Stages of Decay, A Beautiful Book Featuring Photography of Abandoned Theaters by Julia Solis

Stages of Decay is beautiful photo book of abandoned theaters by photographer and urban exploration pioneer Julia Solis. In her research for the book, Solis photographed more than 100 theaters in America and Europe, from grand performance palaces to school auditoriums. Stages of Decay is available for pre-order on Amazon. The book releases on April 25, 2013.

Ruins symbolize the transitory state of human endeavors and show that even our strongest barriers against the forces of nature will one day crumble and collapse, even fortresses made to withstand whole armies and cathedrals designed to raise the spirit from the earthly muck into the heavens. No matter how grandiose, all would succumb to the dark embrace of rot, pulling the physical building back into the cycle of nature, inevitably ending with decay and decomposition. By touching on these powerful sentiments and becoming a visual reminder of mortality, ruins are the embodiment of drama.

For more on Stages of Decay, check out the write-ups by Laughing Squid partner John Law and Flavorwire.