to tackle human subjects.

“This would be a breakthrough for me because so far my work hasn’t involved any people or portraits.”

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