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Photographers find beauty in 'states of decay'

By Cydney Fisher, Special to CNN

Updated 1657 GMT (0057 HKT) December 3, 2013

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The cover photo for "States of Decay," a photo book by Daniel Barter and Daniel Marbaix, was shot in a cathedral in Pennsylvania during their photographic exploration of the northeastern United States.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Photos: 'States of Decay' – The cover photo for "States of Decay," a photo book by Daniel Barter and Daniel Marbaix, was shot in a cathedral in Pennsylvania during their photographic exploration of the northeastern United States.
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For "States of Decay," the photographers traveled through America's Rust Belt, a geographic term used to describe the economic decline of America's industrial heartland. They found a rack of forgotten bowling shoes in an old asylum in New York.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Asylum, New York – For "States of Decay," the photographers traveled through America's Rust Belt, a geographic term used to describe the economic decline of America's industrial heartland. They found a rack of forgotten bowling shoes in an old asylum in New York.
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They explored parts of central New York state, where they found this room with a view in an abandoned Masonic lodge.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Masonic lodge, New York – They explored parts of central New York state, where they found this room with a view in an abandoned Masonic lodge.
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<a href="http://www.easternstate.org/" target="_blank">Eastern State Penitentiary</a> in Philadelphia closed in 1971, making for eerie pictures of cellblocks from the defunct prison.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania – Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia closed in 1971, making for eerie pictures of cellblocks from the defunct prison.
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The photographers declined to provide a specific location for most of the sites they visited, including this asylum in upstate New York, citing "exploring ethics."
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Asylum, New York – The photographers declined to provide a specific location for most of the sites they visited, including this asylum in upstate New York, citing "exploring ethics."
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These dusty boots are just a few of the forgotten artifacts they found in this coal-breaking plant in Pennsylvania.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Coal breaker, Pennsylvania – These dusty boots are just a few of the forgotten artifacts they found in this coal-breaking plant in Pennsylvania.
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This shot was taken in a chapel in New York.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Chapel, New York – This shot was taken in a chapel in New York.
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The photographers took pleasure in exploring abandoned structures like this grain silo in upstate New York for the perfect shot.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Grain silo, New York – The photographers took pleasure in exploring abandoned structures like this grain silo in upstate New York for the perfect shot.
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Each room and hall of this defunct sanitarium in New York was ripe for exploration, the photographers say.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Sanitorium, New York – Each room and hall of this defunct sanitarium in New York was ripe for exploration, the photographers say.
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Their explorations brought them to this desolate theater in Connecticut.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Theater, Connecticut – Their explorations brought them to this desolate theater in Connecticut.
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The photographers say they didn't stage photos for this series, making this arrangement of televisions in a New York hotel all the more curious.
Photos: Photos: 'States of Decay'
Hotel, New York – The photographers say they didn't stage photos for this series, making this arrangement of televisions in a New York hotel all the more curious.
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