Saturday, April 18, 2009

Deep Purple

Time To Paint Another Brick In The Wall

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON



A couple of weeks ago, I spotted this office building that is set apart from all the others in the vicinity, simply because its façade is painted purple. But it was a very cloudy evening and had I decided to take a shot of it then, it would have been a rather nondescript image.

But I took careful stock of the surroundings. There was a semi-mature tree nearby, still with plenty of foliage even though we are halfway through autumn.

Therein lay a problem. I needed a sunny evening to capture the kind of image I visualized – of the deep shadows of the tree creating a dark, irregular frieze across the brick wall. It had to be evening, because that was the only time of day when the sun would be in line with the tree and the wall in order to cast a shadow where I wanted it.

The weather forecast for the next day was bright and sunny, so I headed off towards the same spot, knowing there was a strong chance I would get what I wanted. Sure enough, the sunshine was brilliant and the quality of the shadow and the contrast was extremely striking.

After I had taken a couple of frames I suddenly realised that someone had parked a motorized scooter (as opposed to one that is foot-propelled) nearby. It was actually on the footpath, rather than in a parking slot, so I was able to include it in the foreground while concentrating my focus on the wall itself.

Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Purple''.

35 comments:

Jazz said...

OH! MY! GOD!!!!

I LOVE that colour! I want a purple office building too.

Lucas said...

HAHA, in Canada we're just approaching Spring. I was like "how old is this post?!"

Great picture!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Brilliant composition, David!

Leslie: said...

You'll do anything to get a good shot, won't you? LOL

Shadow said...

i want a wall that colour!

ArtistUnplugged said...

Lovely shade of purple....if only it had been raining....nice!

Daryl said...

Not long ago someone, I assume it was the buildings owner, painted a brick building on Columbus Avenue at 73or 74 St a lovely shade of purple... not as deep as this but still making it a standout.

Lori ann said...

That just makes me happy.
brilliant!
lori

Anonymous said...

What a great, colourful world it would be if we all did it.

Nessa said...

Looks very mysterious.

Sylvia K said...

What a great shot! Not that I'm surprised, but that is some color for a building! Love it! Have a great weekend, David!

Maggie May said...

Sorry put the following comment on the wrong post!
Don't know how that happened.

*That was a very effective photo, David!*

Maddy said...

Maybe I should dust off my camera.
Cheers

Sabenindam said...

Beautiful colours and composition! I tried to imagine the picture without the scooter and it seemed like something was missing: just shows that sometimes things are just meant to be!

Suldog said...

Thought you were writing about my favorite band. Oh, well. Nice shot, in any case :-)

Janie said...

Wonderful color and shadow, plus the photographer's insight you are so generous to share.

Tiffany Norris said...

Perfect!

Anonymous said...

This shade of purple just stands out for me and I would probably just walk this street often to feel what this colour does to me on a sunny or rainy day.

Lucy Corrander said...

I find this an enormously attractive image and love the colour of the wall. In the sunshine it is crisp and cheerful. When the weather is dull, though, I can imagine it is probably a bit gruesome.

(And more paint will peel . . . )

Lucy Corrander
PICTURES JUST PICTURES

Eve said...

I lo-o-o-o-ove that wall! A couple years ago I painted the inside of my front door a similar color!

Saz said...

I love purple. It is my favourite colour. Anything purple shines in my book!LOvely!

Cath said...

Yet another photo story where you remind me to be patient, adaptable, flexible and make the most of what I have around me instead of decrying what the shot "could have been" and missing what it is.

Great post.

What About The Girl? said...

That colour always reminds me of yam! Purple yam. I want to make a sweetened dessert out of that wall!

Regina said...

It's good.

spacedlaw said...

Wonderful colour, David. Coming back home after two weeks I was noting that wisterias are now in full bloom here and might well soon be taking negative images to yours...

Tara R. said...

That is a stunning shade of purple. I really like the composition of this shot.

Unknown said...

Very interesting shot, especially with the tiny patch of scraped off purple paint, highlighted by the tree's shadow. Like the perspective with the scooter too. Beautiful!

Thanks for dropping by my blog today.
Jane

Sarah Lulu said...

Love the purple and the composition of your photo.

gengen said...

Purple braich wall hmmm interesting...happy weekend. Mine is up too.

Unknown said...

That's a great purple building. I found two purple houses this week.

healingmagichands said...

Oh my gosh! You actually planned a photo? The results are wonderful, though. I think your explanation of the process made the entry even more interesting. Thanks.

Gemma Wiseman said...

What a glowing purple! Love how you have incorporated "nonchalent" shapes to give interest to the plain of colour!

amanda said...

Your puns of past genre is "Rockin" but who paints a wall purple like that? Unless of course it leads to the stairway ... to... heaven

kayerj said...

thanks for stopping by--there has got to be a story behind the paint job on that wall

katherine. said...

we have many purple walls here...they are a political statement...