Ankor WOT!? Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Taken in that classicial British style of urban 'social' photography the splendours of Ankor Wat look a little out of place in an Oxford Street. This part of Oxford doesn't have a ghetto - a working class slum......if it did it would be one of the most expensive to buy into in the UK out of London....but murals like this are often criticised for 'gilding the ghetto'.

It's no secret looking at the image that the functional/abstract painting on the road excited me as much as the painting on the wall...those garish colours would have completely dominated in a colour photograph. Under a completely colourless and featureless English sky those hues are quite appalling. I also liked the echo of the triangles in the road and the perspective triangle leading up to the Wat.

I am a great fan of the work of Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and her photography in Newcastle - especially the famous work in Byker.

So this is my contribution to images on TE of this far away place. ;-)) none of your stunning silhouettes or sunsets just the dull dim reality of Oxford on a nondescript day in September!

The power of the gable end

Luko, SamB, luisafonso, klauner, manub has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Luko (13902) 2007-02-06 5:05

Encore quoi?
This one looks indeed like a triangle symphony, this is quite a surprizing painting in the heart of britain... but for me, one of the most surprising detail comes from the confrontation of the two opposite buildings (that noname shophouse and the might Angkor Wat) where, very oddly, the more mundane of the two architectural endeavours seem to proudly raise his chimneys above the more prestigious one.
Mary Poppins Utd 1 - Jayavarman FC 0 .

I think I would have waited two seconds time for the passerby to reach about the left third of the Angkor Wat bridge, like he was leaving out the painting. Enhancing the "been there done that, Angkor wot?" feeling.

designsoul (21394) 2007-02-06 9:11

:-))))
THANKS Kev for the laughter! Great title, and the shot is excellent, deserving far more praise than it has received so far. (These days I keep wondering why great shots like this one go relatively unnoticed.) The combination of the human and architectural elements, the fantastic, indeed bizarre nature of the fresco itself on this Oxford street, the beautiful tones again of course, all these make it into a totally delectable work. But the title, this title is the real maraschino cherry on the cake! :-)
tc,
sasa

bombilla (3402) 2007-02-06 12:46

Well, you must have been tempted to call it "Anchor Whassup?" (That's a sort of overused, banal expression around here these days, in case you don't know the reference.)

As you mention, the reflection of the triangular motif in the street signals and the mural (as well as in the design of the building itself) really gives this photo a remarkable sense of unity. Surely the artist must have been aware . . . .

What really makes me smile is the interruption of the mural by the street sign -- Tockmore Street. How not exotic a name is that to be juxtaposed with the ultimate travel fantasy site?

You get the feeling that if that pedestrian just took a right hand turn, he'd walk into Cambodia and the whole world will turn to vibrant color -- like a fantasy movie.

(PS. I think you mean "gilding the ghetto," unless you're referring to the Artists League, which would also be kind of funny.)

-Hugh

SamB (1948) 2007-02-06 23:46

Hello, Kev--
Tockmore Street, eh? Very interesting, flat surface after flat surface popping with abrstraction and allusion, lines and arrows and walkways and handrails, i love the contrast between the abstractness of reality and the reality of the painting, certainly unexpected. i agree with Luko (i've found that it's a safe thing to do...) about the man... another few steps would have really iced this one.
Thanks!
sam

luisafonso (858) 2007-02-07 6:46

I am mad about clean white skies in b&w photography. Love your vertical compo and the multitude of details inside the frame. I do agree with Luko, one second more and the guy in front of the bridge and it would be perfect. Or at least I think so. But I also like to see Ankor in its entirety... Great shot!

Furachan (0) 2007-02-07 6:59

Brilliant, Ryan wit at its best! But more than just a sweet play on words this is an extremely well composed shot, anchored by those Jinju-esque arrows at the bottom. Suerb clarity and great tones top it off.
Nice!
Francis

klauner (1020) 2007-02-08 4:45

Hi Kev,
Well composed shot. This time you did'nt have a rhinoceros coming in the street, but just a simple man.
I prefer reality of Oxford than sunsets ...
I think it's easy to make a good picture with a nice landscape. We didn't need beautiful to make a beautiful picture. That's what I call art. I would like to make more pictures of this kind.

Françoise

everlasting (10942) 2007-02-17 14:40

Extremely well composed Kev, I would have been excited to have seen this. full of triangles and with these Jinjuesque arrows and the witty title making it a little gem.