The Photo of the Week is posted every Monday.  Each photo aims to document the things I've seen, places I've been and all sorts of curious things I have encountered as I go about my daily activities.  Along with the photo I will provide some background and interesting facts about the image and some technical information as well.

Urban Decay

If you feel that you're suffering from a lack of creativity or inspiration, head for the city.  In most cities there is lots to do and see and it is this very combination that can make for some interesting photos.  First there is the obvious touristy things like famous buildings, bridges, statues or attractions such as sports stadiums or amusement parks.  All of these are great subjects but you can be sure that they have all been photographed a million times.  Why not dig a little deeper and seek out some less often shot areas of the city.

On this particular day, I found myself in the city of New Britain, CT.  It is nicknamed the "Hardware City" because of its history as a manufacturing center and as the headquarters for Stanley Black & Decker, a company widely known for producing high quality power tools.  Immediately adjacent to the spacious Walnut Hill Park is the Museum of Modern Art, but even the most beautiful cities have their dark alley ways and areas that are less visually appealing.  But how can one appreciate beauty if one does not become intimate with things that are less so?

 I came upon a cluster of very old brick factory buildings that must have been out of operation for decades.  There was graffiti, broken windows, trash laying around and "No Trespassing" signs warning people with cameras like me to keep their distance.  I had to do the best I could since getting photos due to the locked security fences supposedly there to thwart off any more vandalism.  I was very intrigued by what I saw in the photo above.  Each of the numerous panes of glass reflected the light differently so many took on various shades of color, and when looked at as a whole, gave the impression of a kind of weird modern mosaic art.  Looks like kids had lots of fun throwing rocks and smashing the small square panes of glass.

So in this instance, I could have played it "safe" and took pretty pictures at the park or the Town Green or challenge myself to seek out lesser known hidden gems.  Either option is valid and one is no better than the other as both will dare you to put your creativity to the test.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/320 sec at f5.6, ISO 200
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm