City Roofscape at Dusk

Original view with a great combination of lines and corners. Also the yellow light and the dark blue sky gives a pleasure to view. Always thinking when looking at pics like this, that what was on the shooters mind when he/she took it? But still, is it even good to know?

If I may go on with Tero's thoughts so my take on this were following: I would consider this as an exercise in framing and proper POV. The first impression gave me an illusion there were light emitting machinery on the roof, but actually just very carefully executed framing as there is a skyscraper far away, just carefully aligned in small details. Most connection is done by the front window and the masses of reflecting windows, but just notice how the left hand vertical row of windows matches with the end of the lower horizontal pipe. The same goes to details on the left side, that skyscraper there is also anchoring to the ventilation gadgets on the roof. Don't say this was just a casual snap-shot taken in a hurry... ;-)

OK Tero Just remember you asked for this :)

 

This was part of a view out of a window in a stairwell of an old hotel in Toronto. I was walking down the stairs and the scene in the background of this shot caught my eye. It was very late afternoon and the setting sun was catching the windows of a bunch of banking towers. Those shots I'm still working on but I'll attach a first run at one to this post. This photo was a bit of an after though I was originally attracted to the lines and also the weirdness of those contraptions on the roof. They remind me of Dr. Seuss books which I read as a child.

 

For myself and knowing a bit about your approach, I would say possibly also for you , taking photographs seems to be divided into two approaches. The first which we both seem fond of, is to get an idea or devise and experiment and then go out and find subject material that this idea or experiment works on. The second approach would be to take the camera out and let the environment move you. Of course both of these methods are at work at the same time, it is just a matter of which one it was that got me off of the couch. I was in Toronto to see some musicians and I had and afternoon to fill. I walked around and just let the situation dictate my shooting. If something caught my eye I took some shots. I almost never get out of the woods these days so it was great fun to see all the interesting possibilities that city streets can offer.

Thanks for the detailed analysis. I was typing up a response to Tero as you were posting your comment. You are correct this was not a snapshot. I saw this scene whilst leaving my hotel and went back upstairs and got my camera and tripod to set up and record the sunset against some buildings. I was waitings to see how the sun would change before setting so had plenty of time to see what other compositions might be found in this scene.Exactly as you said I found the juxtaposition of the towers with the roof top objects created a kind of visual puzzle.

 

Sometimes my first thoughts are much different than what comes with a moments pause. In the first moments that I tried to compose this I thought it was a shame that those bank towers were messing up my composition and then I realised that they could become a big part of the composition.

It was really interesting to know what was on your mind. And i guess (HOPE) i learnt something from your response. As you know that i dont have a long history in this hobby so every kind of little things teach me more than most of us, that is why i am pleased you cared to answer for this. Thanks MENTOR :)

I may have been around for a few more years than you but that does not stop me from learning new ways of shooting and of seeing the world from looking at your work and asking you questions. I'm glad we both have this to share!

And now as i found your path to "real critique world", what keeps me here anymore... only that i havent yet figured how to follow you there :) LOL... And now i will leave some space to others to write comments also. Have a great weekend.

Fine shot and interesting discussion. I would only add that much of the tension in the image comes from the slightly crooked, old-fashioned brick chimney. Its skewed posture is a delightful contrast to the modern steel-and-glass rigidity of the skyline. Regards, Joe

the right window, its simple curtain on a string, at odds with the modern glass on the buildings behind and yet it's warm yellow light matching the skyscrapers'. One photo, many stories. Work well done! Cheers -

I wish you luck with that. Maybe you could just ask and promise to behave yourself LOL

Thanks for the comment and the insight, I agree with you, that wacky off kilter chimney adds to my Dr.Seuss feeling about this shot.

Thanks for sharing your vision. It was a bit weird how that setting sun was catching every bit of glass facing west and painting it with the same brush. There is something to be read into the fact that it shone on the head offices of Canada's largest banks no more brightly or warmly than this small single pane with it's simple curtain.

A rather simple scene of the sunset reflecting off the windows of two

very different types of buildings. Thanks for any comments and/or

suggestions for improvement.

Gordon, this is a great picture, and I'm a bit miffed that Jospeh beat me to a comment about the crooked chimney - I wanted to say that. I love the contrast between the modern looking buildings in the background and the well weathered foreground building. Nice colours and interesting roofscape. It makes me shiver thinking it must be cold outside, and I imagine warmth in the lighted room with the curtain. Well spotted. And I honestly can't offer suggestions for improvements.

Good to hear from you. Joe had a bit of a head start I uploaded the photo yesterday and figured since I had not put anything up for critique in ages I would do so this evening. It was a cold night even in the city I was near frozen just walking a few block to go out and see a band play.

 

Cheers Gord

Well done!!

Ahhh, the Grinch who stole Christmas...

So much was said already Gord.... it is one of the most interesting roofs I have seen, and I like roofs that has a puzzle of ellements... and especially I like chimneys.... It is a clever crop, that gives the feeling that the " light" windowed wall is a supporter of the heavy roof. it is more present even on the second image... looks like it supports the whole city towers..;-)) I like the light in the different windows that reveals the different architecture of FG and BG, Gord, but mostly I like the ellements, that really are having a bizarre forms, and are connected to the Chimney....

 

The sum of its parts make a very interesting whole. ;-))

Thanks for lending your careful eye to this. It had not occurred to me until you mentioned it, but yes I can see that it appears as if the bank towers are being held up by this old building. In a sense it is the toil and sweat of the people who live in all these old buildings hidden away from the glitter of the downtown towers that does in fact support the CEOs and shareholders of the banks.

Gordon, it's not my favorite thing you've done. I can how the composition is pleasing, the colors are lovely, the contrasts are nice, but for some reason I'm not responding well. I think it may elicit feelings of poverty and bleakness and that's probably why. I can't find any easily identifiable reason for my response, so I'm going to assume I don't like the emotions it evokes.

Thanks for your honest assessment of this image, it is greatly appreciated. On the level you are taking this I can entirely concur with you. I know this photo seems to be evoke some, as yet properly defined, response in me. On the one hand it does speak of poverty and inequality and I keep feeling a need to attach some socialist desire to kill the rich to this image. On the other hand I see the same sun sending that brightness and warmth equally through the windows of those bank towers and that bleak window with the curtain on a string, and I am left feeling that some things cannot be bought and sold. There are more than a few ways to take this one and not all of them are pleasant. It had been a while since my last visit to Toronto and I was surprised by the amount of sadness and negativity it evoked in me. I doubt the city has changed much so I reckon I must have.

Even I like that roof because of the ellements composing it, if I evaluate it from the composition point of view, it is one side. I have had the emotional feeling that the simple wall of the house really supporting the towers of the city. Gordon understood it the way I expressed it, and yes the toil and sweat of the masses are supporting the city towers.It is a sad reality all around the glob.I understand your feelings ,I felt it, but I think it has to be separated to the emotional part and the technical/compositional /photographical one.Both are present here imo.

Pnina, that's what I was trying to say. I can find no technical or even artistic reason to criticize it. Therefore, the "bad feeling" I get when I look at it has to be an emotional response.

 

I grew up poor. This may evoke too much of the bleakness that experience had for me. Ironically, just yesterday I established a scholarship fund that, when it reaches maturity, will pay for tuition and art supplies for children in the area to take art classes offered by a non-profit community-based art gallery. An art class would have been something wonderful to me when I was a child.

 

I've said before I don't know enough to really give technical critique; but I am exquisitely in tune with my emotions (except when I'm not....ha!). I'm very of the opinion that "art" is not art unless it evokes emotion.

 

I don't really have much more to say. Looking at this photo makes me want to cry. I think that means its extremely good.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

I really like this, It works for me in two ways. Firstly in an architectural sense , i see the stack and what looks to be generators as a mini city on the roof, the banking towers in the BG work so well with this, very well seen on your behalf.

 

Secondly, I see the banking towers existing in the BG because of the poverty existing in the foreground. This reminds me that yes, Usury is certainly a bad thing.

 

Cheers for this image. :)

 

Shayne