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I have been asked twice to show some "ugly" sites of Vienna.
Very difficult assignment: What is ugly?
I tried for days
to find something truly offensive to the sense of sight!
It was not easy!
I almost shouted out "Oh, goody!", when one evening I happened to be stuck in traffic right along an unsightly wall which hides the railroad tracks leading to a Vienna railroad station (Westbahnhof). Camera at the ready, I started shooting,
much to the puzzle- and amusement of the folks in the cars behind me. Traffic moving at the ugly pace of an inch a minute, they had plenty of time to wonder, and I to zoom in on the carefully chosen subjects.
The result? Ugly?
I think I missed the assignment.
Have you seen Aki Kaurismäki's movie Man Without A Past ("Mies vailla menneisyyttä"? There are some stunningly beautiful scenes at the very beginning of the movie. Kaurismäki shows us an industrial area, a container port, with the dilapidated buildings painted the most brilliant colours, against a perfect blue sky. What could essentially be ugly and depressing, looks pleasing to the eye.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BP2gyMvM1rs/Rm8QAiQkL2I/AAAAAAAAC6g/mBMdMZTbpvI/s200/Westbahnhof+027.jpg)
Nanni Moretti, in his movie Dear Diary ("Caro Diario"), also manages to transform an essentially ugly landscape in a rusty seaport into a thing of beauty by letting a tall snow-white cruise-ship slide slowly and majestetically into the scene (Nanni by the way loves Sachertorte).
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BP2gyMvM1rs/Rm8QBCQkL3I/AAAAAAAAC6o/jxPQHanznjw/s200/Westbahnhof+029.jpg)
What do you think of my attempt at greatugliness?
That was me!
ReplyDeleteI asked for ugly!
I'm afraid you've fallen a little short of the mark - your artistic eye is far too evident.
Shots 2 & 5 are quite beautiful!
Shots 6 & 8 are a bit ugly.
But seriously, it is wonderful to see some sights of Vienna that aren't picture postcard perfect.
Thank you so much for the look around.
i don't think you can DO ugly...
ReplyDeleteyour composition turned the blight into art...
sorry! i think maybe you failed at ugly.
your usual vienna shots seem
so curly and roundy and old-fashion worldly
(did i say that?)
and this seems more straight and sharp and bright moderny.
but still,
your Gift of Cropping
transformed the potentionally ugly into,
well, ART...
or something...
:-)
You are an artist merisis.....and you are making beauty out of ugliness.
ReplyDeletePhotos 3, 4 and 7 are winners. What about a poster for your library :-)
Thank you all! :-)
ReplyDeleteAs for cropping, I hadn't much wiggle room, sitting in the car, and sticking the camera out my side window (there was oncoming traffic between the wall and my side of the road - and they moved!).
I must say that I was quite impressed by how the railway company keeps the buildings in fresh paint, pretty colors for utility's sake, don't you think so?)
I think - nothing can be termed as ugly as its all about perception. One has to feel very strong to get that point of view across. In all the pics - my first thought was -hmmm what that wire is doing...oh if you would take away that roof - that would be pretty....so I think may be what you have shown is - Beauty goes with some imperfection.....lol....
ReplyDeleteYeah and please do not try again...its not you....lol...
Hmm. I still don't think Vienna is ugly, but you did yoru best. ^_-
ReplyDeletei agree. I think its only ugly by comparison!
ReplyDeleteNot really ugly, no. Not quite as breath-takingly gorgeous perhaps... :-) Your innate sense of design is evident.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to see some different kinds of sights! Thanks for attempting.
I was just thinking yesterday that I have a suggestion for something ugly for you to photograph in Vienna: The Vienna General Hospital (AKH). It is huge and hideous and looks like a prison. Worst of all, it is one of the biggest buildings in Vienna! I challenge you: Turn that monstrosity into art (I am sure you will.)But also post a regular picture of it, so everyone knows how ugly it really is.
ReplyDelete