Many thanks to Kelli who helped me decide what to enter for this challenge. There's a long story behind it, but it's late and tomorrow's a workday, so I'll add the story later on....
Post Challenge:
Ah, so perhaps this didn't work out so well... :-) Not that I wish I'd entered something different - I'm pleased with this entry - but it didn't translate well. One commenter thought it a reflection; another thought it a miniature, which is a definitely hazard/feature of the Lensbaby. *I* thought the Lensbaby suited this particular structure well but as I said, it didn't translate particularly well, though I am very pleased to see some folks appreciated it!
But yes, I'd have scored better with a re-shoot from the nifty mall in Frankfurt - many folks encouraged me to do just that. More on that in a minute.
This is the Hundertwasser Waldspirale in Darmstadt, Germany. I researched architecture in the area and came upon this place. The artist/architect is Friedensreich Hundertwasser. //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedensreich_Hundertwasser The link takes you to the wiki entry - an interesting read if you've not heard of the guy.
I drove down after work on Friday. Light probably was not the best - I think I missed it by about half an hour - but it was an interesting place. It's an apartment complex. It's in a sort of "U" shape, starting at a single story and rising as it goes around. The sloping roof is a garden of sorts, with trees and plants. The building is surrounded by other "normal" buildings so it's kinda hard to shoot - this was taken from the parking garage across the way. And as the title implies, there are no two windows alike in the entire structure. Some other shots:
I did go back to the mall - the weather was horrible over the weekend so I went the Tuesday after work. Evening light has a completely different result there, particularly when it's mostly cloudy at times; the tungsten light inside the structure dominates and things aren't as crisp, the color is muddier. But I had a blast shooting there again just the same and came away with some good images from the outing. So why didn't I use one of those? Had there been a bit more time between challenges or had the entry in Unusual Objects bombed, I probably would have. But one of the things I really enjoy about challenges is they get you out to see things you might otherwise miss - this was one such occasion.
Statistics
Place: 62 out of 153 Avg (all users): 5.5588 Avg (commenters): 5.7500 Avg (participants): 5.0926 Avg (non-participants): 5.7267 Views since voting: 1281 Views during voting: 324 Votes: 204 Comments: 29 Favorites: 1 (view)
This is so cool - I just keep looking at it.
I will admit that I didn't go all the way to a 10 (why, I don't know) but this is by far the best lensbaby shot I've even seen (not usually a fan)... thanks for sharing the other shots as well!! Love the Hundertwasser link.
This was one my favorite ones in this challenge! Unfortunately I got so busy over here that I couldn't vote nor participate! Just looked at all briefly as I so wished I could have entered one of my own...
What a great building and wonderful use of lensbaby!
PostLuminous Award WINNER!
This is Fantastic. Real Abstract Reality--and the lensbaby choices you made (aperture, sweet spot, etc) are such enhancements to this wonderfully disorienting surreal image. This is fascinating.
Not heard of Hundertwasser before. The link is informative - his intentions and motive for incorporating natural design to his work is interesting.
His organic layer effect is very beautiful.
I love that title - No two alike - I think a excellent interpretation.
I never thought much of those lens baby's. It just never really intrigued me. This image however is very cool. It's almost like a reflection in the water. You're also right about European architecture. We just marveled at it while we were in Ireland.
I've seen a few books here in Japan on Hundertwasser, so he's not unknown here. However, I don't think I've seen this particular place in those books.
It looks very interesting, to say the least. I'd love to visit. I wonder what they're like inside... ;-Þ
I think the LB effect accentuates the roly-poly lines of the building very well - the disorienting effect almost makes it appear to be a mural in spots, rather than an actual building. Deserved better than a 5.5, seriously.
It's almost like something you'd see in the little kids section of an amusement park.
That's exactly what I thought too. That and a flash back to pictures from Hansel and Gretel. Although I'm sure the Gingerbread House didn't have quite so many windows ;)
I'm not usually an LB fan but it really works here! What a fun looking building. It's almost like something you'd see in the little kids section of an amusement park.
Your score should be rocking! People are so short sighted. This is a brilliant piece of architecture and it's superbly photographed in the most brilliantly artistic way! Go Deb!
I like the concept of all the different windows but the use of the warped reflection ( I am assuming a reflection in a window or something here) detracts from the overall 'hit' of the shot.
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