Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photos: June 2, 2012

I love to walk in different parts of Montreal. The architecture changes depending on the year the area was developed as well as the clientele it was developed for. Even that evolved over the years as neighbourhoods deteriorate over time and more recently have been gentrified.



In many parts of the city you can see these three floor buildings with flats on each floor. Outdoor staircases lead up to the second floor. Some  sweep up dramatically, while others march up in a straight line.

Lines

Lines, originally uploaded by susanvg.

One thing I like about following people on Flickr is you see a wide variety of subjects for photography. One of my contacts, mikecogh from Adelaide, often posts industrial photographs - photos of those places that are not particularly beautiful.

I was at an art gallery in an industrial part of the city. On exiting I noticed these lines and shadows and thought it might make an interesting photo. When I turned and looked back at the stairs I was on, I shot this.



Getting into the rhythm of seeing the interesting in the ordinary. So these photos are dedicated to Mike.

Fire Escape

Fire Escape, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Photo: May 19, 2011

Old buildings are being converted to new uses. To respect new fire codes, additions like this fire escape have to be added. At least here, the building has found a new purpose. In the 1970s many buildings were demolished to make way for new, bigger, modern structures. A city has to grow, but I am glad we have preserved some of our history.

June 23/10: Stairway

June 23/10: Stairway, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A respite from city noise, our mountain park provides an oasis. A walk on Mount Royal always brings a sense of peace as I breathe the fresh air under the trees. Paths lead around the summit and through the woods. Staircases wind up the hills.

A stop at the lookout at the chalet brings views of the downtown and beyond to the river, the suburbs and then the hills in the distance.

There's a sculpture garden on the grassy slopes leading to Beaver Lake (a man-made pond). The mountain is one of Montreal's favourite playgrounds.

Feb 5/10: Up the Down Staircase

Feb 5/10: Up the Down Staircase, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Is it up or is it down? Stairs can lead you anywhere, or just be a place to sit. And how often have you gone up the stairs to get something, only to wonder why you are there. Then you climb down and your memory is jogged, so it's back up the stairs. Are these like Escher's stairs that lead both up and down, you don't know which way you are going? Or are they grounded in reality and just serve their everyday purpose? In a child's mind, stairs are whatever you make them.

From A. A. Milne
Halfway down the stairs
is a stair
where i sit.
there isn't any
other stair
quite like
it.
i'm not at the bottom,
i'm not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop.

Daily Shoot: More fun on a Friday: Make a photo that goes with the title of a movie you've seen, interpreted any way you like!

Day 148: Stairway

Day 148: Stairway, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Industrial architecture leaves me somewhat cold. However, I liked the variety of lines the stairs and windows made. I featured this building once before - another day that I had a meeting there.

It's not that I don't like minimalism. I love the smooth lines of wood and prefer Danish modern to a more ornate look in furniture. I think it is the coldness of metal that disturbs me. An irony of this place is that part of the building is built where there was a rather ornate apartment building. The facade of the building was left, so that from the street it appears to be an early 20th century building flanked by two modern structures. Things are not what they seem.

Day 101: 200 steps

Day 101: 200 steps, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A gorgeous day for a walk. We went to Mount Royal Park, our gem in the centre of the city. Each season has special features. Today the smell of the decaying leaves was evident - a fresh spring aroma. There were signs of the awakening vegetation, bits of green poking out and flower buds on a number of trees.

Walkers, cyclists, babies in strollers, people with dogs, older people - all were out enjoying being out of the city while still in it. Many languages could be heard as we walked. As a challenge, we tackled the Trafalgar staircase, about 200 steps. In the photo you may notice most of the people are walking down. The walk up is spectacular as the view extends as you get higher. This time of year you can see through the trees to downtown, to the river, to the mountains in the distance. Soon the leaves will veil the view, enclosing walkers into the forest.

Day 67: Stairways

Day 67: Stairways, originally uploaded by susanvg.

These stairways are pretty typical in parts of Montreal. There are two theories on why they were so popular in a city where winter takes hold for almost 5 months a year and shovelling would be essential to make them usable. The practical one is that rather than having staircases indoors which would take up usable space they were built outdoors and were thus not taxed as part of the building. The second theory has to do with the Catholic Church whose hold on the city lasted many years longer than winter. Having staircases outdoors meant that young lovers would not have places to loiter and more. The young women's modesty would be preserved. Whatever the reason, driving through parts of Montreal built on either side of the turn of the last century you will see many of these steep staircases winding their way up to second floor entrances.