In honour of a great old building

 I decided to go with architecture today and creative digital manipulation, so the first 
three images are all the same, just different effects.    

These are some of the photographs I've taken of the facade of the old Post Office 
Building in Johannesburg.  It has a very interesting history - built in the late 1800's 

and situated in the first market square of the then up and coming city.   It's built in 
various architectural styles and has had some structural changes through the years, 
including the change from bell tower to clock tower (see images below).   

It was declared a national monument in 1978 and continued to be used as the Post 
office up until 1996.   The idea was to restore the building and continue to put it to 
good use.   Sadly it remained empty and was subjected to extensive vandalism.  
Then about a year ago it burnt down and it's future still remains inconclusive.

 the same image - 3 different creative effects .....

 

a view of the building whilst awaiting restoration - late 2008

and here - detail of the clock tower after the devastating fire of late 2009.

A MidWeek Blues post

 and Sepia Scenes post

Image(s) All Rights Reserved 

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images and {Gena D Photography} for thinking aloud

Ventilation Spires

two views of the ventilation spires on one of the old Jhb General Hospital 

precint buildings

 - see yesterday's and Monday's posts for more info and pics.

a Wordless Wed post

and

Sepia Scenes post

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Worn and Weathered

More images from my downtown trip to the Old Jhb Hospital precinct

 (see yesterday's post for more info).

This collection of of the worn and weathered - an old door, worn brick and

plaster work and painted down pipes ..... I just adore the brick red colour,

contrast and textures.

 bugweed growing against a weathered wall

bugweed is on the invasive list, but here, it just fits in

so well - tenacious and determined, like the building ....

peeling paint, breaking plaster and still the fine detail of

years gone by stands out....

A My World Tuesday post and

Ruby Tuesday Post

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Unexpected Finds

This past Saturday, I attended one of the Parktown Heritage Trust Walks - this time of

the old Johannesburg General Hospital precinct.   It was sad to see decay and run

down buildings, but at the same time, amazing to see what great work is being done

 to restore most of them.   Photographically this was a truly an exciting time - the

 contrasts, the details and the unexpected were around every corner.....

So the image above is part of the Johannesburg Hospital building with wild flowers

 growing around it and just for a Blue Monday, offset against a gorgeous blue sky.

These two images are close ups of the the wild flowers and of a dried seed head

- growing abundantly amidst apparent chaos and decay. 

Blue Monday here

Macro Monday here and here

Flowers for today here

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Views and Reflections of Newtown (Jhb)

Yesterday I posted a skyline view over Newtown Johannesburg, today a few more

images from this historical and culturally rich area of Johannesburg.   Above

 reflections on the sky scrapers which oversahdow the older buildings of

Newtown and below

a view of the building which now house Museum Afrika,

and another view with graffitti'd artwork of famous musicians of days gone by
 (Miriam Makeba on the right hand side).
A Reflection post and Scenic Sunday post

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Newtown View

glorious blue skies over the Newtown Precinct, downtown Johannesburg

A Skywatch Post and LATSOF post

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Aspen Flowers

a reflection in the vibrant doorway of Aspen Flowers, Cape Town

Image taken by friend Alex D and used with her permission

for more Weekend Reflections, click here

to view more Color Carnival, click here

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Hillbrow Tower

a view of the Hillbrow tower against a crisp blue sky.

The tower has always been used for signal transmission, although

at one stage there was a restaurant and viewing platform 

at the top.    Today it's use is purely for telecommunication.

Image taken opposite the Hillbrow post office.    To see previous

 posts on Hillbrow or for more info, click here

to view more wonderful sky posts, go over to Skywatch

and to Looking at the Sky on Friday

Image: Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Moody Sky at Dusk (sky/reflections)

click on image to enlarge

Taken at dusk - just perfect for capturing the moody sky and the reflections of the surrounding buildings and scenery at Brighwater Commons, Johannesburg.  Have a great weekeend!!!

To view other Sky Watch posts, click here

to view other Looking at the Sky on Friday posts, click here

to view other Weekend Reflections posts, click here

Picture Credit : Gena D Images