Urban Textures Revisited....

Last weekend while I was sorting and editing some of the floral abstracts I have been posting I had one of those a-ha! moments. It had suddenly dawned on me to go back and take a look at one of my earlier subjects and then re-interpret them with some of the new skills/techniques I have learned since then.

So out came the camera and the umbrella and I headed over to one of the more colourful spots in Toronto, Queen Street West. The first time around I had focused on Urban Textures as I was actually viewing them, and only used composition as my way of expressing how I was seeing them. This time, it was still about the colours and patterns, but less about fine details. I decided to experiment using the same techniques I have been using with the floral images, and my Kaleidoscape series.

The result is an explosion of colours, and some wonderful, (in my opinion) abstract shots. I can't wait for my next day off, and hope to build up the portfolio with a few more...

Here are a couple for you to take a look at..

kaleidoscape

Did you know I am an avid reader? As I read the words on a page describing the places or spaces that the novel takes place in I tend to lose my train of thought and drift into a dreamlike state. I have traveled little, but in my mind I have gone to many places full of great history, stories, and fascinating people. It is with this mindset that I have taken on this new series of blurred, dreamlike pictures. You aren't supposed to be able to see the fine details, but rather feel like you are a viewer into my mind; my dreams. I will leave it up to you to imagine the sounds that go with the images. The murmur of people, horns of cars, the bells of churches, and the wheels on the trolleys. Welcome to my dreams. Welcome to Kaleidoscape.

Colour Block

This shot is from last weeks walk on Queen West. I decided to venture down a back alley behind all the stores, and discovered the hub for urban textures. What attracted me to this little piece, was that despite all the different patterns, textures, and variations in colour, there was still an element of structure, or separation of parts.

It puts me in mind of a Rubics cube, and for some reason the 80's.

I stand out.

Lately my 'obsession' for texture has grown to a point that it takes me forever to walk a city block. Every post, pole, fence, paper or metal object causes me to stop and look at it from a different perspective. What seems like a disregarded or forgotten object can actually become a thing of interest, and perhaps beauty. This tattered poster almost escaped my eye as it was above my head. I took a few shots and of course noticed people looking at me wondering what I was taking photos of. In turn, I wonder where they are rushing off too. Don't they know the whole city is an Art Gallery, and they should slow down and take a look?

Texture 1

This is one of my urban texture shots I absolutely love. I am fascinated how time and weather create art out of man made objects. This brick wall was on Queen Street west, and it stopped me in my tracks. I took a couple shots of the wall, but this was by far my favorite, and it now hangs on my apartment wall.

It will be one of many texture shots, as I simply can not resist rust, peeling paint, and weathered wood. I hope to put a collection together of such items some day.