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| Digital Rev has fun with Canon's 8-15mm Fisheye lens |
Here are some examples
of unusual perpectives which are very fun and addictive. The Fisheye
lens can offer 180 degrees of view. With such a wide angle of view
and the distorted nature of the lens, you can get the surroundings in
view as well as the subject. Tall buildings can look even taller
than they are, stretching into the distance to a pin point. But
close up, it distorts faces, and objects in a bulbous manner. This
is notorious for animal photos exaggerating their noses and heads,
whilst their bodies look tiny; making dogs and cats look very cute
with their big eyes.
Glimpses
Talking to Warren
today, we discussed the idea of mirrors and viewing York differently,
as well as a photowalk or tour. He was reminded of some sculptures
or something similar in Sheffield city centre. He was not clear
exactly on what, but a quick google search revealed what he meant.
Warren clearly meant the big chrome spheres outside Sheffield
millenium gallery, in the Peace Gardens. A Flickr search on these
areas show that people interact with these balls and are intrigued!
Its a touchpoint which can help to liven up a space, introduce an
activity and also stimulation. A photo by Oliver kershaw shows
brilliantly what can be done with such a simple object. A large
reflective ball in a particular space can help emphasis a location
and make you more aware of your surroundings. People are intrigued
by the reflections and take closer looks, takes pictures and also
identify the shapes made in the skyline. I could imagine this in
areas which are small such as the Shambles, as well as outside York
Minster.
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| Photos by Digitalrev TV in a different perspective. |
These snapshots from a
Digitalrev TV video show how a mirror is used in a city to make
interesting viewpoints. The presenter (Kai) takes along an assistant
(intern) with a large mirror in and around the city streets. There
are sometimes very narrow areas where the assistant is able to
reflect glimpses of the other buildings. Generally, humans stand
upright and their natural, comfortable eyesight prefers to look from
the horizon down to the feet. Fifteen to forty-five degrees below the
horizontal is most comfortable. Its been an evolutionary trait as
most of human's prey are within this angle of view. It no wonder
people looking up are always tripping over things, or bumping into
people. It's hazardous, and therefore not very common that people
spend time looking above the horizontal. They may only use their
peripheral vision only.
Romantic York
As KT Landsay says in
her blog, “Sheffield is many-faceted it's
great to photograph. Working on the theme of 'steel' could take you
in so many different directions, from the existing and dilapidated
steelworks to steel architectures and art in the city centre to the
old millstones ”(KT Landsay 2009). It is what makes
Sheffield interesting, since most visitors get a feel for the city
and explore by sight. You follow what is intriguing to you. I feel
that in York, it is not very multi-faceted. In York, there is a lot
of history. It is almost a one dimensional city in this sense;
everywhere you go history is everywhere. You are surrounded by the
city walls, you walk on the cobbles, and you glance up to see the
georgian, victorian, there is a very distinct lack of modernisation.
Or you could say there is a overwhelming romancism of York.
I think that for York
to become more interesting, a bit of contrast can help. Bringing out
a juxtaposition would release the city from being stuck in the past.
I remember the Architect from the council, Guy, saying that people
are almost blind to stepping forward as a city. They feel any
changes are 'Not in keeping with the city'. Guy said he had a
concern for York that always looking into the past prevents change at
the present time. There is a danger that we become constrained to
not doing anything to the city. There is no mark to say “We were
here”. We will look back at the time when the georgians were here
or the Victorians were here etc. But what do people fifty years from
now have to say that we were here? Naturally, the new replaces the
old, but there is also a place for the conservation of the past.
I guess that guy feels
that anything he wants to do for the city of York, for the better is
resisted by many who believe it would destroy the essence of the
city.
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