'Claire got murdered!' Dog stars in amazing photos which tell stories about the abandoned places where they were taken

  • Three-year-old bull terrier travels the world with her owner Alice to seek out abandoned buildings and vehicles
  • Dutch photographer and dog owner, Alice van Kempen, researches the places at home before choosing locations
  • The idea came after a trip to the abandoned town of Doel which inspired Alice to take up her hobby more seriously

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Meet the globetrotting dog who visits abandoned places and poses for photographs.

Three-year-old bull terrier, Claire, travels the world with owner Alice van Kempen, 48, to seek out abandoned buildings and vehicles. 

Dutch photographer, Alice, has visited countries including Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, in pursuit of her passion for urban exploring, taking her pooch as her trusted companion.

This shot was taken in an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Belgium. Alice writes: 'Claire got murdered' as she poses beside wellington boots

This shot was taken in an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Belgium. Alice writes: 'Claire got murdered' as she poses beside wellington boots

Claire poses for a photograph as she stands ironing a colourful tea towel in an abandoned farmhouse in the Netherlands

Claire poses for a photograph as she stands ironing a colourful tea towel in an abandoned farmhouse in the Netherlands

This empty train carriage in Belgium proved to be the perfect location for a glamorous shot featuring Claire in a fur scarf

This empty train carriage in Belgium proved to be the perfect location for a glamorous shot featuring Claire in a fur scarf

Alice travels the world seeking out abandoned buildings and vehicles to photograph and pursue her passion for urban exploring

Alice travels the world seeking out abandoned buildings and vehicles to photograph and pursue her passion for urban exploring

Ready for take off: Piloting a deserted plane in Belgium, the pooch poses wearing green tinted aviators in the captain's seat of the aircraft

Ready for take off: Piloting a deserted plane in Belgium, the pooch poses wearing green tinted aviators in the captain's seat of the aircraft

Alice, who has worked as a freelance dog photographer since 1998, said: 'From day one I had a connection with Claire. [She] loves modelling, she really does - I've never seen a bull terrier or even another dog like her.

'She's brilliant too - she sometimes has to sit absolutely still for seconds at a time without blinking or making the slightest movement.

'Everything about bull terriers is unique; their egg-shaped head, the piercing glint in their coal black eyes, their strong bodies and their fun-loving attitude.'

Dutch photographer, Alice, has visited countries including Luxembourg, Belgium (pictured) and the Netherlands, taking Claire with her

Dutch photographer, Alice, has visited countries including Luxembourg, Belgium (pictured) and the Netherlands, taking Claire with her

Alice, who has worked as a freelance dog photographer since 1998, snaps away as her dog washes some clothes in a Netherlands tub

Alice, who has worked as a freelance dog photographer since 1998, snaps away as her dog washes some clothes in a Netherlands tub

The 48-year-old photographer said: 'Everything about bull terriers is unique; their egg-shaped head, the piercing glint in their coal black eyes, their strong bodies and their fun-loving attitude.'

The 48-year-old photographer said: 'Everything about bull terriers is unique; their egg-shaped head, the piercing glint in their coal black eyes, their strong bodies and their fun-loving attitude.'

This stunning forsaken castle in Belgium appears to be in beautiful condition still. Claire perches on a ledge and stares down at a dirty doll

This stunning forsaken castle in Belgium appears to be in beautiful condition still. Claire perches on a ledge and stares down at a dirty doll

In the same castle, this room has seen better days. The ceiling droops down above Claire who sits beside a teddy bear on a luxury sofa

In the same castle, this room has seen better days. The ceiling droops down above Claire who sits beside a teddy bear on a luxury sofa

Claire looks as though she is burgling an abandoned cafe in Luxembourg in this shot. Kitted out with a black mask, the pup looks like she has been caught red-handed in this image

Claire looks as though she is burgling an abandoned cafe in Luxembourg in this shot. Kitted out with a black mask, the pup looks like she has been caught red-handed in this image

Alice got the idea of photographing Claire after a trip to the abandoned town of Doel inspired her to take up the hobby more seriously.

'It's not an idea that I had straight away, one day a little over two years ago I went to a ghost town in Belgium called Doel.

'It was my first introduction to urban exploring and I soon got the idea it would be interesting take photographs of Claire at these locations.

'I always feel safe with Claire at my side because I know she can protect me if it comes to that.'

Claire sits in the bathroom of a run down retirement home and she poses with a toilet brush. Alice said that the pup is 'extremely patient' and sometimes has to sit still for longer periods of time to get the right shot

Claire sits in the bathroom of a run down retirement home and she poses with a toilet brush. Alice said that the pup is 'extremely patient' and sometimes has to sit still for longer periods of time to get the right shot

Alice got the idea of photographing Claire after a trip to the abandoned town of Doel (pictured) inspired her to take up the hobby

Alice got the idea of photographing Claire after a trip to the abandoned town of Doel (pictured) inspired her to take up the hobby

The three-year-old bull terrier travels the world with Dutch photographer Alice van Kempen (pictured: abandoned plane in Belgium)

The three-year-old bull terrier travels the world with Dutch photographer Alice van Kempen (pictured: abandoned plane in Belgium)

Alice researches locations from home, taking her time to achieve the perfect image (Claire pictured in a farmhouse in Belgium)

Alice researches locations from home, taking her time to achieve the perfect image (Claire pictured in a farmhouse in Belgium)

Here Claire is pictured preparing herself to clean the property - which happens to be a deserted farmhouse in Luxembourg

Here Claire is pictured preparing herself to clean the property - which happens to be a deserted farmhouse in Luxembourg

Alice researches shoot locations from home, taking her time in her pursuit of the perfect image.

She said: 'As for the pictures I take, preparation starts at home.

'I search for new locations on the internet and I've also got a list of buildings and places I want to visit. When I've decided where I want to go, I start looking at pictures taken by other photographers for a bit of inspiration.'

X-rays and old leather satchels remain scattered around this old doctors surgery in Belgium which was used for a photo by the duo

X-rays and old leather satchels remain scattered around this old doctors surgery in Belgium which was used for a photo by the duo

Praying in an abandoned chapel: Claire appears to be focused on a wreath of dead flowers leaning against a wall in Belgium 

Praying in an abandoned chapel: Claire appears to be focused on a wreath of dead flowers leaning against a wall in Belgium 

In an abandoned monastery in Belgium, the bull terrier is positioned beside a set of wooden rosary beads and a confession box

In an abandoned monastery in Belgium, the bull terrier is positioned beside a set of wooden rosary beads and a confession box

Sitting in a dusty and rusted children's pram in an abandoned villa, the dog stares out of the window which is no longer covered by drapes

Sitting in a dusty and rusted children's pram in an abandoned villa, the dog stares out of the window which is no longer covered by drapes

Alice takes scarves, hats, handbags, necklaces, glasses and tools as accessories for the shoots. (Above: Claire in an abandoned home in Belgium)

Alice takes scarves, hats, handbags, necklaces, glasses and tools as accessories for the shoots. (Above: Claire in an abandoned home in Belgium)

In a villa, the pooch looks out of the window as she sits beside a newspaper and an old birds cage in the time-forgotten room

In a villa, the pooch looks out of the window as she sits beside a newspaper and an old birds cage in the time-forgotten room

Alice added: 'This is to get an idea how Claire can be photographed as sometimes I take accessories with me - I've got a collection of scarves, hats, handbags, necklaces, glasses and tools.

'Finding a new location is great fun but getting inside is where the real fun starts.

'Claire and I have crawled underneath fences, climbed walls, jumped through windows but lots of times the door is open.'

Beside a rusty wheelchair and discarded teddy bear, Claire poses wearing a stethoscope and glasses in this old nursing home in Belgium

Beside a rusty wheelchair and discarded teddy bear, Claire poses wearing a stethoscope and glasses in this old nursing home in Belgium

In an abandoned castle in France the pup sits in shards of light splayed across the darkened room

In an abandoned castle in France the pup sits in shards of light splayed across the darkened room

Looking fabulous: the smiling pooch poses in rollers and a blonde wig beneath a hair dryer in an old farmhouse in the Netherlands

Looking fabulous: the smiling pooch poses in rollers and a blonde wig beneath a hair dryer in an old farmhouse in the Netherlands

Alice has taken her time mastering and refining her techniques but admits she's learned more in the last two years than ever before.

She said: 'Once we're inside we check the building from top to bottom and I always start photographing the best spot in the house first.

'This type of photography is totally different to what I'm used to do but I've learned more about photography in the last two years then I ever have before.' 

Alice has taken her time mastering and refining her techniques but admits she's learned more in the last two years than ever before

Alice has taken her time mastering and refining her techniques but admits she's learned more in the last two years than ever before

Alice said: 'Once we're inside we check the building from top to bottom and I always start photographing the best spot in the house first'

Alice said: 'Once we're inside we check the building from top to bottom and I always start photographing the best spot in the house first'

'This type of photography is totally different to what I'm used to do,' Alice added. (Pictured: Claire beside an old music player in Belgium)

'This type of photography is totally different to what I'm used to do,' Alice added. (Pictured: Claire beside an old music player in Belgium)

Looking a little stressed, the young pooch perches on a pew as she waits for the doctor in this former surgery in Belgium

Looking a little stressed, the young pooch perches on a pew as she waits for the doctor in this former surgery in Belgium

In Luxembourg, the three-year-old pet takes a rest on a bed which is covered in spider webs that have thickened over time

In Luxembourg, the three-year-old pet takes a rest on a bed which is covered in spider webs that have thickened over time

In a derelict monastery in Belgium, Clare stares out of the window as she sits in a left behind wheelchair in a dusty second floor room

In a derelict monastery in Belgium, Clare stares out of the window as she sits in a left behind wheelchair in a dusty second floor room

 

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