The ghost of 'lectricity...
Cloud Tower
Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 10 February 2007 in Architecture and Portfolio.
Many apologies for the lack of comms...heavy schedule etc. Will get some AM3 time to check in this sunday or monday. looking forward to catching up.
I hate this building. I really do. It has absolutely no redeeming features. Actually thats not true. It has a great view from the top, but the edifice itself is an embarrassment to the city. Ive been trying to shoot it for a long time and cant get anything going on. I dont really know what to do with it. Portray its hideousness or attempt to make it into something which it isnt (an object upon which the gaze can linger without revulsion ;-)) its got me beat.
Daniel from United States
Definately a black mark on Kyoto's otherwise pristine skyline.
10 Feb 2007 5:16am
@Daniel: yes indeed. foul foul building.
Untitled from Kyoto, Japan
Um...well considering we get to see this practically on a daily basis and the fact that it is a pretty ugly building that is pretty much always lurking in the corner of your eye...it's a brilliant capture. Seen hundreds of pictures of the tower in magazines, books, travel brochures...but nothing to match this. Think you've done it a favour. It's a great composition. The clouds are very imposing. The tower looks kind of insignificant...
10 Feb 2007 5:23am
@Untitled: Cheers man. the clouds are the real stars, I'd love to make this friggin building disappear!
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
What can I say? It's a graphically powerful image. And the tower appears _ahem_ not unattractive here. From this image, I'd say it looks as though someone wanted to be able to get that much closer to the clouds - and that's why it was built.
10 Feb 2007 6:12am
@Damon Schreiber: A fine reading. It's horrendous in person. the colour scheme would make you weep.
Rene from Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada
I like Damon's take on the image. Personally I hardly noticed the tower and really focused on the cloud. I think you did the building justice. Just because someone was an architect it does not necessarily make them an artist.
10 Feb 2007 6:56am
@Rene: I agree Rene! an artist certainly didnt make this building! thanks for the visit mate!
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
I love Rene's comment!! Yes, the cloud is what made me look at this - the building, well - without it in this picture, wouldn't have been such an impressive shot.
10 Feb 2007 9:50am
@Bronnie: Thanks Bronnie!
Kheoh Yee Wei from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hey,does anybody notices that it looks like the future space elevator? Judging from the tower looks like shooting up through the cloud ! Great shot indeed =)
10 Feb 2007 10:28am
@Kheoh Yee Wei: ;) love that reading Kheoh Yee Wei. thanks!
Jerry from Tampa, United States
SUPERB perspective Duncan! Excellent image - perfect tones!
10 Feb 2007 10:47am
@Jerry: Thanks Jerry!
Colour blind from Tokyo, Japan
Considering your hatred for this building you've done a great job capturing it. However I agree with you I saw the tower and it's nothing special...it was a terrible choice for such a traditional city. I think the clouds really make this photo. If there were no clouds the tower would be too lonely. You've given some justice to the tower. Good job!!
10 Feb 2007 11:05am
@Colour blind: Thanks again Kelly.
Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States
I like Kheoh Yee Wei's comment. It does look like a future space elevator! I like to think of it as someones attempt to reach the clouds. I think you did it justice! Well done!
10 Feb 2007 1:05pm
@Craiger: Thanks Craiger!
Angry Buddha from United States
I love your conversion on this. It makes a nice contrast between the sky and cloud.
10 Feb 2007 2:28pm
@Angry Buddha: Thanks again Sean!
Jen from Jessup, United States
I love the persepctive and I agree with the others...my eyes concentrated more on the clouds!
10 Feb 2007 2:34pm
@Jen: Thanks Jen!
Alfredo J. Martiz J. from Tokyo, Japan
That's true that because someone is a "architect" doesn't make him a artist, I will like to think this was not made by an architect, anyway amazing shot not because of the tower, but because of the presence of the cloud!
10 Feb 2007 2:39pm
@Alfredo J. Martiz J.: Cheers Alfredo!
John Hartman from Kyoto, Japan
You did the best you could with that blight on the landscape. The only building uglier in town is across the street. Kyoto Station is one big architectural afterthought.
10 Feb 2007 4:03pm
@John Hartman: Cheers John!
Still from Valence, France
Interesting in your shot... In the reality I don't imagine what is really this one... Perhaps like the Tour Eiffel in Paris, strange, not beautiful, and so present....
10 Feb 2007 6:12pm
@Still: Believe me Still, its horrid in real life!
Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia
We've got a few architectual eye-saws in Melbourne, though none on the scale of the tower. Still I think you've caputured it well here - I think Damon stated it best. The treatment is fantastic, really like the tones you've gotten out of the sky in black and white. Great stuff!
10 Feb 2007 11:08pm
@Chris Sullivan: Thanks Chris, I always enjoy your comments, you make my day!
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
reckon you made it work Duncs as the tower is so small in the frame. nicely done.
11 Feb 2007 2:16am
@Stu: Cheers bro!
Evelyn from New Milford, United States
I had the exact same problem when I passed through and tried to photograph that building...but you did an excellent job of showing just enough!
11 Feb 2007 4:31am
@Evelyn: Thanks Evelyn, its a horrid edifice isnt it!
Maoya from Rolle, Switzerland
Excellent framing, make quite a captivating shot. What a crazy cloud.
11 Feb 2007 12:07pm
@Maoya: Cheers Maoya!
@Makoto: Thanks MAkoto!
Addey Kehinde from London, United Kingdom
Nice shots, dude.
This one's mi fav! The clouds are really intimidating and make that big ol' tower look pretty minute. Nice composition...the b&w works well here. Brilliant!
12 Feb 2007 2:48pm
@Addey Kehinde: cheers Addey!
Paul Ricciardi from West Hartford, United States
Nice graphic shot, good contrast between the rigidity of manmade structures and the soft flow of nature.
12 Feb 2007 4:52pm
@Paul Ricciardi: Thanks Paul! and thanks for the general support. your visit always gives me a smile. Most appreciated.
Kate from Japan
As you say, Kyoto Tower is a very ugly structure, but I like your capture of it here very much. It's a striking photo.
14 Feb 2007 12:04am
@Kate: Thanks Kate! horrid building isnt it. my next mission might have to be to show it in all its horror!
Fujifilm FinePix S9000
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ISO 80
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