:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Friday, August 08, 2008 ::

Behind the Smile

Colston 33 i
Originally uploaded by gusset.

My trusted old copy of Paint Shop Pro 6 failed me when it came to DPI adjustment earlier. After checking this (All About Digital Photos - Changing the DPI of a Digital Photo) I downloaded irfanview and got the job done easily.

So now my entry for Bristol: A Second Look is in, not that I expect to get anywhere with it. It's just an image I like. My thinking behind it was this:

"The pictures have to represent a hidden or unnoticed aspect of Bristol.
Show us what you think the soul of this city is.
We want to see Bristol as known to the people who live here."

Where it was taken: It fits into the 'places which people might not normally be able to see category' as it is inside the clock tower on the roof of Colston 33, on Colston Avenue. The shot is sat on the drive arm for the clock, looking out through the clock face, across the centre to Eagle House (on the right) and the rear of the court house (on the left). You can also see the top of Carwardine's on St. Stephens St at the bottom of the frame.

What inspired you: Several things. The first was my love of getting into parts of buildings people don't normally see, which fortunately I get to do from time to time with my job. On this occasion I wasn't there for work related reasons except that my office is in the building and after some persuasion I talked the security guard into letting me onto the roof. I have always been fascinated by clockwork mechanisms so getting inside of the clock tower was a great scoop. The view out is not spectacular by any means, but as the clock has been sat there ticking away since 1928 I can't help but wonder what changes that face has seen with it's view across the city centre, especially through the Second World War, sat atop a building originally named Northcliffe House after Alfred Harmsworth (Lord Northcliffe), a man known for his warmongering through his newspaper empire. "Soon after the outbreak of the First World War the editor of The Star newspaper claimed that: "Next to the Kaiser, Lord Northcliffe has done more than any living man to bring about the war."" [Source]

In shops where clocks are on sale, the time on the clock face is almost always set to either ten to two or ten past ten, to give the impression of the clock face smiling. Although accidental, I like that fact that this has been captured at about a quarter to two, giving the impression of a slightly wonky, one-sided, knowing grin.

Edit: Update

Labels: Bristol, Flickr, Photography

:: Dan 8.8.08 [Arc] [0 comments] ::
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