Seeing Red...

Red....the colour of love, passion, anger, and aggression. Did you know that at one time many fast food restaurants used the colour red in their interiors in order to create a passion and desire to eat more food. The funny thing is it also was used to hurry the diners up and get them out in order to have a greater turnover, thus more sales.

At home, especially in the 19th century, and early 2oth, red was often used in dining rooms. Red is a very flattering colour to most peoples skin tones, and combined with candlelight it made for a very cozy, flattering, and enjoyable evening. It was also used alot in drawing rooms, especially those with salon type walls chuck full of paintings, sketches, and photographs...Red seems to show off art work well. I believe there are even red walls in part of the exhibition spaces at the AGO here in Toronto.

Did I mention my kitchen is red? It is indeed. I always wanted a red room, and now I have one. I love it.

When I take a lot of my photos, especially when I focus on colour, pattern ,and texture, I always associate a feeling to the photograph. I also envision many of them hanging in people's rooms. Usually in large format, much like some huge painted canvas...I think colour is so important to each of us, and it often means different things to different people, hence the millions of colours available to us to purchase in the form of paint. There is an energy in colour, whether it is strong and vibrant, or soft and strong.. There is a colour pallet for each of us. Have you found yours? What is your favorite? How do you react to certain colours? It is such an interesting topic don't you think?

Enjoy your day, and I hope I have you seeing red..

pedestrian..

I am usually a pedestrian, and actually take pride in the fact I love to walk all over this city. Granted, if I felt safer on these streets I would be a bicyclist as well. But I digress. Usually while walking through the city streets and parks it is the non human things that I notice. The textures, patterns, colours of common and often overlooked or unnoticed objects. Occasionally, as has been the case this past week, I happen to include pedestrians in my shots. I don't know what it is, but something about their pose, or their outfits, or the entire scene gives me the urge to capture the moment. I have two faux paintings in my apartment that are what I refer to as Motel Art. They are scenes of  busy streetscapes probably in Europe and they are full of pedestrians, but yet they almost seem blurred, and there are no fine details. I love them. And when I am out, and working on this new series I have these "paintings" in mind. I found these "painting" in a junk shop. Goes to show you can be inspired by another's trash.

The first image is a shot of my inspirational "paintings"...

strength from within..

Another day off, and another overcast one at that. Now many of you mourn the loss of the sun, but as you  may know, I love taking shots on overcast days. So I grabbed the camera, bundled up, and headed out to take some more shots for 'kaleidoscape". I didn't get as many as I had hoped, but there where a few winners from the bunch.

This one was one of my favorites. To me it feels like there is an energy from within his torso and it is radiating out, or giving him strength. I am sure we can all relate to days where we have to draw from an inner strength in order to cope or succeed at the task at hand.

The statue by the way, is the one standing in front of Union Station on Front Street. One of my favorite pieces of public art.

Strength

I think we all have those days were we feel we don't have the strength to move another muscle, or think another thought. Deadlines, bills, errands, chores, meetings, and even cold winter days can all leave us feeling emotionally and physically weak. I think the best thing to do is give yourself a break, and not to keep pushing. Let your mind and body recharge.

That is what taking photos does for me. Allows me to escape the not so pleasant things in my life, and instead focus on things of interest, or beauty, or both. It's amazing how much energy I get out of taking what I feel is a great photo, or even spending time looking at pictures in books on subjects I find interesting. So go ahead. Take a break.

As for this guy, he has been holding up this column at the foot of Yonge Street since the 1860's. Talk about strength....