Internet Research

'There is a small town in Pennsylvania called Ashland where Route 61′s northbound traffic is temporarily branched onto a short detour. Exactly what the detour is circumventing is not immediately clear to travelers, however few passers-by pay it any mind… a detour is nothing unusual. But anyone who ignores the detour and ventures along the original route 61 highway will soon encounter an abrupt and unexplained road closure. Beyond it lies a town filled with overgrown streets, smoldering earth, and ominous warning signs. It is the remains of the borough of Centralia.' (http://www.damninteresting.com/the-smoldering-ruins-of-centralia/)

The Smoldering Ruins of Centralia

I found this article particularly interesting, I love the fact that the city is in complete ruins, and that it is on fire underground! It is definitely a source of inspiration for my post apocalyptic city, Melpomenia!

Paradise Parking 17 - Peter Lippmann

 I came across the work of Photographer Peter Lippmann and was very excited with his Paradise Parking set. I love the look of old technology, and old cars are certainly a thing of beauty! It is sad in a way to see them in this state, but I feel the images are all the more poignant for it. It made me consider using older looking technology within my narrative. Whilst looking at the article on these photographs,(http://www.treehugger.com/culture/old-cars-reclaimed-nature-are-simply-stunning.html)
I was surprised to read the comments that had been left. About 50% were applauding how beautiful they were, and the other half were outraged that they could be leaking contaminants into the soil! Personally, it looks to me like nature has embraced these beauties! However, the idea of nature embracing machine was interesting! See http://www.peterlippmann.com/lippmann3/menu.html 
for more images!

Photograph from Chernobyl

'On April 26, 1986 a power plant in the Ukrainian city of Chernobyl suffered what is considered to be the worst nuclear plant accident in history. Radioactive nuclear fallout was pumped into the atmosphere and the entire city had to be evacuated. The city is uninhabitable and was left completely deserted. Nature, however, has thrived in the absence of humans for the past 20+ years.' http://www.natureisawesome.net/nature-consumes-radioactive-chernobyl/

Chernobyl -http://blog.gessato.com/2011/04/28/chernobyl-25-years-later/

When I think of a deserted city, the first to come to mind is Chernobyl. I find it fascinating that Chernobyl is unfit for habitation due to high levels of radiation, yet the images we see show nature thriving. It really is a warning to the future. I feel that as I am setting my story in this sort of environment, it will be useful to look at images from Chernobyl.

Chernobyl by MattBR