
These are the haunting images of crumbling churches, overgrown synagogues and eerily silent chapels that have long been abandoned by man.

Explorer Matthias Haker, a 31-year-old photographer, from Potsdam, Germany, scours the globe in search of empty buildings that were once used for prayer, to take his pictures.

Adding to the general intrigue of the snaps, Mr Haker never discloses the location of his shot and even refuses to say which town, country or continent they are in.

Explorer Matthias Haker from Germany scours the globe looking for abandoned places of worship to photograph. He has named this shot 'Gods Forgotten Palace'

An image Mr Haker has named the 'Old Synagogue' which shows overgrown plants growing around the crumbling walls

The photographer never reveals the location of where he shot his pictures and won't even disclose the country or continent

An image called 'No More Preaching, No More Prayers' which was shot by Mr Haker as part of his photography project of abandoned places of worship

He says he keeps the locations secret to 'simply protect them' and believes people should be allowed to use their own imaginations to envisage what a location was like.

He also creates informative and powerful names for his images - such as 'Silent Prayers', 'The Golden Chapel' and 'The Parish is Gone'.

Mr Haker explained: 'In general I'd say my work is all about beauty.

'Even though I can understand the sadness that overcomes people when seeing those buildings in the desolate state they are in, I usually do not try to express sadness, creepiness or anything like that in my work.

Mr Haker says he keeps the locations secret to 'simply protect them' and believes people should be allowed to use their own imaginations to envisage what a location was like

In the past Mr Haker has mapped out complete tours of abandoned locations, only to arrive and find that some buildings have been torn down or are impossible to enter

'The process of ageing and dereliction is just fascinating and absolutely beautiful to me.

'For that reason I don't like muted colours pictures that look frightening due to the dark tones.'

In the past Mr Haker has mapped out complete tours of abandoned locations, only to arrive and find that some buildings have been torn down or are impossible to enter.

The colourful walls of this abandoned place of worship remain despite the face it was left to crumble many years ago

Despite the nature of the buildings being old and crumbling, Mr Haker says he tries to bring out vibrant emotions in his photography

Though aging, decaying buildings - and images of them - may stir feelings of sadness, he tries to bring out more vibrant emotions in his photography.

He added: 'The structures that come to life through the aging or even death of a building - the reconquering of Mother Nature are just plain beautiful I think.