Sunday 10 January 2010

Monochrome Weekend - Stairway to tram

The station at Johnson Street Square, Pyrmont

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34 comments:

Icy BC said...

Beautiful photo in monochrome!

myletterstoemily said...

gorgeous photo!

my husband wanted to purchase a pencil of a similar
stairway. when i mentioned that it seemed a bit stark,
he said, "but did you notice the five sparrows tucked in here and there?"

i bought it for him as a Christmas surprise!

Killara girl said...

I love all the sandstone Sydney is built on. This reminds me of the rocks area and that tunnel on the expressway leading up to the Bridge that goes round and round forever. I remember loving that as kids.

Tash said...

splendid. the organic shadows of the rock and the geometic shape of the stairway are wonderful together esp. without the distraction of color (did I really just call color a distraction??)

Unknown said...

I like the spare clean lines of the stairs against the rough sandstone. It seems overall a bit dark though. Interestingly, Oklahoma has a lot of old buildings faced in native sandstone.

Anonymous said...

Interesting textures.

Lene said...

Great texture, light and shadows :)

Hope you are having a happy weekend :) Happy new year to you :)

Joan Elizabeth said...

I'm not sure I like this one in B&W. I recognised the location instantly, and love that huge sandtstone wall so would have liked to see it in colour ... there is texture and contrast but it somehow seems flat and colourless to me (if you can say that of B&W)

Julie said...

Yes, I can see what you mean, I think. There is not enough third dimension: the stairway does not contrast enough with the wall and there is nothing going 'into' the image to give any sense of perspective. I also took a shot looking up the stairs but that was fairly flat, too. Never mind about the sandstone, as I was up on the Bondi bluff yesterday at 7am (just for you!) and can give you sandstone until it comes out yourn ears!

brattcat said...

If I place my palm against the wall, Julie, would it feel warm?

Anonymous said...

Wonderful textures and tonality Julie.

Julie said...

It would feel warm here, BC, as this particular wall is a sun-trap. Sandstone itself gives the impression of warmth because of it gorgous honey-colours. The absence of this "affect" is what Joan is bemoaning.

My name is Riet said...

oh I love this picture, beautiful

Woody said...

The details in this are incredible. I like how the closer railing is mutes while the farther one pops. Bravo!

michael bird said...

Lovely, Julie. Like the contrast of the photo and of the ingredients of the photo.

vincibene said...

Beautiful picture, I want to know the way of the stairs, my view goes up with it to the left.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Your use of B&W here transforms a place into an intriguing abstraction. The viewer then pays more attention to tonality, light, and texture all for their own sake. I really like it, especially the way part of the diagonal line of the handrail seems to glow. Thanks.

SquirrelQueen said...

So many marvelous textures, I love the simplicity of the shot. Perfect for monochrome.
Judy

Ann said...

Good texture and contrast.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photography. Assume that there are people knowing each and every step of it, getting up and down each day, to and from work.

Please have a wonderful Sunday.

Ann said...

Wondered what happened to you. I did text you from the Domain. I think I was sitting fairly close to you at one stage (beside the path near the Art Gallery, then I moved to the Tree of Truth where the acoustics are better and where, in hindsight, I've sat for most Domain concerts. I wasn't all that close, its still a telephoto lens (about 80mm). I thought this year was much, much better. You could move around, the crowds were more laid back and the music was much more to my taste. I really enjoyed it, stayed in town till 11.

Jim said...

Thanks for correcting me on my Camperdown (not Chippendale) shot. I don't know the borders of all the inner city suburbs that well, so I usually check the street directory before I post. I'm not sure how I mucked that one up but it's probably because that spot is where Chippendale meets Camperdown, Glebe and Ultimo.

Anonymous said...

I like the simplicity of this shot. Nicely done.

Vicki said...

It's the study of light and shade that I especially like in this. Beautiful.

Robin said...

Wonderful textures on the rock face and the interplay of light and shadow is really special. Great capture Julie.

Dragonstar said...

There's so much here I like - the lines of the railings against the testures of the wall - but for me that tiny piece of dry grass (or whatever!) on the borrom edge of the stairs really makes the shot. Lovely.

elvira pajarola said...

I remember the steps down to the trams always as dark, black, a little scary....but YOUR STEPS aren't like these I did remember at all....they have got the sun in it.......GORGEOUS; ....ART!

have a happy sunday!
ciao ciao elvira

brattcat said...

This is a perfect time for reflection, Julie. Within the year you will be holding your first grandchild and you will begin an entirely new exploration of what it is to be alive when this new life enters the world. But this time, it's a gift, you have this opportunity to be present in the world and within yourself without outside pressure to perform and accomplish the tasks that have defined your life until now. Re-read HDT. That's an excellent starting place for this new journey you're on.

Carver said...

I love this shot. The texture and the geometric shapes combine to make it very interesting.

Tania said...

This is a really nice monochrome:-)

Anonymous said...

Very well done! Perfect for mono, sharp, interesting, like it...

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

Smooth metal, rough cut rock darks and lights, works well for me.
Three Rivers Daily Photo

Lisa said...

Hello Julie, thank you for visiting and thank you for finding me that I now found you. Your blog is unique. Chiseled words and chiseled pictures!

Wonderful. Congratulations and I look forward to visit you again.

Margaret Gosden said...

Love the rich monochromatic greys and shadows - the
stairway perfectly positioned countering virticle
wall of rock nicely highlighted.