Looking Up

The other night my partner and I watched a movie called 500 Days of Summer. One of the main characters was a student of architecture and he made the comment that on street level most buildings are boring or void of character. He advised the person he was with to look up, and it is up off of street level that most buildings show off their true beauty and fine details. I have said this many times myself. There is so much hidden details, beauty, and workmanship in many of Toronto's buildings that go by unnoticed because they are up off street level, or covered in years of paint, or bad renovations. I don't think we could ever replace some of these great buildings today, because the craftsmen are long gone, and I'm sure the skills have been passed down to very few, or sadly none. In the 50's and 60's Toronto tore down many, many, buildings with such great architectural details, and workmanship. A huge blemish on our sense of heritage preservation. At least some have survived such as this one. Taken on a recent snowy day it is the details of a building on Toronto Street, downtown. I hope it encourages you all to look up..

Bike

It seems that bicycles are always a favorite subject to photograph, and these two are no exception. In most picture books, or postcards from rustic towns in France, or Italy you always come across the 'bicycle' shot. You know it. It usually has a basket, is leaning against a wall, and evokes a sense of nostalgia, or a relaxing holiday, or times past. Now I've got my own Toronto version. Slightly more urban feeling then the mentioned old countries, but they still have a certain charm in my opinion.

Snowy Day

I got off work earlier then usual today, and decided since it was fairly mild, and snowing to take my camera and my friends dog for a walk to Allan Gardens. There is something about a new snow that seems so fresh and still, and makes almost everything look beautiful. Take a dried up rose hip, and add some snow, and you get an instant burst of colour, and a great moment in nature.

Yellow & Turquoise

Another one of my favorite urban texture shots, this time in yellow and turquoise. Most of these shots are of brick walls that have been painted several times, and the effects of weather and time, have caused them to peel and show multiple colours. Some of them are murals, or graffiti that have also been aged by natural elements. Regardless, I will always be a fan of the end result, and am happy when I capture a small segment of the entire wall.