House of Pigeons, a photo from Victoria, Est

Photographer's Note

One Sunday in January, while walking the dogs in Errol Street - the main street of North Melbourne where I live - I found not only was the evening sun casting a lovely light but, for once, there were no cars parked in front of my favourite building - the red one on the left - so I rushed home 300 metres to get my camera before the shadows crept too far up the walls. I took several shots with the CPL filter as various people walked past and the shadows grew longer, but thought this crop was probably the best of them.

I call it my favourite building because it has been for years the home of pigeons, which fly in and out and often roost, making song, on the ledges of the always-open windows. Of course, as luck would have it, they were not around at that time. The windows of the downstairs shop are now 'fair game' for bill posters, who come around, stealthily, once a week in the middle of the night to paste up the latest concert ads. Absolutely nothing has changed for the last 7 years, perhaps longer. The pigeons roost, the bill posters come, and sometimes for no obvious reason one of the doors stands open for a while. At the back of the building, which is accessible by a tiny lane, some kind of bitter diatribe has been written by a person who, I presume, was the last tenant, or maybe a squatter, of the residence; he or she must have been evicted and perhaps the building was condemned like many others in North Melbourne. I wish I had photographed this eccentric 'manifesto' for a WS.

The area of North Melbourne is one of the oldest inner urban areas around the city centre, its first buildings having been erected in the first few years of Melbourne's existence, in the 1840s, when the area was still called Hotham. Architecturally, it is a peculiar mixture of some grand Victorian buildings (from the 1880s and 1890s) like the bank building on the right side of the photo, factories and workshops, and workers' cottages. The population has for a long time been very cosmopolitan, and one of the reasons why 'gentrification' has not occurred as fast as in other older inner parts is that many working-class and migrant families retained ownership of their properties in the face of increasing offers by developers, who are busily converting factories and warehouses into apartment blocks and townhouses, often behind the original facades. Today, the area is populated largely by students and teachers of the nearby Melbourne University, but there are still plenty of old Italian migrants, and the largest concentration of public housing tenants in Greater Melbourne.

snunney, nobuikehonda, dta, mjdundee, lgir, holmertz, saxo042, baddori, francio64, chanteuse, mkamionka, SnapRJW, jhm, bayno, Longroute, annjackman, Kielia, Cricri, jlbrthnn, Charo, skippy007, UlfE, Glint trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

wolf38 (30) 2011-08-02 5:54

Just now I look at the HP Gallery and see your picture. This photo is fascinating in a strange way. Above all, the man in the picture is important. Overall, a good work. Top Rgds wolfgang.
..... the word Sale is a red flag for me:)

snunney (130967) 2011-08-02 6:38

Hello Andrew,
How strange, when I was very young I once lived in a house in Errol Street in Liverpool, number 92 to be precise. I like this image; it has a very particular atmosphere with the sunlit façades and the long shadows. As Wolfgang says, the man is a key element in the composition and is placed just right. Excellent rendering of the tones and textures in the brickwork.

nobuikehonda (3848) 2011-08-02 6:55

Hello Andrew,

I have just read your story. So the building is now empty for some time now. What has happened to the owner of this building? May be he is a pigeon fan. But for the pigeons, this empty building must be a great place, a perfect shelter. As far as the image is concern, the facade has a great shadow casting on it. I especially like the shadow, which belong to this lady passing in front of "House of Pigeons". I also like the fact that you have included a part of the building next door. Usually a place like this is a perfect nest for bats but in this case the pigeons have found and have occupied the house before them. I am interested in a follow-up on this story. One day, I am certain that renovation of some kind would take place. And the "House of Pigeons" would turn into something else. I am very curious to find out what would finally happen to the house. You have certainly found an interesting subject. The empty house with the windows permanently stay open must be a little spooky at night.
Thank you for the story.

Very best regards, Andrew
Have a great evening.
Nobu.

dta (98848) 2011-08-02 7:39

Hello Andrew ,
Great capture here ! The composition is outstanding , with so interesting elements and a clever framing . But the lighting , the shades , and the dark sky are others superb features of this shot .
Regards

Bartleby (13552) 2011-08-02 8:06

Hi Andrew,

I like how you've composed that. The man, even though he is a bit dark, definitely adds something to the frame, as well as this very saturated blue sky.

Philippe

mjdundee (4663) 2011-08-02 9:33

Hi Andrew,
Well spotted picture with a great note.
I always try to shoot late afternoon - first because I have more time - usually - and second bedause of the better light. Nice story behind this streetphotograph.
Old buildings have a lot to tell and definitelly look more interessting than the glass fronted highrise towers along the Yarra.
Always good light and please send some more of these.
Thomas

lgir (7363) 2011-08-02 9:44

Hello Andrew,

The contrasts of Color very marked who play with shadows to give depth to the composition.
Well done
Regards
Laurent

holmertz (101988) 2011-08-02 11:18

Hello Andrew,
Thanks for a most informative and interesting note and a picture with great details and superb colours and shadows. Weren't your dogs upset by your running off and on?
Kind regards,
Gert

saxo042 (38078) 2011-08-02 11:23

Hi Andrew,
An interesting contrast between the building here. A very fine capture and a very good note too.
Kind regards
Gunnar

ifege (46951) 2011-08-03 2:59

Great composition and POV Andrew. I've never explored this area but we're staying a couple of streets away in September so I look forward to checking your home pacth out.
cheers
Ian

baddori (20341) 2011-08-03 10:26

Andrea
Luce radente ed ombre ...in campo colore a mezze tinte.
Il grafismo, l'uomo le sue ombre ...i cartelloni offrono un mix vincente .
Ottimo lavoro
GF

francio64 (39888) 2011-08-03 14:03

Hi Andrew,
how are you?
Buon taglio verticale con un bel gioco di luci ed ombre e un'ottima resa cromatica dei colori.

TFS!
L'Assessore :)

mkamionka (73374) 2011-08-04 1:05

Hi Andrew,
it is funny how different people would notice different things in a photo. I am sure my wife would right away notice the SALE poster...
Extraordinary light indeed makes fantastic long shades here. I like also the contrast of the well lit foreground with the dark sky.
Very well spotted, nice story.
M

SnapRJW (31631) 2011-08-04 2:20

Hello Andrew - The rich colours and shadows contrasted with the bright whites are superb and well worth the run for your camera. I like the composition too with the three distinct colour blocks. Lovely story! Best regards Rosemary

jhm (211734) 2011-08-04 4:34

Hello Andrew,

We see two building, one half, this is the most beautiful facade.
Also the shadow of the photographer can we see beneath in image.
Sharpness and clarity are splendid.
Composition and presentation are pleasant for look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

bayno (18348) 2011-08-04 5:55

Hi Andrew, very nice play of shadows, you have managed perfectly the wonderful light, I also like the color of the sky very special and the contrast between the two buildings, one well restored and the other completely decadent, compliments for your gallery, the photos of the house with red doors is wonderful.
Cheers, Valter

Longroute (19600) 2011-08-04 12:57

I like mainly three things here: first of all the lovely light, a light which you could not afford to miss! then the contrast between the two buildings, so different from each others in style and colours and in the state of maintenance. Last that wonderful corner of deep blue sky. The buildings have a strong British flavour, reminds me of some peripheral areas in London, and the light and the excellent definition give to it a special appearance. Good that you found that gentleman passing by, it adds a touch of mystery.
A interesting and expressive composition.
Well done,
Donato

sandpiper (6788) 2011-08-05 1:05

Hi Andrew

I like the tones and textures and the way the man's shaddow looks quite different, almost as if it was taken at a different time.

Chris

annjackman (23019) 2011-08-05 1:17

Hello Andrew.
The strong light and shadows gives this a rather mysterious look with the figure and his shadow rising out of the dark base. The colours are superb and the dark sky a very important element in this great picture. Lots of detail captured in the brickwork and facade - super work.
Regards, Ann

Kielia (24077) 2011-08-05 9:51

Hi Andrew,
the moody colors and the light are very beautiful! You have composed a wonderful impression of these fascinating buildings taken from a very well working POV. This result was worth all your efforts. I hope the dogs did not mind!
I also enjoyed reading the interesting note. This is TE at its best, my compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

Cricri (176) 2011-08-05 10:28

Hi Andrew
Un contraste des deux bâtiments, leurs couleurs et les détails, bel effet d'ombre et silhouette de la^personne sur la façade, une très belle lumière et un cadrage intéressant
Belle soirée
cricri

jlbrthnn (76043) 2011-08-07 2:51

Hello Andrew,
The old walls have more charm, and exercise more fascination than the too much perfected constructions. The light is pleasant, colors ochre and blue are magnificent. It is an interesting composition close to a painting. Bravo.
Have a nice sunday
Cordially
Joël

Charo (51290) 2011-08-07 15:35

Hello Andrew,
Une composition très spéciale, en soulignant les architectures contrat.
Les couleurs sont superbes et la lumière et la définition, parfait.
Charo

skippy007 (12510) 2011-08-08 17:52

Hello Andrew, Enjoyed reading your note, brought back some fond memories, went to school & later married at St Mary Star of the Sea in West Melbourne. Interesting image, I like the contrasts you have captured here ie dark sky & sunlight, the man & his shadow which by the way I think is a strong element here, also the the dark shadows on the sunlit walls. Nice, good strong contrasting colour & clarity.
Regards
Santo

UlfE (14641) 2011-08-13 9:42

Hi Andrew,

Very nice photo of this old brick building. The dark sky and the saturated colours are really attractive. I love the mysterious mood. Also very good timing with the man passing by and his shadow perfectly on the door. I smiled when I read your very good and useful note. I really recognize the situation when you all of a sudden discover it is lovely light and the cars of other things that normally ruin the scene or view all of sudden are gone and you rush home to get your camera. I notice that you in your note that you were eager to take this shot and others before the shadows crept too far up the wall. I guess that you had some problems with the shadows here and that shaded areas in a photo normally look much darker than in reality. Here you could perhaps make them less visible and lifelike by decreasing contrast in an editing program, but at the same time the wonderful colours and the mood could easily be lost. The best solution is to try to reduce the shaded areas as much as possible. I am sure you have done this with this photo. TFS and have a nice weekend!

Kind regards,

Ulf

Glint (6171) 2011-08-14 11:44

hello Andrew,
the play of light and shadows on these oldbuilding give it a special atmosphere.The man walking by is perfectly placed and his shadow is a nice counterpoint to the light and colour of the building. Interesting note.My eye snagged on the "public housing tenants" as here in the UK, since the riots they are sneeringly being referred to as "Subsidised housing tenants" -by those who have been living off taxpayers money for years -MPs.
Bev

daddo (28748) 2011-08-18 4:33

Hi Andrew. Just shows you that one doesn't have to be in an old European city in order to create an image with impact and character. The extremes of the brightly lit and the deeply shadowed create a vivid image. The shadow of the tree and the wonderful inclusion of the man and his Hitchcock-like shadow lifts the composition high above the norm.Regards. Klaudio.

mafegan (8626) 2011-08-25 21:37

Hello Andrew
Good late afternoon light which is bringing out nice colour tones in the buildings and also the sky. Well composed with the man's shadow centrally placed on the door - just a pity there are some branch shadows over his face. Cheers, Marlene

Angshu (56760) 2011-09-14 2:47

Hello Andrew
Loved reading your note...dilapidated buildings or buildings in the making are always playgrounds of pegions...
The shadows play a good bit of role in this picture, especially that of the man. Also i like the fact that he's partly in shadow & partly in light. Good crop & composiion!
Best Regards
Angshu

Juzo (2151) 2011-11-03 8:47

Hi Andrew,
I love these old facades we see in many of our cities and towns here, I wish Brisbane had more like this, I should go hunting for some, as I am sure they are there. The light and colours as well as the shadows works a treat here.
Cheers
Justin