While fascinating and mysterious, abandoned places and objects are not usually known for their joyful appearance or radiant colours. But apply HDR photography techniques and suddenly the reinvigorated colours and contrasts are enough to bring even the most dreary building or wrecked vehicle back to life.

The old mining settlement at Bodie in California is arguably America’s best preserved ghost town. Dating back to the 1800s, the town is frozen in a state of “arrested decay”, looked after as a historic park but not restored to its original state. This makes Bodie both authentic and mysterious, with original fixtures in the buildings remaining untouched since their occupiers deserted them.

Ghost towns abound across the world but seldom are they more intriguing than in western United States, where former mining towns played host to the pioneers of their day. Other towns grew up around the railroad, as civilisation gradually spread from the eastern seaboard to the Wild West. Reasons for their abandonments are wide and varied, from the inherent lawlessness of the era to the depletion of natural resources. Whatever the reasons, ghost towns provide a fascinating glance into our history.