Where in the world is this?

Coffee Break
Seems like I was getting a little carried away here, this with my ongoing project of documenting the built environment. The gentleman opposite me asked earlier if he could take the empty seat across the way from where I was sitting. I agreed. This seemed to be more his window seat than it would ever be mine, this in the way he arranged himself after taking the seat.
While packing up to move on, I saw this picture and, this is it.
On parting, the gentleman asked, in impeccable English, “That must be a fish-eye lens? It can shoot very wide”? I said no. And then, mentioned that it was indeed a wide angle lens, one with a very wide coverage.
“It must be a good lens, its got the red band”? I smiled and replied, “It’s just a tool”. He was looking that the Canon 17 mm tilt and shift lens that I had attached to my camera.
This little exchange had me thinking. A stone mason uses chisels. A carpenter uses plains or saws. In times past, a good stone mason may have sought out and bought the best chisel he could afford. A carpenter likewise. In this day and age, who knows, maybe not? May be more a matter of buying whatever was the cheapest now and, hoping to get away with it?
People seem to have forgotten about the “buy cheap, pay twice” thing. All of this seems to be a matter of perception these days.
Strange what comes to mind when taking pictures. This was one of those moments. As I was thinking, what was going on here in front of me and more so, out on the streets below, seemed to be of a little consequence and almost altogether irrelevant.
Your mileage may vary – make of this image what you will – enjoy.
TECHNICAL NOTES: This image was taken with a Canon 5D MkII using a Canon TS-E 17mm f/4 L Tilt-Shift Lens.
Print Sales & Image Licensing: Interested in buying a print or licencing this image? You’re in the right place. For the time being, email me using our contact form. Please check out our print price guide. Commercial use image licensing starts at US$250/image/usage. We could come to some arrangement for personal downloads. Please let me know.
FEATURED WORK: Rogan’s work is featured on the following websites:
You can find out more about Rogan and why he does what he does here on his ‘Artist’s Statement’ page.
originally written and posted on 121012 – reposted on 190119
TECHNICAL NOTES: This image was taken with a Canon 5D MkII using a Canon TS-E 17mm f/4 L Tilt-Shift Lens.
Where else to find us on the web
Rogan’s work is featured on the following websites:
This is a portfolio website featuring some of Rogan’s social documentary photography using Fuji gear.
Print Sales & Image Licensing:
Interested in buying a print or licencing this image? You’re in the right place. For the time being, please contact me using our contact form. For prices, please check out our print price guide. Commercial use image licensing starts at US$250/image/usage. We could come to some arrangement for personal downloads. If you’re interested, please let me know.
You can find out more about Rogan and why he does what he does here on his ‘Artist’s Statement’ page.
More photography can be reviewed at our sister websites, The Lost Years Project and the Rogan Coles Photo Shop. Yes, we have an online web store where we sell fine art photography but, this print might not be featured there.
originally written and posted on 111012 – reposted on 190119 – revised on 230322.