This End Up

Have you ever seen a photo that was difficult to decipher? A picture that questioned your mind’s eye and turned logic on its ear? An image full of mystery and intrigue that begged the question, what the heck is that?

The shot above was taken from street level, lens pointing straight up as I leaned against the wall of a hotel in San Francisco. The architecture is what drew me in; ornate and opulent in its detail and curves. The angle felt dizzy enough but the window’s shape and reflection was the visual component that added that little extra huh? to the image.

Have you captured something that made you question what was really happening? Something that was both compelling and confusing? Disorient us today.

Comments

[Amy]

Wow! That made me dizzy! What a great pic!

[Claudious]

I love this picture, I was a student of Architecture for a couple of years and immediately understood the angle and purpose of the picture... it really speaks to me. I've seen a lot of pictures that don't know such language as they try to inspire the rest of us with their off the wall angles... an upside down picture is always upside down.

[Marcie]

Love this image. The architectural details and the angle at which you captured them are wonderful. Here are a couple of my own disorienting ones:

http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=462
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=464

[e.darcy]

I find that I get in really close-I take pictures of the details that no one else sees...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2643341410/

But I really want to work on taking a step back, getting the full picture in there-and still be creative with it.

[maya]

http://flickr.com/photos/23558661@N03/2588266307/

it always looks obvious to me, but of course i'm the one who took the photo.

[jfrancis]

The mind
is marvelous
to imagine.

[Jen]

This was a test shot with one of the lenses I "borrowed" from my dad! I had no idea it would turn out to be so appealing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlynn28/2378664638/in/set-72157603854752289/

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

That is a wonderful photo, the reflection really does set it off.

Not that this shot is really disorienting, but when I took it I was doing so just to check my settings. When I got home and viewed it on screen I was drawn into it. I don't think I've ever looked at poison ivy, and thought, how beautiful.........

http://wayfaring-wanderer.blogspot.com/2008/07/slow-steady.html

[renee @ FIMBY]

I posted this to my blog back in January. My daughter was crafting with shiny mylar and it make for an interesting upside down reflection photo.
http://fimby.tougas.net/node/1275

[Bet]

I couldn't find anything that gave the disoriented feel but I did decide to shoot from a different angle in order to see things differently.

http://www.betrankphotography.com/?SSScrollPosition=602

[kristin]

i too love looking up at framework and architecture and shadow play... http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2644506974/

[carrie]

that's a great angle!

I like taking shots of trees at weird angles. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrielouise/2452987326/

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

Interesting topic as I have been playing with lines lately....


http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/2648263801/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/2713457149/

[Leslie]

Here's my "what is it?" shot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/westieluvr/2357755949/in/set-72157604227913050/

[tangobaby]

Oh this is my favorite type of "thing" to take photos of...I am always looking for something Alice in Wonderland-y:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2567020450/in/set-72157606301097214/

[Rachel Parton]

So glad to see this post today! I've been mesmerized by a picture on a blog-friend's site:
http://sandycovetrail.blogspot.com/2008/07/slipping-backward.html

[Janine]

a different view...

http://flickr.com/photos/25744047@N03/2504344594/

[elizabeth]

neat angle.

for me, I think it's this one:
http://www.pbase.com/va8eha/image/92175207

I know what it is, but when I look closely at it, the curves make me forget


humorously, this is an image that turned out to be "what is it?" when I thought it perfectly obvious. That made me chuckle ..

http://retinalperspectives.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/looking-forward/

[Lan]

photos that make me look at for a long time, for whatever reason, are my fave.

http://whatiseeclicks.blogspot.com/2008/07/bristle.html

[Sarah - Ji]

LOVE that photo, Tracey!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierraromeo/2512894502/in/set-72157604744240241/

[justmakeit]

What a great topic. I have so enjoyed looking at all these brainteasing photos! Here's one I took last week that was confusing to me even while I was taking the shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelpasch/2701728091/

[camerashymomma]

what a great photo tracey, definitely a 'huh?' i love that. and that you think of that too. and since you included a photo of mine (thanks!) i'll pass along one of my new favorites from someone else. i definitely had to get reorientated when i first saw it, it's just wonderful (as is the whole photostream)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/valska/2643751984/

[Lawyer Mama]

http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2447318051/in/set-72157605327080312/

http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2635499716/in/set-72157604697979383/