There are many things that I am drawn to when it comes to photography, but there are three words that mean I’m definitely going to be a while with my camera, so you might as well just sit down and relax. Those three words are: detail, patterns, and texture.
While touring the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa last fall, I found my eyes being constantly drawn upwards to gaze in awe at the decorative ceilings. They were rich and colourful and bursting with incredible detail. It’s a wonder I didn’t end up in a heap on the floor because I was certainly not watching where I was going, but I managed to stay upright and capture many beautiful works of art (because that’s what they really are in my opinion) before the kink in my neck made me turn to lower attractions. Here are a few of the most interesting ceilings, and I have saved my favourite of all for my next post. Stay tuned!
photos from the loonybin 
Terrific shots Cindy. I really love the second image. Perfect symmetry.
Thanks Edith. Symmetry smorgasbord that’s what it was :).
I would have done the same, Cindy.
Should you believe I have a similar shot as that first one in this post.
I love the details on old buildings. But my neck muscles aren’t as tolerant as yours I dare say.
Do you mean you have a similar shot of the same building or one where you live? I guess buildings from the same era have similar designs. Some people take the same standard pictures of famous landmarks, but I like to look around for the different shots too :).
I would have expected that you would be looking “up!” These are breathtaking eye views of beauty at the top. 🙂
Thanks Dor, and speaking of looking up, I still need to share my photos from the Natural Bridge.
Hurry up then! Or maybe you could postpone until you come back here to take some other upward angles!
It’s so beautiful where you live. I can’t wait to come back and explore some more and see you again of course :).
What beautiful shots… why don’t you just lie on the ground for these type shots… I do, you get to see some odd looks as people pass by as well… and to get them to move on faster just say “Don’t worry my fit will start just now.” They get going quickly…
I would have if I could have, but the security was pretty heavy there being government buildings, and we were part of a tour so they kept us moving along. There were a few areas where we were able to explore freely afterwards, and that’s where I took a ton of pictures of the most gorgeous ceiling ever!! I will try to post those pictures tonight.
most amazing shots Cindy. you always have an eye for the unique. everyone should get a chance to tour these awesome buildings. we go to Ottawa alot since Marty’s family is there and his brothers live just a block away. would you believe i have only been there once in all the 45 yrs. we have been going to Ottawa!!!
There’s so much that I still want to see in Ottawa, and Mike and I really want to go back sometime to explore some more. I still can’t believe that it took me 48 years to finally get to Ottawa. Glad you liked the shots Irene :).
It’s good to see these things brought out to view. It encourageres people to go take a look and not forget to look up. Nice job. 🙂
People always feel that they have to travel to another country to see great things, but we need to remember to look around us in our own countries too because there are amazing places all around us and sometimes really close by.
Oh Yeah 🙂
I too find myself drawn to the works of artisans of bygone days. I’m totally in agreement with the Bulldog in his recommendation of lying down and shooting from a prone position. One viable alternative, however, is to make a (relatively) small investment in a right-angle-finder accessory (mine is a Hoodman), which attaches to your viewfinder and allows you to see what’s in front of the camera while looking down into the gadget from above. It’s well worth it for when you need it (among other benefits, it lets you make a shot of something low to the ground without lying on your chest in the mud to see what you’re shooting. It also swivels 180 degrees and has an enlargement feature.
I love the idea of your alternative because as I told Bulldog, there were too many guards ushering us along to lay down on the floor with my camera. I will have to look into that accessory – it sounds great! Thanks for the suggestion.
Wowzas, j’adore! I love how gothic and overindulgent that lantern looks, and I love the second picture as well, especially how it slowly draws your eyes further and further in. 🙂 Any idea what those little pictures are indented in the ceiling? They look a little like they could be family crests or coats of arms or something. Either way, they’re cool!
I thought you might like these :). As for the little pictures in the ceiling, I know they told us all about them, but my memory sucks LOL! I am thinking that they are symbols/crests for each of the provinces in Canada – something like that anyway.
On another topic, the season for book signings is beginning. I just pre-ordered a signed copy of the third Discovery of Witches book by Deborah Harkness from Barnes and Noble that doesn’t come out until July. Then I will have the whole trilogy signed by her :). Plus I just found out that Diana Gabaldon (one of my favourite authors) is doing a book signing only an hour away from me in June, so I will be going to that for sure. I was talking to another author, Rene Denfeld, last night on Facebook, and she is going to be in Toronto next week. She is trying to set up a book signing but doesn’t know for sure yet. She is a death penalty investigator who has written a lot of non-fiction and has now published her first novel called The Enchanted. I bought it last week and will be reading it next. You should look that one up for sure!! It looks really different. Right now I’m reading a creepy as hell book called The Troop by Nick Cutter, and he is going to be in Toronto in April. Stephen King actually said that The Troop scared the crap out of him LOL!! Oooh, I also finished The Demonologist, which I loved, and the author, Andrew Pyper, is going to be in Toronto at the same event Nick Cutter will be at. How am I going to keep track of all this????
You know me too well. Ah cool, that would make sense. 🙂
There’s such a thing as book signing season?? I did no know this, even if it is theoretical, lol. I’m so out of the loop when it comes to these sorts of things! Ohh wow that’s awesome, I know how much you love her books. I didn’t realise the third one was close to coming out, I haven’t even got to the first two yet, TUT TUT. What’s a bookworm to do? I’m really looking forward to reading them though and they have such great covers. Plus if they come recommended by you I’m sure they will be great. 🙂
A death penalty investigator, yikes, that sounds like a stressful job, I’m sure she would have a lot of interesting things to say on the matter. I’ve never heard of The Troop but if it scared Stephen King it must really be something! I saw your rating of The Demonologist the other day which piqued my interest.
To me it sounds like you need to move to Toronto, LOL. 😀
I was born and raised in Toronto, but I couldn’t live there now. It’s too crazy and fast paced. I like living further north in the country where it’s quiet, but I’m still close enough to go to Toronto for book signings :).
Looks like a grand old building indeed!
t sure is :). I could have caught flies the way my mouth was hanging open throughout the tour LOL!
The cure for kink in the neck? Lay on the floor & take the photos! Hahahahahaha! Beautiful pics!
Thanks but that would have been a little tricky since there were guards ushering us along so that nobody ended up wandering around the Parliament Buildings unattended :). As it was, my mom took a header while taking pictures and they had to pick her up off the floor LOL!! Plus you have to go through security, and my dad had a little pocket knife that they had to confiscate. Boy we had a lot of fun that day!
Wonderful shots! Love them!
Thanks 🙂
Wow. I can’t imagine building something like this in today’s world. Now building are just thrown up so quickly and not that much detail.
I know. I mean there are some beautiful new buildings, but they just don’t have the character and artistry that the old buildings have.
Beautiful! We can always count on ceilings when it comes to older buildings! What a shame they don’t get so much attention these days.
Thanks :). You know, I’m very modern in many ways, but when it comes to architecture I believe that nothing beats the elegance, beauty, and stunning detail of older buildings!