Friday, February 01, 2008
Open During Construction
Comments:
Not sure how the title jives with the pic (unless it is a translation of the red banner), but the image itself is a smart capture of a city on the move.
Web resolution does this no favours, but even so there is plenty to look at.
The central positioning of the converter is great as it then allows all the asymmetries around it to jostle for symmetry and balance. The thin ochre line of the kerb is echoed by the cranes. The netting round the buildings softens their outline and allows other horizontal and vertical lines to stand out.
For me the image is the 'Manx Legs' created by the two cranes and the power pole.
To me they are sufficient to create the impression of frenzied building. The exposed temporary power is really worth its central position.
I just finished watching the Ed Burtynsky documentary, Manufactured Landscapes, so I can't help but think a bit of the massive scale of Chinese industry revealed in his photographs. You've done something different with scale here. The buildings going up in the background are clearly very large, but the transformer and the tree work on a very different scale. Together with the floating cranes, it creates the illusion of massive depth.
Not sure why but these somehow (and very obliquely) reminds me of a music score. Patterns are running through it but the finished may (or may not) be better than the score. That telegraph pole dead centre is acting all conductor like and the wires coming from it in alldirections keeps the ends of the picture tightly in place. Not the most beautiful of scenes but certainly one of interest and longing for completion.
I love the multiple quasi-symmetries, including the odd complete asymmetry introduced by the trees.
The pale blue electric counter acts as an anchor point and the kerb underlines it all.
Thanks all for your comments, very much appreciated.
The title for this comes from the many signs you see in the US around shops that are in the middle of some public construction project, "open during construction", trying to keep the business going. That is what China reminds me of, with all of its massive construction, but still very much open for buiness. Even if I did see this sign, I would not have known it!
Until recently, I have not been taking much advantage of my engineering experience, but I find that China, I seem to be getting more in touch with that side of me.
Added note: For this composition, I did wait for the cranes to move into position to create a little asemetry and echo the pattern of the wires.
Doug -- I think you achieved your purpose admirably. I do wonder what the banner on the building says -- perhaps it really does read "open for business"! The white sky and light, melting snow really help provide atmosphere.
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Web resolution does this no favours, but even so there is plenty to look at.
To me they are sufficient to create the impression of frenzied building. The exposed temporary power is really worth its central position.
The pale blue electric counter acts as an anchor point and the kerb underlines it all.
The title for this comes from the many signs you see in the US around shops that are in the middle of some public construction project, "open during construction", trying to keep the business going. That is what China reminds me of, with all of its massive construction, but still very much open for buiness. Even if I did see this sign, I would not have known it!
Until recently, I have not been taking much advantage of my engineering experience, but I find that China, I seem to be getting more in touch with that side of me.