Union Station, down low
Toronto, ON, March 2009 [Click to enlarge]
About this photo: We've been exploring distant-themed photos all week long as part of Thematic Photographic. I may have another one in me before we wrap things up and launch the new theme tomorrow night. What will that new theme be? Scroll down to find out. Or click here to submit something distant. I know you've got it in you :)They don't make big public spaces like they used to. I doubt anyone stands in the middle of a modern-day mall and takes in the scene as I did on this morning in Toronto. I had just gotten off my train and was heading for the exits when I realized how delightfully empty the space was.
A picture was, of course, in order.
Your turn: Why are public spaces like this so...distant?
Ah yes, next week's theme: Thematic Photographic launches a new theme tomorrow (Wednesday) night at exactly 7:00 p.m. EDT. The theme for the coming week will be:
Odd
If it's a little bit strange, a little bit funny, a little bit out of the ordinary, we want to see it. Can't wait to see what y'all come up with!
Public spaces are distant because they don't promote intimacy. Sad, really - there is so much that can be said or experienced in spaces such as these, and I've done so in the smiles exchanged with strangers or the giving up of one's seat to an expectant mom or elderly traveler.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps it's just our perception...
I believe that if we see distance, we will feel it...
Distance has never been so immediately and compellingly apparent to me in any other place than one afternoon in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport. When I had to traverse near the entire length of the place to get to a connecting flight that was boarding as my first-leg flight touched down. I made it, but only barely. My Distant Finale is significantly more idyllic, and one of a series of similar shots (one of which I believe has appeared in another recent TP).
ReplyDeleteThematic Photographic 57: "Distant" v.7.0
"Odd" should prove to be an interesting theme. Not altogether certain how to approach that one.
Yet.
I can hear the echo!
ReplyDeleteAloha, Carmi
Comfort Spiral
that's a pretty station. always love going there. and off to the west hall is it, is that vendor with the the snack baggies of dehydrated veggies. love those.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would let you know that I linked to your site from my blog. Subsequently, a user said that he clicked on it and then when he clicked the "Back" button, all kinds of windows opened, etc., when all he did was try to leave your page.
ReplyDeleteI'm not buying that it's due to anything you did, because it didn't happen to me at all. Of course, I use Firefox and he might have been using IE. Still, that is strange. Have you had anyone else complain of that when visiting (and leaving) your page?
I love your perspective... do you often put the camera on the floor and just aim and shoot, then look to see what effect you get? Oh, good... so do I and I was afraid that people only stared at me. Nice to know others do the same. Wouldn't it be a hoot if a group of 20 or so of us got together and all did the same thing... down on the floor? :)
ReplyDeleteWas at the new(ish!) Cabot Circus shopping area in Bristol yesterday - not much open space in that one either. Not much of a surprise though, as they were mostly working with what was already there.
ReplyDeleteThink I've got my piccys in a bit early for Odd but my latest has a few that fit the "strange", "Funny", "out of ordinary" :-) My latest avatar is a taster ;-)
Union Station is beautiful. I love old grand buildings. They have style and grace and power that the new ones do not have . They were built to be a statement of power and grandeur, instead of now being built to the lowest price point.
ReplyDelete