My Picture Post series is made up of contemporary photographs along with scans of negatives I took in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. I am constantly amazed by how seeing an old photograph again after decades hidden in a negative album, can somehow recreate a day, a walk, a feeling of place. It is like when you leave a DVD recording in pause mode and forget about it, only to be amazed later by its ability to start up again as if nothing has happened. I could still take you to the exact spot in Sheffield where I took this photograph some thirty years ago. The buildings - that Mondrian of concrete - are long gone, the DVD has moved on. But for a few moments after seeing the scanned image, I am in replay mode.
Your previous post revived my interest in handwriting and calligraphy that I used to live for. I did so much writing, by hand, it filled books and countless notebooks. And doing it landed me a front page spot on our prestigious Wall Street Journal as well as a 13 week television series shown all over the United States. Now, I am reduced to learning how to write all over again. I had a series of mini strokes due to lack of blood oxygen and that is why I am on oxygen most of the time. My lungs are shot so the experts say and I have COPD to thank for that, plus asthma. Anyway...
ReplyDeleteI dragged out my yellow pad and a "Aricept" ballpoint (drug companies give them to doctors as a gift at the same time they leave trails of the medicine at the doc's office). So I pick one from a cup of pens and begin remembering the swing of the wrist to write an italic cursive style 'in between' the ruled lines just like the medieval monks wrote on sheepskin parchment and calfskin vellum.
I drag out my old photos and negatives and mess with them from time to time but there are so many of them and all are 55-60 years old. I get discouraged.
For me I too would select rewind back just a bit...a great method on our television when one has missed something or rather wants to see the last few frames over again...but as for the buildings of the sixties...take me farther back....rewind more please! Although, this is an excellent photo and in the B & W it hold much more mystery and style!
ReplyDeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteCould you re-visit that exact location and snap what is there today? It might be interesting to compare the two...
Talk about shape. The lines here are indeed soothing much like a Mondrian painting can be.
ReplyDeleteOdd to think how this kind of architecture was ever going to stand the test of time. Thank goodness you photographed it when you did, Alan. I agree with e, a before and after would interesting.
ReplyDeleteBorn in Sheffield, Hunter's Bar.
ReplyDelete1950s & 60s concrete architecture, makes great b&w photos.
I love straight lines and right angles!
ReplyDeletee beat me to it. It would be interesting to compare the two.
ReplyDeleteExcellent composition, Alan! It's too bad that building is no longer there, but quite fortunate that you captured it while it was still there.
ReplyDeleteYes, a photo can prove to be a very vivid time machine! Great shot.
ReplyDeleteAt a guess I'd say Van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, or (more likely) Bert Wilkinson of the Joe Stalin School of Monumental Architecture.
ReplyDeleteinteresting subject.
ReplyDeletei agree with others, that a "now" pic would be appreciated, just to see if people replaced it with something with more common sense.
:)~
HUGZ