John Ponchak grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, son to a local entrepreneur. He started exploring abandoned buildings in 2011 and started to photograph them in 2012. As a self-taught photographer, John has worked tirelessly documenting the many abandoned buildings in the area surrounding his hometown. Since 2011, John has captured over 160 buildings in seven states. The primary reason for John’s work is to help preserve historical locations and to tell their stories through pictures. He feels each place has its own unique history and deserves to be heard. John’s other hobbies include kayaking and backpacking. John currently lives in South Carolina.