DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Convicted Urbex Photographer now selling NFTs of his work

Oct 15, 2021 by Alex Baker Add Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Urbex photographer Isaac Wright AKA DrifterShoots was caught and arrested for breaking and entering felonies across several states. Now he’s grounded and is selling his series Where My Vans Go as NFTs, becoming one of the highest valued photographers in the crypto art world.

Wright’s urban exploring began 3 years ago after leaving the military. A former paratrooper and highly trained, he served several tours including Afghanistan and the Middle East. An exemplary soldier who, according to a New York Times interview, was “there for everyone” was discharged on medical grounds after an ankle injury prevented him from participating in parachute exercises. According to the article in the Times he was later diagnosed with PTSD and depression.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Drift (@driftershoots)

Wright had never intended to become an urbex photographer, or in fact, even a photographer, it was an urge that needed to be met.

I got this itch one night to drive to Houston. I saw this construction site, and made my way up 50 floors. I had the world in my hands. I felt so incredibly small. Every mental stress was completely gone.

Wright says that after leaving the military he was disillusioned and struggling to cope, and climbing helped his mental health. He went on to travel across the United States, sneaking into buildings, bridges, stadiums and towers, documenting his climbs anonymously on his Instagram account, blissfully unaware that a multi-state police operation was mounting for his arrest.

Wright was eventually tracked down after climbing the 170 foot Great American Tower in Cincinnati. Wright was on his way down the tower while police officers were on their way up. He was arrested in Arizona in December 2020, with a sky-high bail amount that was later reduced to $10,000.

Urbex photography is a niche but popular pastime. However, there are dangers involved beyond the legalities. The risk of injury and potential loss of life is very real, particularly when entering construction sites, old buildings and standing on very tall structures.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Drift (@driftershoots)

Wright is adamant that his was a “victimless crime” although police reports state that he had used implements to break into and enter buildings, damaging property in the process. He continues that similar crimes are met with misdemeanours, and as a black man in the US, he can’t help but think that his skin colour contributed to the charges and treatment he was subjected to.

Now though, Wright is unable to climb and has set his sights on another lofty goal: selling his images as NFTs, and he’s already one of the highest-selling photographers in the virtual art realm. One of his images is currently selling for 420 Ethereum, that’s equivalent roughly to $1.6 million. Yes million. Wright says that it’s an exciting time for new or unknown artists and that NFTs are enabling the world to judge whether work is good or not, not just the “old guard”.

“It’s putting power back in the hands of artists,” he told one37pm in a recent interview. “By giving artists financial freedom, you’re only investing back in better art. Turning artists into entrepreneurs, investors, business people.” He is also planning to release the series of images as a book in the near future and hopes one day to be able to climb again.

“Not everything that’s illegal is immoral,” he says, “what if it is bringing something wonderful into the world and inspiring and helping people?”

[via Petapixel]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

I analysed 50 top landscape photographers selling NFTs on foundation. Here’s what I learned Photographer finds his stolen Canon Dream lens selling on eBay for $65,100 Urbex photographer Eric Paul Janssen dies after falling from Chicago hotel Philadelphia urbex photographer killed after flash flooding swept her away

Filed Under: news Tagged With: illegal photography, NFTs, urbex

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.net

About Alex Baker

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

« 7Artisans releases their new 25mm f/0.95 lens for APS-C mirrorless and MFT
“Great Joy” launches full-frame 60mm T2.9 1.33x Anamorphic lens and 1.35x Anamorphic adapter »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Here’s a bullet time video booth you can build yourself
  • Ricoh has discontinued the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited silver lens
  • This “stellar flower” unravels the twilight’s evolution in 360 degrees
  • Strobes vs Continuous LEDs – Which is right for you?
  • Wave goodbye to Apple’s My Photo Stream next month

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy