Strangely, one of my favourite shots from Christmas Day’s photo shoot in the city was of peering through the windows of Harbour Stop. With its grubby glass, light flares, ghostly interior, glimpses from across the road through the other side, and reflections of its’ own arcades, and the buildings across the road behind me, it is a slightly confusing melange of images that are a fitting reflection of my 2012.
San Domingo suggested beefing up the contrast would help add definition to the shot.
Reflections from all Directions 2 – I think it is an improvement, what do you think?
Gunaratne and I were beetling away from the harbour toward Pettah when I caught sight of the building, its triangular flatiron profile somewhat camouflaged at first by wide arcades. In my excitement I almost tumbled from the tuk tuk tuk as it came to rest after our uninterrupted wheelie across the deserted street! I hope you’ll enjoy a couple of the other shots I took of this once grand and optimistic construction.
In the spirit of sharing we so enjoy here at Marianne’s CBBH Challenges, I’d like to introduce you to two blogs I’ve been enjoying: one new to me, the other a ‘catch up’ because somehow her posts haven’t been coming through my reader. Please meet Nilanjana Roy, a journalist, poet and commentator from India, and Cheryl, About Elephants, a writer, photographer and watcher of elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. These two women are linked by the power of their words – I think you’ll find both blogs interesting, to say the least.
I love those wedge shaped buildings. I grew up in Boston where the streets were laid out in ways that made those buildings a necessity…when people think about flatiron architecture they mainly think of skyscrapers but there are lots of 2-4 story flatirons too!
My fave pic is the doorway entitled “The Pointy End.”
I hadn’t realised there were so many in Boston! I remember seeing one in Sydney before I went travelling, but the first time I really tweeked to them was in Toronto, where there is a wonderful red brick Segovia ‘palace’ shaped place at the edge of the CBD.
They’re an innovation of the ‘industrial’ age, aren’t they? I always associate them with the Art Nuveau – when steel and glass and stone/brick came into a glorious marriage of new forms. It tickles my fancy to think of the man whose imagination was sparked by one of the ‘famous’ flatirons from abroad and decided to replicate the design for the tropics. And what a success it was, especially the ground floor area with its two wide arcades protecting its glass birds cage from the sun.
I’m glad you liked ‘pointy end’ – I only managed to get the shot because there was no traffic on the roads … 🙂
Those arcades are a wonderful adaptation for your steamy area! I thought that feature particularly brilliant!.
Oh yes – magic photo!
Thanks Keira! Wow – you had time to do some visiting over the weekend (hope you weren’t skiving off?). 🙂
of course I was 😀
🙂
Those doors are beautiful and the arcades are a brilliant idea, shelter from both sun and rain. A building with character always makes my heart skip…
Yes, I think it was a very successful amalgamation of forms, and like you, I find that’s always a joyous thing!
So the photos are taken in Colombo? it looks fascinating and not how I imagined at all. Thanks for the links, I had a great time wandering.
So glad you enjoyed a wander around Nilanjana and Cheryl’s blogs – I always like that part of Marianne’s challenge.
I wouldn’t say this was a typical Colombo building – but it’s a city with very mixed heritage that’s beginning to emerge from 30 years of neglect after the war.
Your first photo is right up my street – I love quirky views and the weird results of pressing the shutter at the wrong moment!
Your poet’s soul, eh Viv?
Love these beautiful doors. Thank you for the links!
Glad you enjoyed the links – and the doors Amy 🙂
Love the weirdness of that first photo. That building must have once been really magnificent.
I think so, Sylvia – I hope I can talk to some old timers who remember the early days because it somehow inspired my curiosity about that time in the city – when people had confidence and optimism.
I love the architecture and the reflections. The first photo especially has a magical quality to it. Now I’m off to check out the two bloggers you have introduced, thanks.
San Domingo suggested a little more contrast would improve the shot – I think it has heightened the definition without taking anything away from the magic of not knowing what is real and what is illusion.
You’ve got a little bit of everything in there, Meredith, and yes, it’s a beautiful building.
I find it hard to be minimalist, Jo – two or three adjectives, two or three pictures – look at things from all angles … look at reflections and see a building too 🙂
Wonderful views of this building. Thanks for the great photos and interesting commentary.
Bless you Phil, thank you 🙂
What a fantastic building! I really relish your photographs. Is it used for anything now? There should be a preservation order on it (I hope).
Ummm – we don’t have things like that here unfortunately – though I was overjoyed to see a whole lot of renovation work being done on several old buildings in the centre of the city – so I’ve got my fingers crossed this building will garner some attention in the future.
Beautiful shot of the glass’s reflective surface and that building is an impressive one. Any idea what it;s intended use was?
No idea about what it used to be John – I need to talk to some old-timers to see if anybody remembers. If the resurrection of the city continues, it should be ripe for a new lease on life. I must say I’d love an apartment up on the second floor … 🙂
Great photos of a beautiful building
It’s a gorgeous building – quite pure in style and I’m afraid it might not conform to what the new wave of developers deem salvageable. Hopefully its location at the far edge of the city might save it till some discerning buyer comes along with vision, and deep pockets … 🙂
The photo of the reflections is intriguing; I love the different layers and the uncertainty of what is a reflection and what is ‘real’. I often take shots along those lines, but they don’t often turn out as well.
I think the trick is the distance of the camera from the glass, so you can tell what it is you’re focussing on – reality or reflection. This shot had the added complexity of being able to see through the windows on the other side of the room, and the reflections in those windows as well. I’m so glad it intrigued you for a while, Rowena 🙂
A little contrast more, and…very, very good!! Congratulations
Oh, you reckon? I’m always loathe to mess around with ‘good’ shots for fear of spoiling them, but hell, I can always duplicate and have a play! Thank you San Domingo, I’ll give it a try 🙂
I’ve added a little contrast, as you suggested, what do you think?
Love that first shot–there’s a story there.
I think you’re right – several stories in fact. I’m thinking of using it to wind some historical, anecdotal and fiction stories together. We’ll see … 🙂
the first photo is entrancing, often our lives seem full of mystery and illusion like that image … hard to tell what is substantial and what will disappear as your point of view changes … i look forward to visiting those two blogs, they sound wonderful, thank you meredith 😀
I’m sure you’ll enjoy them, Christine – when you’ve got time for a bit of reading! You’ve hit the nail right on the head! When I look back, I can’t get a handle on anything really substantial about 2012 – it’s as though a lot of it has been lived in my head, producing conflicting realities – only time will tell disentangle the pictures 🙂
Reblogged this on RD Revilo.
Thanks RDR 🙂
very welcome…peace
What a nice architecture I like such old buildings because I’m an architectural engineer
Ah, so you understand how ‘modern’ building methods made it possible for such strangely shaped buildings to be built! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Beautiful shots. You captured the magic of the place and your words made us feel like we were there ourselves. Wishing you a new year full of wonderful adventures!
Thanks mate!
You know, I rather like the first reflection shot, before you deepened the colour – I enjoy the ephemeral quality of it.
Ephemeral. That’s a point! When I downloaded it from the camera, I thought it was perfect and didn’t touch it for fear of spoiling the moment … I’ll have to keep looking to see what I feel. Thanks Lynne 🙂
A beautiful building Meredith! Love the glazed windowsand the arcades.
But most of all I am grateful to you for leading me to those two brilliant blogs!
They’re wonderful blogs, aren’t they? So glad to be able to introduce you!
A quarter to 3? I think it’s time we both find our beds!
It is 😀
These are mesmerising, Wanderlust! What a beautiful city it is. Lovely post.
i love the difference jst beefing up the contrast made…and thanks for the intoduction to these blogs…
Yes, it’s interesting how a little tweek can change a picture, as you showed us before Christmas. Glad you enjoyed the new blogs Jo.