Spirals, a photo from Central Area, Central

Photographer's Note

The spiral staircases were used as fire-escapes; most pre/post WWII shophouses in Singapore would have them. This row of vintage shophouses are part of the Bugis streetmarket, good decision on their part to make such an outstanding architectural feature as colourful as possible. In the background we see the Parco Bugis Junction mall/Office bldg, which is just across the street; looking brown and drab.

The day was again rainy, it was just able to drizzle when I took this shot, skies were overcasted. I hv some OOF problems caused by the converter at the corners, it was just about to vignette. Rather then trim it off, decided to live with it :)

Some gamma correction and sharpening were done, plus slight saturation to compensate for the less then optimal lighting.

avigur_11, richtersl, acrylonithrill, PLD_images, shyeen, eleparc, Riz, raytheron, rabani, charmante, bertolucci, Tone, Joffre has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

avigur_11 (21954) 2004-03-20 10:15

Beautiful image. So many spirals, and so many colors. I like the diagonal line they form. I added it to my spirals theme. Very nice job, well done.
And welcome to TE.

richtersl (3546) 2004-03-20 10:16

These spiral staircases are really cool! Their bright, cheerful colors are a stark contrast to the that drab-looking building in the background. It's a pity you had moisture on your lens for this shot.

acrylonithrill (368) 2004-03-20 10:30

I know where's this place. Perhaps you should show the whole stretch with the WA.

Welcome to TE...

PLD_images (7149) 2004-03-20 11:14

Welcome to TE Steely. I like what you have given us up to date. This is a very intersting photograph. I have never seen straircases like these. Good composition and great colors considering the quality of light that day.

shyeen (317) 2004-03-20 11:34

Not many of these kind of stairs left in Singapore, they are cool with different eye-catching colours. Am tempted to go to the place and have a look on them.

flip89 (3400) 2004-03-20 12:08

Your decision to include the brown drab building in the background is a good one to show contrast and emphasize the beauty of the spiral staircases. Of course, photographs of the beautiful staircases alone could also work as they are very unusual. Good eye and welcome!

allotfy (1525) 2004-03-20 12:43

Very nice composition , i wish you try this shot again with out this bulding but really you did agret shot here will done i Did work shop to you

[workshop] [compare] +

eleparc (24063) 2004-03-20 14:54

great view Steely! I like this repetition of staircases in various colors. this diagonal frame is very appropriate too. I like also the contrasts with the very structured and square building in the background; nice opposition in styles and colors ;-) well done

Zanni (6108) 2004-03-20 15:12

Nice imagine. The staircases are elegant. Look at my photo "mamma mia": also there the staircases are used as fire-escapes but the contrast with the old building is as a knock in the eye

raytheron (589) 2004-03-23 10:47

I really like this one, Steely. You captured it well, and the contrast between the vibrant colours of the fire escapes and the drab building and dull light really makes the image striking. I feel you could perhaps make even more of the scene, so please take a look at my WS contribution. Great work as it is, though!

[workshop] [compare] +

mdchachi (1617) 2004-04-01 11:54

Too bad about the weather & vignetting but I love the composition and the subject. Definitely would be worth trying this shot again on a nicer day.

Aurelien (30) 2004-04-02 14:43

Funny Architecture.
I wonder if you should remove or not the building on the back.
Or at least change the angle of view and remove the trees.
Only keep buildings may be better...

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-04-05 10:38

I like the use of colours here, well done, excellent image indeed, I like the spirals. looks like a play house.

Well seen

touristdidi (8578) 2004-04-07 11:41

Nice shapes and colors.... I would have cropped out the building past the last one.....

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-04-08 5:48

Very good composition Steely, the colours are simply great !
Congratulations and thankd for sharing !

rabani (9645) 2004-04-08 6:10

This I like a lot. Tell you why. On the left side, is the series of spiralling colored staircases.Contrast that to the rather "brown and drabby" monocolor building on the right.

See whether you could go there again on a bright cloudy sunny day and see how it looks like then.

kooreman (321) 2004-04-24 8:00

Well seen these colorfull stairs.

charmante (1090) 2004-06-03 3:40

wow, very well done Steely, the repetition in perspective is great...the diagonal movement is interesting, & if I were you, I'd try to have more of the stairs ( the violet one _)& less of that building...

bertolucci (13351) 2004-07-11 17:32

Hi Steely, I never had a look at your first posting. And it's really a very fine one. The set of 6 spiralling staircases is great. The drab building in the back is an excellent balancing device. Great job!

Tone (101) 2004-08-14 22:41

awesome picture. great lines, colors, composition. you are a very creative photographer and turn common things into much more!

Jorge (499) 2004-08-30 17:50 [Comment]

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stefania_done (54) 2005-03-17 10:41

Such a wonderful photo!
Congratulations!

keribar (43841) 2005-03-17 10:55

This is a very nice view, reminds me of Maurice Escher's work. You were right to take a picture. Few people would notice
the beauty from this angle.

photokat (50) 2005-07-14 16:12

Like richtersl, I love the colors' contrast against the drab buildings. I also love the "coordination" of the spirals.

Excellent work!

Joffre (527) 2006-07-29 23:16

Hiya Steely, love the colours and diagonal lines of the spirals. Composition wise I would of liked to see some of the right building cropped, highlighting the green window shades, great capture!

martburn (533) 2007-01-26 23:16

Hello Steely,
It does ones heart good to see this kind of treatment to the urban landscape, makes you realise how colourful this world could be if paint replaced weapons at the top of the shopping list.
Your picture is well seen, I might have cropped the top of the building out for added
impact with the spirals.