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Hey! Today we’re diving into some seriously strange and kinda spooky photos. These are liminal spaces - that’s fancy talk for those in-between places like empty hallways, deserted malls, or lonely roads at dusk. They look normal... but also kinda off. Let’s check ’em out!
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I’m a real estate photographer and sometimes I find these amazing time capsules. This one? Totally stuck with me.
The oldest part of my medieval village in Italia. I’m loving this liminal photography group - you’ll too!
So why do these places feel so weird but fascinating? Some brainy folks at Cardiff University think it’s like the 'uncanny valley' - you know, when something’s almost familiar but just a bit off, and that messes with your brain. These spaces look normal but aren’t quite right, and that’s what makes them feel creepy yet captivating.
About an hour before dusk, the forest suddenly shifted into this cold blue hue. No filter. Just pure magic.
Picture a school classroom after everyone’s left. You’ve seen it packed with noise and chaos, but empty? It feels like something’s missing, right? Researchers call that a "failure of presence." It’s our brain going, "Wait, this isn’t how it’s supposed to be!"
My girlfriend was deep asleep while I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a two-hour spooky walk around our hotel - not a soul in sight. Total silence, total eerie vibes. Here’s Johnny.
This vending machine at my work? Every time I see it at night, it gives me such a surreal, almost sci-fi vibe.
Some experts say liminal spaces mess with your sense of place. They’re spots where things usually change or where people just pass through, so when you stop and look, you get this weird disoriented vibe that can feel a little spooky.
But not all empty spots are liminal spaces! Your bedroom when empty doesn’t really count because it’s yours and you notice all the little stuff. Liminal spots are public or shared places like airport bathrooms or hotel hallways where people don’t stick around. Paying attention to these makes you feel like you’re sneaking into a secret world.
The view from my son’s bed while I’m tucking him in. Quiet, simple, and a little mysterious.
Old Logan Cemetery in Logan, Ohio. This spot gives off some serious liminal and spooky vibes.
These spaces got super popular back in 2019 when the creepy "Backrooms" story blew up online. Think endless hallways with buzzing fluorescent lights and no signs of life - a straight-up maze of weirdness that people freaked out over (in a good way!).
Lone Live Oak tree on Oat Mountain Road, Chatsworth, California. Nature hitting the liminal feels.
Then the pandemic happened, and suddenly we all lived in a liminal world - empty streets, quiet homes, nowhere to go. That made us notice these spaces even more, and we started sharing photos like crazy.
So why do people love these eerie, empty places? Turns out they can be spaces to think and reflect, kind of like a pause button for life. Liminal spaces invite curiosity and maybe even a little adventure.
In a world that can feel super chaotic, these quiet, in-between spots offer a weirdly calming place to just be. They're like a secret nod to the fact that we’re all just passing through life’s doorways, one weird step at a time.
Found this completely silent and empty tunnel nine floors underground in London - totally liminal and eerie.
This is what the inside of an abandoned Chuck E Cheese looks like - nostalgia and liminal vibes mixed.
There’s this particular area in the Park City Mall, Lancaster PA, that always felt super liminal and just a little creepy to me.
It was raining at 3 am. I looked down my street at the cul-de-sac and thought, this is something special.
Classic shot of The Big House at Malabar Farm in Lucas, Ohio. Beautiful and a little lonely.
Somewhere way down in the Ozarks... this spot just feels like it’s hiding something mysterious.
Dragon City Mall in Calgary, Alberta. Worth a visit if you want to catch liminal energy in the wild.
On my way home from my overnight shift, I stopped out of the rain and sent this to my boyfriend. Hope you like it as much as I do!
My company bought a new building and we haven’t moved in yet. Pipes froze and the place flooded. I was the first to go in to let the gas company in. Wild experience.
My flight got canceled and I got to crash here for free. If you’ve played the game Control, you’ll know the vibe.
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