ugly beauty, a photo from Antwerpen, Flanders

Photographer's Note

This one is a bit special for me,
because it is not special at all.

This is the view from my working space, a small room on the first floor of our house.

Very, very much a daily scene...except for the light that came in so low and lit everything up, so I could not resist and just had to get my camera out.

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I call the shot "Ugly beauty", because that's what it is to me. Belgium has been called "the ugliest country in the world" by one of our most famous architects no less and he has a point.

When it comes to city devolopment, urban planning or whatever, we Belgians don't like to follow rules. Everybody just does what he/she wants to, or at least tries to. Belgians will often say they agree with you, then turn their backs and do the exact opposite. We are notorious for not following rules.

So if your idea of beauty has something to do with order, starting from an idea then working things out methodically...nope, that's not Belgium.

This attitude has many downsides, but it's not without charm either.

And then with some good light...

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song title reference: Thelonious Monk

holmertz, jhm, clic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (86053) 2019-11-19 12:03

Hello Benny,
I understand your title. There is something rather captivating with the colours and light in the photo, even though the buildings are really ugly. At least from this angle. It may be good for your work discipline that you don't have a view from this room that would normally cause much distraction.
Regards,
Gert

Tue (74974) 2019-11-19 13:13

Hallo Benny,
De verrommeling van het landschap in België is ook wel berucht in Nederland, maar hier is alles dan ook wel tot in de puntjes geregeld middels vergunningen en regeltjes. Dat is ook niet altijd alles. De verschillende stijlen van de gebouwen maken samen toch een mooi geheel en het licht was natuurlijk prachtig en geeft een mooie gloed aan dit stadslandschap.
Lars

Silvio1953 (195666) 2019-11-19 13:20

Ciao Benny, superb sky with fantastic light, wonderful colors, magic atmosphere, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Nicou (192476) 2019-11-19 21:44

Hello

quel éclairage et tonalité fantastique image et ciel rouge avec cette forme de nuage qui se marie avec le éfiices en fond superbe composition
bravo et amitié
Nicou

ifege (23839) 2019-11-19 22:08

Hi Benny
The buildings in the scene may be ugly but the evening light makes up for it. Worth grabbing the camera.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (128441) 2019-11-19 23:12

Salut Benny,
Une vue à priori pas vraiment photogénique ... sauf qu'avec ces teintes et ces effets de lumières, la photo a tout son intérêt, beau rendu et bien vu ce cadrage.

CLODO (43326) 2019-11-19 23:58

Hi Benny

You should work instead of looking out of the window! It's all about a ray of sunlight peering through the clouds and which increases the houses wall colors. I appreciate the hues here
Cheers
CLODO

abmdsudi (84085) 2019-11-20 2:40

Hi Benny
Marvellous what you see just round the corner, It's gorgeous interplay of light and brill colours in perfect harmony and you really managed to get a full effect. The whole image comes to life...
Fantastic shot,
Best regards

jhm (194975) 2019-11-20 6:04

Dag Benny,

Vandaag zijn we buren op TE.
Sant in eigenland, ja misschien voor eental mensen niet belangrijk.
Maar Benny, foto zijn zeer objectief.
Voormij is deze foto heel mooi.
Het gebouw met een heerlijke wolken hemel.
Goede contrast foto ook. Bedankt.

Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John.

rychem (69851) 2019-11-20 7:33

These building are really not the most beautiful, but the light makes the houses colorful and eye catching, the most beautiful element is of course the bright and colorful cloud
regards Ryszard

clic (23254) 2019-11-21 11:57

Dag Benny You also could have titled "When the clouds make a big orange smile over town"!! Thanks for the allover rigorous verticals! Tot ziens

terez93 (1869) 2019-12-02 21:57

A very lovely candid photo of some familiar scenes. I think you could have alternatively titled it "A Study in Reds!" Very dramatic lighting, which is definitely eye-catching. Just one of nature's little rewards to get us through the work day. Great capture!

SSavvas (334) 2019-12-08 5:15

Hello Benny,

yes the buildings maybe ugly, but the picture is very interesting and nice with the colours from the sky and the atmosphere from the hole picture !!