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Now before you get the wrong idea from this post title, no, I am not a peeping tom.

I swear.

However, I do love windows and noticing how they're all so completely unique in their shape, size, and style. And being someone who lives in a city, it's interesting to see the vast diversity of windows.

As I've shared in many of my urban photography posts, what I love about cities is how gritty they can be. And to me, that grittiness is what makes city living so appealing. I don't like being surrounded by locations where everything is so obviously new, homogenized and pristine.

Because it lacks character.

I like a city that looks as though it's been aged; carrying with it glimpses of the past that peek through the architecture as if to say, "Hey...remember me? I'm old, but still beautiful!"

I'm sure you've all heard the expression: shabby chic, which is a style of interior decoration that uses furnishings that are or appear to be pleasantly old and slightly worn.

Well, I've decided to create a style for why I find city life so appealing. It's called: "gritty chic."

I took these photographs over the past two weeks, all of which were taken from a distance using my camera on manual mode to get a closeup view. I also tried to capture various highlights and shadows.

Please enjoy, looking through windows...














Have a grrrrreat weekend, everyone!
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24 comments:

  1. 4 and then 5 were favourites for me, the red door shot is brilliant. Well, I think so. When you take these shots do you think people who live there would complain?

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  2. Ron, these pics are gorgeous! Such diversity! I don't currently live in a city, but I did several years ago and agree with you about the grittiness. I think it adds so my character.

    That final shot is just beautiful!

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  3. The intricacies and attention to detail is lacking in many modern structures. Today, it seems as though minimalistic design is what they strive for. My favorites are 3,4,5, and 6. Beautiful colors in all and you found a tree with green leaves near those (church?) windows! The red door is stunning, but my eye is drawn to the dentil molding. We were always surprised that our previous home (colonial built in 1967) had dentil molding along the entire front of the house under the roofline. It was just a Ryan Home, known for their cookie cutter styles, so a nice touch, though I doubt most would notice.

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  4. I was an inadvertent peeping tom once. Some guy in the apartment across from mine liked to walk around naked with his curtains open. I caught more than a few unintentional eyefuls.

    I love the photo of the windows reflected in the other windows (#7). How very meta. Thanks for sharing these, Ron! Windows and doors are always interesting to look at because there is so much variety in the different architectural stylings.

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  5. I did enjoy, Ron -- thank you! I like most of them, especially the way you've captured their shadows and character. And no, I didn't see a single person peeping back out at you, ha!


    I love the last one that looks like a church and the one that looks like a waffle with a dark row of windows running horizontally (probably an office building). I also like the third one, with the tree branch providing a top frame for it and the golden reflection in its windows. Magnificent!


    Enjoy your weekend, my friend! xx

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  6. You used Manual mode?! Yay!!!!!!!!! These are magnificent. I love architectural photos and you do them so very well. The perspectives on some of them are awesome. I think I like architectural shots because they can show the intricate creativity of the designer/builder...especially when linked to a certain era in history. The details are stunning in some of them. Well done!! Hope your have a warm and wonderful weekend. X

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  7. Thank you, Valerie! The shot of the red door was one of the last photos I took. The second I saw it, I knew I had to photograph it.

    Taking photographs in a city is a pretty normal thing, so I don't think people really care if you take a picture, especially in a city like NYC because EVERYONE is taking pictures.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend. Have a lovely weekend!

    X

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  8. Thank you, Candice :)

    That's one of the primary reasons I live in a city, because of the grittiness. I think cities (particularly cities on the East Coast), have a certain "feel" to them that I just love. They're EARTHY.

    That final shot is of St Peter and Paul's Cathedral, isn't it lovely?

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic weekend!
    X

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  9. I so totally agree with what you shared about the attention detail in many modern structures!

    I know, can you believe the tree with the green leaves?!?! That's the kind of winter we're having. You can't tell if it's winter or spring. One day it's warm, the next it's cold.

    " The red door is stunning, but my eye is drawn to the dentil molding."

    Yes!!!!! Me too! And that's exactly WHY I took that shot! Isn't the molding gorgeous? And I love how the blue paint is chipping off the ledges. THAT'S what I mean about "gritty chic!"

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaantastic weekend!

    X

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  10. "I was an inadvertent peeping tom once. Some guy in the apartment across from mine liked to walk around naked with his curtains open. I caught more than a few unintentional eyefuls."

    Bwhahahahahahahahaha! Oh Mark, that cracked me the hell up! And it's funny you mentioned that because my apartment building is directly across the street from a hotel. I too have caught more than a few unintentional eyefuls while looking out my windows. You would not BELIEVE the things I've seen.

    Thank you. That shot of the reflection in the windows was one of the last photographs I took. I captured it while walking home from Trader Joe's one afternoon.

    Have a faaaaaaaaabulous weekend, my friend. And thanks so much for stopping by.

    X to you and Tara

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  11. Thank you, Debbie :)

    "And no, I didn't see a single person peeping back out at you, ha!"

    HA!...Yup...not a one!!

    The one of the church is of Peter and Paul's Cathedral, which is close to the Philadelphia Art Museum. It's not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside as well. And yes, you're absolutely correct...that is an office building on Market Street in the business section of the city.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic weekend!

    X

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  12. Aw....thank you for your encouragement, Lisa. I've been trying to only use "manual mode" so that I can learn more about photography and the camera. I really need to purchase a better lens though, because the one it came with is limited.

    " I think I like architectural shots because they can show the intricate creativity of the designer/builder...especially when linked to a certain era in history. The details are stunning in some of them."

    Me as well. The craftsmanship is incredible!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic weekend!!

    X

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  13. Ron, these photos ROCK! "I like a city that looks as though it's been aged; carrying with it glimpses of the past that peek through the architecture as if to say, "Hey...remember me? I'm old, but still beautiful!" I agree! That's one of the things that appeals to me about traveling to cities in Europe. I love the aged, gritty, and historical buildings.

    Love the 12th photo down!

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  14. Thanks, Matt :) YES!!!! OMG...I so agree with you about traveling to European countries and cities, the historical architecture is mind-blowing! You can actually FEEL the rich history emanating from the buildings. I remember feeling that way when I lived in Amsterdam, Holland for a summer. AMAZING place with incredible history.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend!

    X

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  15. I can't even pick out my faves because everyone of these pictures has such a diverse feeling, all beautiful in their own way! Ron, being someone who was originally from the state of New York and traveled into the city a lot, I completely agree about the grittiness being a big part of its attraction. Some people might see it as unattractive and even downright ugly. But I see it as part of its charm and attraction.

    That last shot of the church dome is gorgeous! Where did you take that?

    Have a great weekend, neighbor! xo

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  16. Elaine you nailed my exactly feelings. That's one of the reason why I got tired of living in Florida, where everything is homogenized and cookie-cutter. It's all so new and shiny. I was so happy to move back to the Northeast where things are more real, diverse, and gritty.

    Thanks! That's Saint Peter and Paul's Cathedral on JFK Boulevard, right near the Philadelphia Art Museum. It's just stunning! And you should see it on the inside, it's equally as stunning.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantabulous weekend!
    X

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  17. Fantastic photos. I so love windows. And doors. The more weathered the better.

    I also like being out at night and glancing into lit windows as you pass. It's like a brief, secret view of someone's life.

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  18. Thank you, my friend! :)

    "I so love windows. And doors. The more weathered the better." Yes! Yes! Yes!....the more weathered the better. Couldn't agree with you more. I was talking with a coworker several months ago and we both mentioned how much we LOVE old (aged) things (such as old homes) because they had a history that you can feel.

    "I also like being out at night and glancing into lit windows as you pass. It's like a brief, secret view of someone's life."

    HA! Loved that! And me too! When I was a kid, the thing I enjoyed most about trick or treating on Halloween night was peeking into everyone's home to see what kind of furniture they had!!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend!
    X

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  19. Fabulous photos, brother! And you're so right about shabby chic and those lifeless modern windows.

    These old windows--and old buildings--are really works of art that should preserved and protected. Not torn down to make way for sterile office towers.

    The eyes are the windows out the soul, as the saying goes, and windows are a building's eyes, revealing these old souls.

    Great job, buddy! And we know you're not a Peeping Tom. You're a Peeping RON!!!

    Later, gator!

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  20. I love city living, which is one of things I really miss about not being close to NYC. I understand what you mean about " I don't like being surrounded by locations where everything is so obviously new, homogenized and pristine." Because that's how I feel about living in South Florida. It's so homogenized. I miss the grit of the cities in the Northeast. I more REAL.

    Gorgeous photographs, Ron! LOVE the red door and the one of the dome. Beautiful!
    xo

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  21. Hola Denise!

    Yes, and that's one of the MAIN reasons (besides the heat and humidity) why I moved back East after 20 years in Florida. It's so homogenized. It's like living in Disneyworld! LOL!

    Thanks! :) I love that cathedral dome of St. Peter and Paul. Isn't it stunning?

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're enjoying a FAB weekend!
    X

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  22. Thanks, Rob! :)

    I LOVE how you expressed this...

    "The eyes are the windows out the soul, as the saying goes, and windows are a building's eyes, revealing these old souls."

    Well said!

    And I know that you (being from NY) understand what I mean about how grit is all part of the attraction of living in a city. And I agree...these buildings should be preserved and protected.

    "And we know you're not a Peeping Tom. You're a Peeping RON!!!"

    HAHAHAHAHA! OMG, do you know what's funny? I was going to add that to the beginning of this post, but didn't. So thanks for saying it!!!

    Hope you're having a FABULOUS weekend, buddy!

    X

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  23. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comWednesday, February 05, 2020

    Love your urban gritty chic!

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  24. Thanks, Fiona!

    And thanks so much for stopping by!

    X

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