Urban Attractions

Wikipedia says: Urban exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE, and sometimes known as 'roof-and-tunnel hacking') is the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or not usually seen components of the man-made environment. Photography and historical interest/documentation are heavily featured in the hobby... I found a website that identifies urban exploring sites in Toronto here.   However, as I scrolled through the list, so many of the abandoned buildings have been demolished and are gone.   Today's images might also capture urban components that will become lost.  Our Piano Keyboard in the first image has been added to the loading dock in recent times and brings a sense of delight to a back alley. It could disappear quickly with graffiti or demolition to make way for grander buildings. Our second image is a "preserved" painted billboard for Tip Top Tailors.  It is located on Richmond Street West - you can see the 'suits and coats' quite well.  I found a posting on it which says the building was once 5 stories with a small painted sign, and then become 6 stories, with the large sign painted over the first. As they have decayed, the original sign has shown through.

Tones and Textures

Working with tones and textures in photoshop seems so rewarding.  This first picture is the wonderful street band in Toronto last month - playing at the corner of Yonge and Gerrard.  By moving towards a monotone image, all the distracting background colours blend in and give added story components.  The fun that the band is having really shows. And don't forget to support them when you see them in Toronto!

This second picture is from my brother's Lilycrest Gardens hybridizing field.  It is full of distractions, so these texture overlays let me showcase the pretty blossoms and get rid of the background distractions.

The Big and the Small Details

What I so enjoy about Toronto are the many surprises.  I found this construction in downtown Toronto in the King Street West area.  I am fascinated by the great perch that this condo is being supported by.  I wonder what the finished building will look like.  

And along the way I found this weathered and worn Tattoo sign...

Toronto's Got Action

I so enjoy downtown Toronto.  I found the corner of Gerrard and Yonge completed built up with a new condo and a mid-town Reds bistro restaurant out front.  There was lots of action with 'The Sidewalk Crusaders' a young jazz brass street band.  It made for an opportunity to shoot blurred street action images.