Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Contrasts In Style And Grace

Two Faces Of Melbourne’s Architectural History

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


These shots were taken while I was walking towards Flinders Street Station recently, on an afternoon when the wind was biting but the sky turned brilliant blue for a short while.

As I walked, just soaking up the atmosphere of this beautiful city, I suddenly realised that if I found the precise angle, I could capture an interesting shot of the city.

So amid the crowds, I waited until I could find just the right spot in front of the city’s main station. I used my long lens for this sequence, because I wanted a really tight frame that encompassed two different styles and two very different eras in the city’s rich history.

In the foreground is the graceful Victorian-style façade of Flinders Street Station, just to the right of the central dome above the main entrance. In the background is Eureka Tower, the highest residential structure in the southern hemisphere.

The station is redolent of nineteenth century grace, while the super-skyscraper that redefines Melbourne’s skyline has only been officially open since October 2006.

So there you have it. A single frame that presents both ends of the spectrum of Melbourne’s most recognisable buildings.


Visit the creative team behind That's My World Tuesday.

34 comments:

  1. Are all the apartments in the high rise filled? I cant imagine living comfortably so high up .. Towering Inferno being one of my all time favorite B movies ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. at a quick glance, it looked like a stairway...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I also like the contrast of colour.. cool shot!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This caught my eye on my BlogRoll. The colors are so vibrant.
    Beautiful shot, as always! Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  5. there are some amazing textures in this picture...and the blend of color...great capture david...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the juxtaposition of the styles and colors. Wonderful composition, David.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The contrast is extraordinary! What a great idea to contrast the two.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awesome shot! Kind of like old world meets new world.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Fabulous shot; what a consummate professional you are.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Outstanding shot David. It's a feast for the eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Neat shot David.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the composition and the contrast of the yellow against the blue

    ReplyDelete
  13. The colors are striking, just as much as the difference in architectural style. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very interesting contrast of old and new. Excellent job finding just the right angle to include both.

    ReplyDelete
  15. cette photo me fait penser à une construction de légo comme mes enfants ont pu souvent en faire avec ces couleurs franches et cette géométrie des lignes, bravo pour cet angle de vue!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the title Style and Grace, it's perfect for this superb photo.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What an eye, David. I like the first shot best.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! Very neat photo! I love the colors!

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is one of my absolute favorites! The contrast in color and texture and feel is superb, you can't help but stare at this photo.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love the contrast in the old building and the VERY new one! Wow! that is a skyscraper! Great color contrast! Always look forward to seeing what great view of your world that you choose to show us each week!

    Enjoy!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  21. Awesome shot, great angle and colors two thumbs up :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your patience paid off, amazing shot!1

    ReplyDelete
  23. The contrast in the colours is marked too. You make such interesting compositions from the 'everyday'. Such an eagle eye...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello I Have been following your wonderful Blog for some time now and wanted to say great Job!!

    I also wanted to extend an invitation to you to check out and follow my blog as well: http://definedsentences.blogspot.com

    You wont be disappointed...its worth the time.

    Thanks in advance

    Meme

    ReplyDelete
  25. Old and new - wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very thoughtful. I've been preoccupied with tornados and such in My Muskoka ! Climate Change...

    ReplyDelete
  27. The color and contrast are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lovely colorful photos and as always a very interesting post.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Super composition, David! The clarity of both the near and the far buildings is great.

    ReplyDelete
  30. ah, very clever indeed , David!

    ReplyDelete
  31. It's great that in one snapshot you have captured the complete history of architecture. This a great!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Like Tosca, a strange harmony of contrasts.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love that one - the combination of the deep yellow and blue is perfect, and the juxtaposition of old and new works so well!

    I never remember to use the long lens ... but then I usually only have a compact digital or bridge camera with me these days.

    ReplyDelete