With the dental hygiene appointment having run a tad overtime, I can almost hear the parking meter — which is now several blocks away — counting down. With some time pressure and with the wintry wind cutting between the buildings, I’m hoofing it pretty smartly through Ottawa’s mean streets. Or so I think until I note women of an uncertain age passing me pretty regularly. Sigh.
Never mind. I’m on a mission to get some exterior shots of Centre Block before the 10-year renovations begin. Who knows what it’ll look like next year?
I get my record shot, so I can track the visible changes over the next decade. The equipment out front is for the lighting of the Hill for Christmas, rather than for construction.
I get my arty shots, because it’s a beautiful blue-sky day, and who knows how long it will be before these views are available again?
But I do not get the video I had on my wish list. A group of indigenous protestors, whose signs indicate some dissatisfaction with the AFN, are gathered all around the eternal flame and I judge that this is not the moment to start taking video.
But as I hot-foot it back to my car, there are happy surprises to more than offset the disappointment.
OMG, those are spectacular reflections. But as I looked at the second pic up from the bottom, I couldn’t help wondering what they are reflections of. It’s almost like a poem in Chinese characters….
Jim T
Jim – Thanks! And I think the second-up pic is fluorescent lights in the offices, maybe distorted by blinds. But I’m sure not sure!
very nicely captured reflections Isabel. I’ll second Jim’s comments about the second last one
Jim R – Thanks, Jim. It was a lucky sighting, for sure.
Wow! More excellent shots. The lighting and reflections are superb!
Judith – Thanks again. Another reminder that I should remember to photograph the city I live in, where I can choose my days and lighting conditions, more or less.
I like the last one…but not sure I’d like to take that window-washer’s place.
Tom
Tom – I know! I pointed him out to a passerby on the street who laughed and said, “They don’t get paid enough.” And it hardly matters how much they do get paid, it can’t be enough . . .
It makes my palms sweat! Where is his rope??
I asked one of our 2x year window cleaners who uses one rope with a seat at the (for his) bottom if he ever got used to it. “Yeah. No problem.”
Barbara – I expect it’s one of those jobs where if it bothers you, you can’t & don’t do it. That would be me.