Thursday, April 12, 2007

Looking up, looking down


Looking up in Sydney, surely you know where we are ?
But looking down, did you know the pathway looked like this ? Of course you have to prevent people from jumping or falling off the bridge, but I dream of something less invasive that would give passerbys unobstructed views over Sydney's magnificent harbour. Something like the glass panels of the Grand Canyon Skywalk that opened a couple of weeks ago? Now that would be nice! (if you're not already familiar with the Skywalk, make sure you click here for a photo, it's awesome!).
I'm always fascinated by the different views a photographer standing in the same place can show, depending on where he decides to point his camera.
eeee
En levant le nez, je suis sûre que vous devinez où nous sommes ?
Mais saviez-vous que le trottoir en bas ressemblait à ça ? Bien sûr qu'il faut empêcher les gens de sauter ou de tomber du pont, mais je rêve de quelque chose de plus discret qui offrirait aux passants une vue non obstruée sur la sublime baie de Sydney. Une paroi en verre comme sur le Skywalk du Grand Canyon qui vient d'ouvrir il y a quinze jours ? Ca, ce serait bien ! (si vous n'avez jamais vu de photo du skywalk, cliquez ici, c'est renversant !)
Je suis toujours fascinée par les différentes vues qu'un photographe placé au même endroit peut montrer en fonction de la direction dans laquelle il choisit d'orienter son appareil.

20 comments:

Julie said...

Have you tried Bridgeclimb? The view is spectacular, and since they buckle you on, there is no fence in the way!

Anonymous said...

Sorry Julie, at A$165 a head at the cheapest (weekend rates at A$225) I haven't tried the bridgeclimb!

Cergie said...

On dirait un mikado et pourtant ça tient ! Je suis très attirée par tout ce qui est léger et métallique et solide à la fois

Bien vu l'observation du garde-fou. On est en train petit à petit d'équiper les stations de métro à Paris de parois en verre (bien) avec portes automatiques pour éviter les suicides
Station St Michel, terrible. Très courue. Et "incident voyageur" qui résonne dans l'oreille très souvent, et finalement ça devient très banal. Moi ça me fait peur. Je longe tjrs les murs. J'ai la trouille d'être poussée sous la rame qui arrive

Allez, Paris est une jungle. Après le coup des chaussures de SDF d'hier, je me demande ce que je vais te raconter demain pour te faire voir la vie en rose....

TORUŃ DAILY PHOTO said...

Two great pics of a legendary Sydney icon! Love the rich, blue sky! Well done! By the way check out Toruń DP today, as we are running a competition.

Anonymous said...

This Grand Canyon Skywalk is so weird. But the view must be terrific.

Anonymous said...

I know we should try and dissuade would be suicides, but I agree with you - doesn't make for a nice experience. In Switzerland there is a general attitude that you are solely responsible for your own actions, so you will find little of this sort of thing. If you want to throw yourself off a cliff/bridge etc, this is the place to come

Memories Catcher said...

I like the composition and prespective.Good colors and contrasts.Well done!

Anonymous said...

This is a very nice photograph, Nathalie. I get the creepy feelings when I think about climbing something up high. I must have been pushed off of a cliff or fallen off in some other life experience.

Abraham Lincoln

Kate said...

The girders in the top photo make an interesting pattern against the blue sky. I don't share your enthusiasm for the Grand Canyon structure though. It's an eyesore in a breathtaking natural environment, as far as I'm concerned. And, I think I'm sympathetic to the Swiss philosophy; we're all responsible for our own actions BUT I am sympathetic to the individuals who have seemingly insurmountable issues that would drive them to suicidal decisions.

John said...

Hi Nathalie,

I'm with Julie about trying the bridgeclimb. Why not save up and do it for a special occasion. It is really great.

On yesterday's post, can you tell me where the Westpac forecourt is please.

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

bridge girders make interesting photos.
I've got a bridge [and warning notice!] on my personal blog at http://ackworthborn.blogspot.com/2007/04/bridge.html

Jing said...

i love the second photo more.
:))
wonderful place to stroll after lunch i am for sure.

jing
shanghai daily photo

Olivier said...

c'est vrai que c'est pas beau (celui du grand canyon est vraiment impressionnant) mais c'est une bonne securite (j'ai peur du vide, donc...) et puis on protege pas toujours assez, il y a deux semaines, qq a reussit a se suicider en sautant de la tour montparnasse, comme quoi, jamais assez de protection

M.Benaut said...

This is a brilliant photo. I love it. I am dying to show you my 1965 photo taken from the bridge, but i need your permission, and that of Sally to post it some day ???

Hans said...

wow what a construction ..respect for the man who build this

Maxime said...

Vers le bas, c'est vrai, ça fait un peu carcéral (efficacité avant tout - il paraît que c'est un trait australien). Mais vers le haut, l'envol : le rêve du prisonnier....

Gregory Sey said...

Comment dire... La prévention, parfois, ça a du bon...

Anonymous said...

I had heard about the Grand Canyon platform, but hadn't seen a photo yet. Thanks!

I love the idea of a series of photos standing in the same spot. Mmmm. Now you've got me thinking! And there's software to connect it in a 360 panorama . . .

freelancer said...

On dirait le dessus de la tour effel ... Avec les barrières anti-suicide !

Ming the Merciless said...

Natalie, the first photo looks deceptively like the Eiffel Tower. How beautiful!