It's All Around You
Backstreet, Darlington
Posted by Rhys (Darlington, United Kingdom) on 28 April 2008 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.
For the time being this is the last shot from my Darlington series. I have many more but I think I'll save them for another day. I took several shots of backstreets like this. I suppose most people will immediately think of Coronation Street when they see this. Darlington, like a lot of North of England towns has many scenes resembling this one. Personally I find them a bit depressing but they tend to make good photographic material!
The other site :
Feeling generous? I would be extremely flattered for your vote at :
@fcofont: Thanks!
Saeed from ahwaz, Iran
thats great!! prespective is perfect and colors are amazing!
well done
28 Apr 2008 6:34am
@Saeed: Thanks, the colours are quite 'earthy', lots of red brick and northern grey skies!
@JLT: cheers!
yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece
I really like very much your Darlington series and I think that this one is far the best - very good work
28 Apr 2008 7:03am
@yiannis krikis: Thanks, I've enjoyed photographing my home town and best of all I think there's more to come!
Anthony from Bielefeld, Germany
Depressing maybe,but still a great shot.I like the way the "phone cables" make a canopy over the houses.
28 Apr 2008 7:14am
@Anthony: Thanks, I think the cables are one of my favourite elements of this image.
@Alun Lambert: Cheers Alun.
@Ana Lúcia: Thanks, the cobble bricks have probably been there for millions of years!
Aaron Schmidt from Auckland, New Zealand
Great lines - running up and down and left and right and then the telephone? cables to dissect them all. Good eye.
28 Apr 2008 9:52am
@Aaron Schmidt: Thanks Aaron , glad you like it.
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
Looks as if you're standing at the beginning of a never-ending journey! The perspective and tones and textures, here, really are terrific. Wonderful series, Rhys ... thanks for having me along!
28 Apr 2008 10:01am
@Ron: Thanks for the comments Ron, pleased you've liked the series.
moonhead from United Kingdom
Yes - does look like coronation street - I can hear the theme tune now! The light is wonderful.
Thanks for checking out my new site. ( I also took al look at you main website!)
28 Apr 2008 10:19am
@moonhead: Thanks, It was a flat day, which was great - no harsh shadows.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
You are right. It's somewhat depressing. Even the sky adds to that feeling. But it is like that most of time, isn't it?
28 Apr 2008 10:27am
@António Pires: LOL, yes most of the time it is! Life in a northern town is grim!
Daroru from Amagasaki, Japan
I really like the geometrical composition, all the lines breaking up the shot - quite inspired...
28 Apr 2008 11:21am
@Daroru: Thanks Daroru
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
excellent. That post with the wires really puts the icing on the cake. Super.
28 Apr 2008 11:50am
@Michael Skorulski: Thanks Michael, my favourite part too.
@Teresa Durães: Thanks, even something as grim as this holds a certain beauty.
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
I like this shot, it's very cool. It reminds of the year we lived in Manchester several centuries ago! Great pubs, shame about the weather! :)
28 Apr 2008 12:44pm
@Margie: All northern pubs are the best, the weather you get used to. It doesnt matter what it does though so long as your'e in the pub!
Julian Kilsby from Birmingham, United Kingdom
Fantastic shot with an almost infinite depth, and the telegraph pole makes a great point for the eye to key into, and then to further explore the shot.
28 Apr 2008 12:52pm
@Julian Kilsby: Thanks for the comment Julian, glad you like the shot.
@QUIM: Thanks, that means a lot.
Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom
Don't you think it's crying out for the full Coronation Street smoky chimneystack B&W treatment?
I remember watching that programme when I was a kid at my Gran's house in the days of B&W TV....I used to find it depressing but compelling too!
I presume you've seen Bill Brandt's photos?
28 Apr 2008 2:09pm
@Ian Bramham: Bill Brandt is one of my favourite and most admired photographers. Both he and Don McCullin shot some brilliant b/w images of northern England. This nearly made it as b/w but there was something about the colours in this one that made me stick with it, there's a richness that I like. Cheers for the comments, I like your morcambe bay shoy btw.
Condemna from Barcelona, Spain
Excellent! The post with all the lines originating from it gives strenght and an interesting note of "unsteady equilibrium" to the photo
28 Apr 2008 2:33pm
@Condemna: Thanks! 'unsteady equilibrium'- I like that phrase!
Betsy Barron from Glenmoore, United States
awesome -really draws you in - and so sharp!
28 Apr 2008 3:02pm
@Betsy Barron: Thanks, these backstreets can be very very long, they just demand a wide angle shot and some perspective.
Observing from Chester, United Kingdom
They do indeed make good material, and this one is great. Being in color it has come to life and looks realistic and I think the symmetry is brilliant.
28 Apr 2008 3:28pm
@Observing: Thanks, these terrace houses can stretch for miles in some areas, each just a boring clone of the next and previous, but, like you say, that gives great perspective and symmetry.
Oswegan from Lake Oswego, United States
I really like it. The vanishing point on the cobblestones with the interesting brick walls, and my favorite are the wires stretching in every direction.
28 Apr 2008 7:14pm
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
Everyone’s idea of a backstreet . . but without the rubbish and litter! Cracking image.
28 Apr 2008 11:06pm
Simon Tew from North Port, FL, United States
I agree with Ronnie 2¢. Did you sweep up first? Great shot. Makes me miss home, even though as you say, it can be depressing. Great image!
29 Apr 2008 12:39am
Sean from Champaign, United States
I really like how the pathway fades into the distance. Great red and brown colors here. Nicely composed.
30 Apr 2008 3:18am
drphoto from Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
I know what you mean, I have the same love-hate relationship with scenes like this.
Dan
5 May 2008 10:52pm
Sharon from Brooklyn, United States
Lovely composition and sharpness. The light is great too. You've got a very nice portfolio
13 May 2008 4:26am
Jim Bridges from Sweden
I will agree with you. A bit depressing, but a really nice photograph. And the single pole with the wiires going off in all directions adds a nice point of interest to the shot.
22 May 2008 8:25am
Canon EOS 5D
1/100 second
F/7.1
ISO 100
24 mm