Like a rock
San Francisco, CA, July 2008 [Click to enlarge]
I love when pictures instantly give you a sense of size and scale. These pillars suggested, strongly, the concept of massive as soon as I walked past them. I got the sense that they had been here forever, and that nothing we build today can quite as effectively suggest strength as these architectural features can.
Your turn: Why don't new buildings inspire the same feelings of awe that old ones seem to?
About this photo: This is another in a series of images that, despite being shot in color, came out in near-monochrome. Which fits this week's Thematic Photographic theme of...monochrome (what, you were surprised?) New theme goes up tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, so you've still got time to share your photo or link. Click here to get on board the b&w train.
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7 comments:
What intrigues me most, Carmi, is that Pillars was this week's 100-word prompt at Velvet Verbosity.
The timing of you posting this picture is way cool.
makes me think of the Bible story of Samson when he pulled the pillars down in a last show of strength before he died.
nice shot and happy WW!
Terrific shot, Carmi! I love pillars. You are right about the immediate sense of strength. There's a good reason why they are the reference in phrases such as "pillar of strength", "a pillar of the community".
This Thematic Photographic has proven to be very fulfilling, though I'm surprised you didn't hear my very audible groan last Wednesday night. Monochromatic!? No color??? Well, I did several and learned so much in the process. Thanks, again. I have posted one more tonight. Macro Monochromatic
Older buildings are probably over-engineered and didn't have the "advantages" of advanced techniques in design, and construction or for that matter the advanced materials available now. So what the old builders lacked in math, they made up for in mass. But some of those "old, over-engineered buildings" are still standing after centuries whilc their modern counterparts have a life expectancy measured in decades...
Pillars emit a timeless quality. I think much of the newer architecture is uninteresting because it has no sense of style or solidity like that of former decades.
old buildings provide links to the past in several ways and cause some people to stand and wonder:
"who lived there? how can it be so worn but still so strong? would I have survived in that era... "
many newer buildings reek of commerce or excess, in my opinion, and those qualities don't prompt positive emotion or thought.
gee, aren't I in a cheery mood?
cheers, GAH
Mojo brings up a good point about the engineering knowledge (and available materials, too, actually... think of the modern metal alloys we have now that we didn't have just a few decades ago)... modern engineering knows more about what is needed to support what they want to accomplish, and in an effort to be leading-edge, they tend to make the buildings appear as fragile or streamlined as possible (I am reluctant to say they do the bare minimum...).
But I'll take a massive and solidly-constructed building replete with pillars any day.
-smarmoofus
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