Stills

'post-modern style to be the bane of architecture today'

I'm not sure this qualifies as post modern, but whatever gets built here is bound to be of ridiculous size.

I'm again struck by the lovely texture of the grass, in this case set off nicely by the hard stones.
 

John -- no stopping. I'm not sure how fast we were going at the time, but I took three quick successive images of this walled area. All three have something going for them "behind the scenes", but the excavator in this opening best expressed for me what is happening. (and not just here, but throughout the state)

So the answer is "luck" (I didn't even see that machinery). I think luck plays a part in much of my photography, nature and otherwise. Some time I'd like to explore that topic (the role of luck in photography) in more depth, though probably someone already has done so on their blog somewhere. ;-)
 

Christina - I'm sure that there is a saying about 'making luck'! It wasn't just the digger that made me ask about stopping; the fact that the grasses in the foreground seemed pretty sharp.

Matt - don't you think that the cappings on the pillars are derivative?
 

Since I am an ardent drive-by photographer, I understand the element of luck to get an acceptable composition. But usually interesting images do result from a state of preparadness and quick reflexes.

I think that this is a great capture and does 'talk about' the urban growth story, whether that is 'good' or 'bad'. As Colin has inferred in the past, a documenation of our social landscape.

And the colors work very well, too;- )
 

'Matt - don't you think that the cappings on the pillars are derivative?'

I suppose they are, but I would argue that this is more the result of developer driven architecture than any direct reference to PoMo style. Champaign has a number of clearly PoMO buildings, and they go much farther out of their way to be ugly than something as casually offensive as this.

The light is pretty on the stone though.
 

My first thought was of British Follies and then of preparation for a new estate of houses.

The digger and the tree became apparent when looking more closely. I think it is the tree that holds the most fascination, why only one, why that shape, why is it on top of the wall
:-)
 

About the grasses, they are not all completely in focus, but close. I try to keep a lot of shutter speed and also to pan -- things I learned while trying to shoot birds in flight! And, as with those birds, sometimes the technique is successful, sometimes not so much.

Doug -- if I remember correctly, you actually photograph while driving, (I am just a passenger) -- that must really take quick reflexes!

Rex -- I could only appreciate your comment after learning what "British Follies" are. (Stills is so educational for me) I do think the tree is important. For me it helps place this in Florida -- it is a Cabbage or Sabal Palm, a natural feature of the landscape.
 

That tree in the distance is troubling me. I appreciate the difficulty of shooting on the move but for such a small item in the whole, the tree touching the wall detracts slightly from a wonderful observation. Perhaps the pillar it touches being in sunlight and dead centre is compounding matters. The digger on the otherhand is rather enigmatic and I have no problems with its 'touching'.
 

Christina, I have a great luxury in China on this trip, a driver, so I just get to work only on my drive-by photos, it's really a nice treat! I am afraid I might get spoiled;- )
 

Thanks for the comments.

Guy -- I agree about the tree -- my luck wasn't quite good enough to prevent that awkward placement I have another where the tree is better placed, but the excavator is hidden and instead can see a bright blue port-o-let!