Rooftop reflections, between buildings in Syracuse, N.Y.
My dear wife Karen and I drove to downtown Syracuse for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday afternoon. My primary mission was to capture the mood with my iPhone 6 and my noodle, for my weekly community blog for Syracuse Public Media site waer.org. You’ll be able to see my column there, as well as a companion piece and photos here, on Wednesday.
After parking on the top level of her usual garage, where I snapped some shots, I asked if we could take the elevator to the higher elevation of the rooftop of the building that houses her SMG employers. It’s closer to the parade route, and thought I might be able to get a good view down on marchers and fans.
Alas, an adjoining building blocked my sight line to the route.
But oh, how that spot was wonderful for this weekend’s Photo 101 assignment to think about the use of light in our photography. I took many shots. I was struck with the way the light danced between the buildings in the photograph up top. And the reflection off the window at right enhances the image, too.
Gray can be enlightening.
Immediately above, I like the way the browns of the buildings pop against the striated gray sky. It was gratifying to get this view from the ninth floor.
More stairs on the roof.
I was also delighted to find one more rickety iron flight of stairs outside, on the rooftop. I of course had to climb it. That’s where I took the top two shots. I couldn’t resist shooting immediately downward, too, for a different sort of light.
What would you shoot from a city rooftop? Which of the three photos is your favorite, and why? What do you think of the other two?
Mark Bialczak 
I like them all very much, but I probably like the bottom one best because it has better lighting and mostly because I like the contrasting textures in the brick wall, the block floor, and the rusty metal rails. Excellent job! 😀
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Thank you, mentor Rachel. When you move here, I’m signing up for the in-person class. 🙂
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I am so behind on reading one of my fave blogger’s posts! I blame it on my 21 year old who is home for Spring Break and is always hungry!
I see at least, 49 shades of gray in these photos. Not 50, but definitely 49. 🙂 I am so envious of your iPhone 6 and its great camera. All the pictures look so crisp. My sister is doing all kinds of things with hers. She’s into doing videos in slow motion and with special effects using her phone. Nice pics, Mr. B. 🙂
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Let’s get you a new phone/camera setup, Mrs. B. By us, I mean your Mr. B, of course. I support you both in spirit. 😉 Your 21-year-old back in the nest, that will keep you busy, my friend. Keep cooking, Mrs. B, keep cooking. We can always catch up afterward. We ain’t going nowhere. Thanks for your kind words about my 49 shades. I’m taking videos, too. I now have my own YouTube channel. Take that, Your Sis. 😉
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Great shots, Mark – the stairs on the roof were my fav!! 🙂
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Thank you, Sadie. It was quite an exciting spot to be on Saturday. 🙂
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A St. Patrick’s parade already? This month is flying by! How fun. Great photos, Mark. I think my favorite is the last one with the rickety stairs. It just seems the most interesting to me. What’s the story there? It would make a great prompt!
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Please feel free to use the rickety stairs as a prompt, Amy! Old, metal, go to just a small platform, on which I stood and took the photos. 🙂
Yes, the parade was Saturday, tomorrow is the day. Halfway through March, we are. Flying past, indeed.
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I like the stairs shot, Chum. Exactly what my eye would’ve been lead towards, as well. Good to see the sun, a bit. Hope the parade was fun.
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Yes, the parade was big and boisterous, Aud. The stairs shot is a pretty one, you are right. 🙂
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I think I like the last shot best Marvelous Buddy Mark, because it feels more personal. The other two feel ‘okay’. But the last one makes me feel like we’re going somewhere….
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Thank you, Magnificent Buddy Colleen. Now we’re going somewhere! Rooftop photography was fun for me. 🙂
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🙂 I like the energy you’re putting in to these challenges MBM!
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It is fun. Of course I am putting my whole self into it, MBC!
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If you’re going to do it, MBM, do it with gusto! (Flash back to your beer sign…..does it bring up any old slogans?)
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I would have a Schlitz, maybe, if they brought it back, MBC. 🙂
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😉 I am sure the Schlitz makers would be thrilled to be recalled and do so with that gusto MBM!!!! 🙂
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I hope they were the company that used gusto in their ads, MBC!
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http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-1148-go-for-the-gusto-or-dont-go-at-all/
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Yay! I had it right, MBC. 🙂
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Never doubted it. 🙂
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You are brilliant. I never doubted you. 🙂
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😉 Even after all those brain-cell-killer-beers in college, MBC.
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What??? You drank beer in college? It doesn’t even show. 😀
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If I had a dollar for every beer I drank in college, MDC, I’d … nah, I was a journalism major, skipped math, so I can’t tell you what I’d.
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Well you could tell me in story form, just not how much better off you would be financially. 😉
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Good point, MBC. Made like a true storyteller.
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😉 I’ve got your back MBM.
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I like #2 bc it looks like happy Christmas decorations on the building. Bows and ribbons. The last one makes me feel like Karen Carpenter. Not bulemic or dead, I mean. But like I’m…on the top of the world, looking down (down) on creation, and the only explanation…
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Only you, Kerbey, would come up with Karen Carpenter from this. Your creativity and my photography can go far, I think. The second shot does look like a wrapped Christmas gift!
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I really like the contrast in your last pic. The brick, the table and chairs and the rusty railing. They all meld into more than just different colors. Very provocative.
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Thanks, Benson. I think the people who live in that building have quite a nice retreat up there.
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The reflecting light is interesting, yes! I am not a fan of heights but I got through the post without feeling overly queasy, woohoo! 🙂
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That’s the spirit, Christy. This was way up there!
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The challenge for finding light on a slightly overcast day is immense. I think your reflection of the one building upon the window of the other building is a good one. I also liked the one with the perspective of looking down upon the rusty stairs and patio. I would like a sunny day, with blue sky and plants out on the roof of a building. I like on the show, “Elementary” he has a pigeon coop on his rooftop. Rooftops make me somehow always think of the possibility of super heroes, Mark!
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Pigeon coops would be fun, Robin. I didn’t see any on the neighboring rooftops. No super heroes, either, darn it. 🙂
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that’s cool you went out of your way to shoot. i like the third the best too, all of the colors and contrast, like a good painting. )
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It does look like a painting, Beth. Closest I’ll ever get to brush art work! Thanks, my friend. 🙂
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Great shots! I agree with the others, the third shot is my favorite because of “what Kim said.” Lots of different textures and colors.
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The textures and colors, and it has the best direct light. I had to throw that comment in for my lesson plan, PJ. 🙂 Thanks for your wise opinion.
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No problem! Especially since I am such a professional photographer (NOT!!) LOL!!
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I’m really impressed by the third shot! Nicely done!
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Thanks, Marissa. Shot No. 3 is getting a lot of votes. You have a good eye. 🙂
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Ha, it’s you who have the good eye my friend. I am only stating the obvious!
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😉
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Nicely done, Mark! Love the stairs shot from above. … If we had an assignment today for snow, we’d be all set here in Syracuse. Again.
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Yes we would, Jim. I just posted a snow picture. I’m so obvious. Anyway, I enjoyed climbing up to the tippy-top vantage point I could here.
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I like them all, but the third is my favorite. I can’t really tell you why, because I’m not artsy like that, but I think it must have something to do with the stairs and the exposed brick. It speaks to me more than the others. 🙂
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That’s cool, Hollie, how the third one speaks to you. The language of city living. Imagine living in this building and hanging out up there with friends for a few drinks? Way cool.
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That would definitely be cool!
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I love the stripes of clouds in the second shot, but I really like the angles, colors and textures of the third.
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I don’t get up on big-building rooftops much, Kimi, so this was a photo op treat. Thanks for your kind observations. I know you see the big world in wild proportions from your work space in Atlanta!
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Thanks, Paul. The way this workshop makes me think what I’m seeing in front of me through in terms of the image is making me quite happy, too. I’m glad you can see the results along with me.
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Awesome Mark! I love the juxtaposition of the new and old. The reflection in the windows is great. And the way there is foreground and background- all differing is very attractive. Nice job.
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