So here's the thing, I get asked this question all the time. Well, not exactly this question, but something close. People email me photos of their living room and ask "which one of your prints would work here?" and honestly? Half the time I'm staring at their beige couch thinking "literally any of them would be an upgrade from that blank wall situation you've got going on."
But the real question beneath all that is actually kinda fascinating: do you want your space to feel like an escape, or do you want it to feel like a story?
Because that's really what it comes down to when you're choosing between mountain landscape wall art and abandoned buildings photography. They're both fine art photography prints. They're both (hopefully) high quality. But man, they do completely different things to a room.
Mountains: The "I Need to Breathe" Vibe
Let's start with the obvious one. Mountain landscapes are... well, they're mountains. (Profound, I know. You're welcome.)
But seriously, when you hang large landscape wall art featuring peaks and valleys and all that majestic nature stuff, you're basically telling everyone who walks into your space: "Hey, I value peace. I value perspective. And yes, I've probably thought about moving to Colorado at least once."
Mountains have this way of making you feel small in the best possible way. Not like "wow I'm insignificant and nothing matters" small (though, I mean, sometimes that too), but more like "okay maybe my work deadline isn't the end of the world" small. It's grounding. It's that reminder that there's a whole massive world out there beyond your email inbox and your neighbor's barking dog.
Mountain landscape wall art works in spaces where you want to feel calm. Living rooms where you actually want to relax (not just scroll TikTok). Home offices where you need to remember why you're doing all this work in the first place. Bedrooms where you want to wake up and feel like anything's possible, or at least like getting out of bed isn't the worst thing ever.
Abandoned Buildings: The "Tell Me a Story" Energy
Now. Abandoned buildings photography? Whole different beast.
This is for people who like things a little... edgier. A little more mysterious. People who want their guests to walk in and go "wait, what's the story behind that?" instead of "oh, pretty mountains."
There's something about a structure that humans built, used, loved, and then just... left. It's haunting in the best way. These buildings were something once, a factory, a church, a home, and now they're slowly being reclaimed by nature. Vines growing through broken windows. Paint peeling off walls that used to matter to someone. It's beautiful and sad and fascinating all at once.
I got into shooting abandoned places kind of by accident, actually. I would drive by some place that was left alone and think, hmmm, I wonder what's the story behind that building. I would see something like an old warehouse off the highway. Boarded up windows, graffiti, the whole nine yards. And I don't know what possessed me (probably too much gas station coffee, or just my sense of adventure), but I would get an extreme urge to pull over and just... started shooting.
The light coming though dirty window pains in those perfect dusty floors beams, and the thought would hit me. Someone used to walk by this window every day. maybe looked out and dreamed of their life, or watch a bird in the nearby trees. Maybe they sat next to it and wrote a poem about nature. And now it's just... here quiet and alone.
That's what abandoned buildings photography brings to a space, it brings story. It brings texture and grit and this sense that everything is temporary, which sounds depressing but is actually kind of freeing? Like, if this building that was probably built to last forever eventually fell apart, then maybe I don't need to stress so much about my kitchen renovation being perfect.
So Which One Fits YOUR Space?
Okay, here's where I'm supposed to tell you definitively which style is "right" for you, but honestly? It depends. (I know, I know, super helpful, Sarah.)
Mountain landscape wall art is your jam if:
- You want your space to feel open and airy
- You're going for that "Scandinavian minimalist but make it cozy" vibe
- You need a visual reminder to chill out and get some perspective
- Your space already has a lot going on and you need something calming to balance it out
- You're trying to create a sanctuary vibe (home offices, bedrooms, meditation spaces)
Abandoned buildings photography is calling your name if:
- You like a little edge and mystery in your decor
- Your style is more industrial or eclectic
- You want art that starts conversations
- You appreciate the beauty in imperfection
- Your space could use some texture and depth (think lofts, creative studios, modern offices)
Here's the thing though, and this is gonna sound like I'm trying to sell you something (because, well, I am a business owner and rent isn't free), but the real answer is: whichever one makes you feel something.
I've seen mountain prints look incredible in edgy industrial lofts because they created this beautiful contrast. I've seen abandoned building photos work perfectly in otherwise minimal spaces because they added just enough interest without overwhelming everything. Rules are meant to be broken, don't ya think?
The Photo Lindley Difference (AKA Why I Do This)
Look, I'm not gonna pretend I'm the only photographer out there shooting mountains and old buildings. There are literally thousands of us. Some of them are way more technically skilled than me. (It's true, and I'm secure enough to admit it.)
But here's what I do bring to the table: I'm obsessed with capturing that "first-time" feeling. That moment when you see something and it just... hits you differently. When you're not thinking about your to-do list or what's for dinner or whether you remembered to lock the door. You're just there, fully present, taking it in.
Whether it's a mountain peak catching the first light of day or an abandoned church with light streaming through broken stained glass, I'm always chasing that feeling. And then I want to bring it into your space so you can feel it too, every single day.
Because honestly? That's what fine art photography prints should do. They shouldn't just fill a blank wall (though let's be real, that's nice too). They should change how you feel in your space.
Making the Choice
Still stuck? Here's what I tell people: close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in your space at the end of a really long day.
Do you want to look up and feel like you could just breathe, like you're standing on top of a mountain with endless sky around you? Go with mountain landscape wall art.
Or do you want to look up and feel intrigued, like you're discovering something mysterious and beautiful that makes you think about time and stories and all the impermanent things we build? Grab some abandoned buildings photography.
Neither choice is wrong. Both can be stunning. Both can transform your living room, your office, your bedroom from just "a room" into "a space that feels like you."
And hey: hot take here: you could always get both. Hang them in different rooms. Let your living room be your mountain sanctuary and your home office be your gritty, creative abandoned building energy. Your house, your rules.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day (and yes, I know that's a cliché, but clichés exist for a reason), choosing between mountain landscapes and abandoned buildings comes down to one question: What do you want to feel when you're home?
Do you want to escape to somewhere peaceful and vast? Or do you want to be reminded that beauty exists in unexpected places: even in things that are broken and forgotten?
Me? I love shooting both. Mountains remind me that there's always something bigger than my problems. Abandoned buildings remind me that nothing lasts forever, so I might as well appreciate the beauty while it's here.
Plus, let's be honest: my walls would be pretty boring if I had to pick just one style. And life's too short for boring walls.
If you want to see both styles in action (and judge my photography for yourself), check out my portfolio. And if you need help figuring out what would actually work in your space? Shoot me a message. I promise I'll be more helpful than "it depends." (Probably.)
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with another sunrise tomorrow at 4 AM. Please Send coffee.
