Nicole Rork, photographer extraordinaire, has a certain disregard for danger. Say there's an old abandoned building with a sign that says "Warning: Do Not Enter" Chances are Nicole will enter with her trusty camera (and crow-bar) close at hand. What does this mean for the rest of us? Often-times a macabre look into the past, the present, and an insightful look into the future.

Born in Hong Kong and reared in Wayne, MI, Nicole finds her way into the forgotten buildings of near-by Detroit and breathes new life into them. Using her camera as a medium, she invites the rest of the world to glimpse what she dares to experience full-on through her "urban-exploration."   Nicole also frequents abandoned insane asylums all around Michigan and plans to head out East to take a look at what the old institutions out there have to offer. Apart from her creative photography in the creepy-building field, Nicole is also gaining renown in the world of music promotion, web-design, and varying sorts of illustration.

Because of her persistence, hard work, and creativity, Nicole has plenty of options for her future. In the mean-time, she'd like to share a very important aspect of her life with you: her photography. So take a look around and enjoy the unique angle from which she views life as is expressed in her art.

I started this website in the fall of 2004 to document the various places and abandonments I've explored in Detroit.  As my interest in this hobby expanded, I sought more than just what Detroit had to offer.  I began traveling all over the Midwest looking for new places and history to uncover.  One of my main goals in life was to find beauty in everything and share it with others;  and I found it.  Welcome to my dream.

None of the photographs have been processed as HDR.  I do not manipulate any of my photographs, they are straight off the camera with the exception of straightening/cropping.

All photographs on this site are copyrighted by Nicole Rork and may not be used without permission.  If you are interested in prints, send me an email at

How do you find all of these abandoned buildings?
Researching, libraries and making friends with other explorers.

Can I come with you sometime?
Probably not.  I usually explore with a small group of tight-knit friends.

How do you get into all of these buildings?
With my ninja skills

What kind of camera do you use?
Canon