artificial desaturation again? :/ (the background?)
anyway - a nice one, well, railway station ;-)

zimny: the background was marginally desaturated, but only to drop the obviousness of the red square in the top-left corner. The Synicate is almost entirely black and white anyway. And I forgot to say, this isn't a railway station, it's a row of shops - I have no idea what the 'railway station' sign is about.

Hey Dave. The short dof combined with the muted background gives this a bit of a scale-model feel -- it almost looks (to me) like a macro shot of a toy train set rather than a real-life train station. I like the effect.

Is the big dipper still on the pleasure beach?

Jon: yes, I can see what you mean. As for the rollercoaster: yes it's still there ;-)

Well, since you mentioned the background in your comments- it seems to become the center of my attention. Before I read the comment, I found the composition to be very pleasing and interesting, with only a slight notice to the background. In retrospect, I believe I would prefer (and find it more natural) if the background had been blurred with a bit more gaussian blur added but retain the original saturated color. That way, it would have simulated the DSLR-look, which everyone has accepted as "normal" although it's not. Very good photograph and one to be proud of (and after all of these words, I might add that just maybe the background makes it a bit "different" than the other sign-pictures).

I've posted another version of this shot without the desaturated background:

.../encroached_upon.php

As you can see, it really wasn't much of a change at all.

I've got to be honest.. I don't see the 'wow' in this photo at all.. I've come to love this photoblog because it makes me strive to be better. Always. Your last 10 photos (before this one) for example. The kids on the beach, the submerged bicycle, the bicycle after that which the white-walls on the tires.. those are my favourites. Absolutely gorgeous photographs .. I clicked on your site 10 minutes ago, and I thought I wasn't at the right place. Maybe someone can explain to me what I should be looking for in this picture.
I hope I didn't bring down the spirit of the situation, but "very good photograh.. one to be proud of" .. I'm not too sure.

Miklos, my "wow" comes from the love of sign-photography, when they are found in a visually pleasing composition and when the signs themselves have some inherent meaning to the neighborhood or perhaps are in a paradoxical situation. In this picture, the colors/textures/style of the brick and roof, along with the colors of the sign sets up the visual interest. The combination of the signs tells me a bit about the area. Lap Dancing/a nursing service/Smooch fashions/Mamma's restaurant/and the railway station is a combination much like an old man holding a baby. Before I had read the comments, I had admired the old architecture and noticed the difference between the old and new businesses. And that was the photographer's intention. Hope this helps and makes some sense.

"particularly the contrast between the faded and crumbling Victorian buildings and the more modern, pubs, clubs, car-parks and so on." -- Ah, a man after my own heart! More of this stuff, Dave. Fascinating. -=-Joe

Yeah, well, since you're into Blackpool, you need to rent "FunnyBones." That's all Ihave to say.

I love the foreground. Something about having a sign for a strip club right above a sign for nursing just really cracks me up. However, I find the background a bit distracting... it was the first thing that caught my eye when loading the photograph, which probably shouldn't be the case. Maybe the blur is unnatural looking? I can't put my finger on it, but something doesn't seem right. Otherwise, it's absolutely a beautiful photograph. Great colors, and great subject.

I really like this shot, mainly because it does just what djn says. It documents the architecture of Blackpool in a pleasing way. For me, it doesn't have to have a wow factor. I think djn forgot to say that the SYNDICATE in the background, is I believe the largest and most high tech night club in England, and as such provides the ultimate contrast between the old railway station in the foreground. It also makes me think about the small struggling businesses with cheap signage that may or may not still exist.

So David, I am personally a fan of this kind of picture. I like it just as much as most of the others

John

As somebody not unfamiliar with the Blackpool locale, I can tell you that the sign originally would have said "To the Railway Station". If you look carefully, you can see a stray 'O' to the left of the 'Railway Station' legend.

'Topping Street' (the actual road sign itself can be see below the Smooch Fashions announcement) originally led to the BR Railway Station 'Blackpool North'. Many years ago (more than 40 at least) this was altered - and the station relocated some way from it's original turf - the sign as DJ has photo reported, still remains. A nice observation!

east3rd: one of the things that makes this shot look a little unnatural is the perspective correction; i.e. the converging verticals have been straightened as though the photograph was shot straight-on. However, if this were the case the roof line at the side of the old building would also have been in profile rather than obviously shot from underneath.

John: I hadn't realised the Syndicate was quite so contemporary. Thanks for the info.

Mr Qwerty: thanks. I had wondered if the sign was something to do with the old Blackpool Central station (now long gone) but your explanation makes more sense.

isn't it funny that the advertising has taken over and completely dwarfs pertinent information like the street name?

you know i sometimes need some time to think. so, after a whole day of the image in my mind, i decided that i love it. the contrast: syndycate vs mamma's. yeah.

Just found your site--awesome pictures. I'll be back often.

Ah Aphrodite's....

Besides the already commented upon beauty and coolness of this shot, I am moved by what it says about the roles of women in our world, and I love the fact that it is captured by an artist who is the father of obviously loved daughters. Thanks again for sharing your heart with all of us David.