“Beauty Among the Ruins” by Carol Mossa

In this month's "Photographers to Watch" spotlight, we're delighted to showcase the evocative work of Carol Mossa. Mossa's photography is distinguished by its haunting examination of abandonment and decay, brought to life in her deeply compelling series on urban exploration, or "urbex" photography. Through her lens, Mossa captures the solemn grandeur of structures that time has forgotten, from crumbling asylums to deserted farmhouses, each image a window to a world suspended in a silent tableau of decline and endurance. Her approach is rooted in, as she describes, “finding beauty among the ruins.” With each photograph, Mossa invites us into spaces that resonate with the echoes of past lives, encouraging a moment of reflection on the stories embedded within the peeling paint and overgrown hallways. She explains, "I am constantly moved by these haloed spaces, by their ruin and their beauty. I hope my viewers will take a moment to honor the individuals who lived and even perished in some of these buildings.”

About the Photographer

Mossa's journey into photography began unconventionally. A former high school English teacher, newspaper columnist, and author, she initially took up photography to capture her daughter's equestrian competitions. This personal project eventually expanded into a profound engagement with the visual arts, leading her to the world of urbex photography in 2017. Since then, Mossa has been dedicated to documenting these forsaken places, each visit deepening her commitment to this poignant art form. To see more of Mossa’s work, visit her Instagram account @carolmossa2021.