Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban
As Urban As I Get.
This weeks WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge theme is “Urban.” Since I had already made plans to head into Portsmouth, NH today (Saturday) anyway, I was in luck. Also, since I would rather have a root canal than step foot into a “real” city, Portsmouth would have to do.
The weather wasn’t completely cooperative this morning, and fog prevented me from getting several of the photos I was hoping for. All in all, still worth the effort.
Portsmouth is an “artsy” town, even the graffiti is top-notch.
Okay, maybe not ALL the graffiti is top-notch.
Nothing says New England…
…like a towering white steeple above downtown. Unfortunately the fog made for less than inspiring skies as a backdrop.
Not a bad way to get around town.
I hope these images were “Urban” enough for you.
Hi, Jeff, I’d like to compliment you on the third photo. I’d like to offer a suggestion to change “unfortunately” to “fortunately!” I find that the foggy softening of the steeple is more than amply offset, and very dramatically enhanced, by your incllusion of the fabulous foliage in the foreground. A beautiful work!
August 25, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Thanks Gary! Sometimes I tend to let my disappointment with how I hoped a scene would work out get in the way of how well it might have worked out regardless. I do think this shot is a nice bookend to the very same composition I have of this church, only in my other shot there is a large Christmas tree taking up the foreground where the garden is now.
August 26, 2012 at 6:55 am
We have lived in or near several large cities and are now enjoying living in a small town in a rural area. Thanks for sharing about Portsmouth. It looks like a clean, charming small city.
August 25, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Thank you Ruth. It is a very nice place. Can get very crowded with tourists, but at 6 a.m. I had it mostly to myself
August 26, 2012 at 6:56 am
The colors are so warm, Love them!
August 25, 2012 at 11:00 pm
Thank you!
August 26, 2012 at 6:57 am
You really have a great eye–these are exceptionally beautiful shots.
August 26, 2012 at 1:30 am
Thank you Naomi. This is definitely not my normal subject matter, so I’m glad you think they came out well.
August 26, 2012 at 6:58 am
Great shots as always Jeff!
August 26, 2012 at 6:52 am
Awe, your too kind
August 26, 2012 at 7:10 am
I love this little town and can easily see myself living there
. You should do more “urban” photography :O It is almost better than your topnotch landscape takes 
. I have a favourite among these… can you guess which one?
August 26, 2012 at 7:55 am
Thanks Paula, I’m going to go with…
…the Church?
August 26, 2012 at 8:04 am
The tower to be more specific
. The first one though with the cat brought on some childhood nightmares for me :O
August 26, 2012 at 8:22 am
Brilliant as usual. The 4th one is my fav
August 26, 2012 at 8:27 am
Thanks a lot Joy. Never would have pegged you as a biker chick
August 26, 2012 at 8:30 am
Really?! I’m full of surprises
Okay honestly, I like the way the bike looks in the picture more than I would like taking it out for a spin. With the colors and setting, it just works.
August 26, 2012 at 8:36 am
So I shouldn’t look for you during bike week in Laconia next year?
I know what you mean. I know this is hardly an original idea, but the scooter on the brick sidewalk in front of such a vibrantly colored storefront? It was practically daring me to take the shot!
August 26, 2012 at 8:54 am
Haha! No! At least not without a camera in hand. And cameras don’t go well with moving, open air, two wheeled transport
You’re too hard on yourself. I wasn’t thinking this unoriginal at all. I know others who could have taken this pic and I wouldn’t have given it a second glance. It’s all in the style, angle and finish. Either you have it or you don’t. And you, my friend, clearly have it!
August 26, 2012 at 10:40 am
I can think of a boat-load of photos to be made from the back of a bike.
Thanks for the comment on the photo. I was thinking more along the lines of having seen plenty of “bicycle / scooter leaning up against the building” shots. Thanks for the vote of confidence
August 26, 2012 at 11:11 am
Well see, that just shows that you’re braver than I. I will be the one waving as you zip past.
August 26, 2012 at 11:16 am
Yes these are great! You should take a lot more and share them. Great color!
August 26, 2012 at 8:32 am
Thanks! Even though it really isn’t my “thing,” I find I enjoy this kind of photography quite a bit, and look forward to more in the near future.
August 26, 2012 at 8:49 am
Wonderful Pictures Jeff. Great post.
August 26, 2012 at 9:47 am
Thanks!
August 26, 2012 at 9:53 am
Thank you for showing us the wonderful city of Portsmouth. Amazing colors! Great job capturing it!
August 26, 2012 at 9:58 am
Thank you, and thank you for stopping by!
August 26, 2012 at 10:57 am
Nice set of shots – love the colours, especiallty between the church and the foreground plants
August 26, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Nice shots…I’d say they fit the “urban” theme very well. Really like the first one.
August 26, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Thank you very much! I really had fun with them. I’d rather be in the woods though
August 26, 2012 at 7:18 pm
love it! love the first photo, love the third photo, love everything! urban enough? you bet! but really the third photo is awesome..you were squatting on the ground when you took that photo? the color display is fab
August 27, 2012 at 1:33 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, I was kneeling on the ground, and cursing myself for leaving the knee pads I normally carry with me at home! Most of my time that morning was spent kneeling on brick or asphalt.
August 27, 2012 at 6:06 am
Gorgeous urban captures. I like your style and value the effort you put in polishing your photos.
August 27, 2012 at 5:49 am
Thank you! Sometimes a little “polishing” is right, too much and they get the delete key
I’m not a “fix it in photoshop” kind of guy. But I do use software to its fullest advantage to finish a photo 
August 27, 2012 at 6:16 am
I appreciate that. A little more saturation, detail, a better suited crop, etc. My way is to add back just what is needed to restore the emotion I perceived when shooting, but is not registered by the “neutral” camera
August 27, 2012 at 6:34 am
Exactly!
August 27, 2012 at 6:45 pm
That third photo is amazing.
August 27, 2012 at 6:53 am
Thanks Bob!
August 27, 2012 at 6:45 pm
The last image… is delicious… that caramel color rocks.
August 27, 2012 at 7:36 am
I’ve had my photographs described in a lot of ways, but you’re the first with delicious, I like it
Thank you!!!
August 27, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Hi,
my name is Terence and I posted this week’s photo challenge. I would like to put together a gallery of (some of) the submissions and wanted to ask your for permission to include your shot! If so, could you send me a link or the file?
Best,
Terence
August 27, 2012 at 8:04 am
Thanks for the invite Terence. I just submitted a photo to your Tumblr Urban Photography Challenge.
August 28, 2012 at 9:30 pm
The first is my favorite. It is very creative. The second says urban.
It was worth the trip they are real nice.
August 27, 2012 at 9:41 am
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Hi Jeff! Some nice captures, especially the angle taken with shooting the church steeple.
August 30, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Thanks Rick!
August 30, 2012 at 9:37 pm
That first graffiti is awesome!
September 7, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Isn’t it! I wish I was that talented.
September 7, 2012 at 8:17 pm
great photographs!
September 9, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Thanks Gabriel!
September 9, 2012 at 4:43 pm