Frost Night Owl

Posted by Twelvebit (Victoria, United States) on 21 July 2008 in Architecture.

Austin Image 15

I haven't been able to check blogs or respond to comments for the past few days but I hope to catch up on Monday. Thanks to those of you who have been looking and commenting.

I'm rushing this into production as the midnight hour nears. I got a laptop so I could edit photos without having to be anchored in a room somewhere, just me and my dog, and getting everything to work has been a killer, leaving little time for actual picture editing this evening.

There are those who deny it, but the visage of this building, seen like this from the corner, is clearly that of an owl. At the moment I don't really have time to get into the history and speculation on this building, but I'll try to post another image of it later in the week, and I'll discuss it then.

I'm not particularly pleased with this shot --it's either the noise or not being used to the laptop (though backing through my recent postings they all seem to look as I remember them).

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Comments (8)

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

A fabulous building at night! Perhaps an upright shot (like here) would have been even better, as the void to the right and left of the building is very big. However, beautiful mood and tones.

21 Jul 2008 9:00am

@MadScientist: Well, like I said, I'm not entirely pleased with the shot, but I sort of like the empty space. Vertical shot coming tomorrow though.

April from Iloilo City, Philippines

it does resemble an owl....

21 Jul 2008 12:45pm

Cia from Kvänum, Sweden

Lovely building and photo

21 Jul 2008 1:55pm

@Cia: Thank you.

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

It does resemble an owl or face, but I'm wondering if this was the architects intention.

21 Jul 2008 6:13pm

@JoeB: I'm inclined to think that the resemblance is so acute it cannot be accidental. There is a short article on the subject at Wikipedia; but the article seems disingenuous to me. Among other things, it pretends that the owl visage is questionable, makes a false analogy, and makes a questionable assertion about what was, or was not, included in the design. Furthermore, the author of the latest update is apparently a neocon (emphasis on neo and "con"), and may well have a political agenda, since Alex Jones is an enemy of his apparent political hero --Bush idolater and neocon propagandist Glenn Reynolds (not to mention the fact that neocons consider lying a noble act, if they're the ones doing it).

If we assume the resemblance was accidental we need ask no further questions. If we assume it was intentional we may wonder about the motive and why anyone would pay for such a design. Here there are, I suppose, any number of possibilities, from: it was designed to look like an owl because whoever paid for it likes owls; to an architect with a sense of humor; to it was designed to look like an owl to tweak conspiracy theorists; to it was designed to be symbolic (to serve whatever purpose).

Personally, I don't favor any particular explanation, but I am inclined towards the "sense of humor" explanation, which suggests either that the architect put one over on the buyer, or that the architect/buyers thought it would be amusing to tweak conspiracy theorists. Occam's Razor would suggest the simpler explanation: that the architect floated a personal "joke" by whoever paid for the building.

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

yep -- i can certainly see an 'owl' presence here and in an earlier shot you posted of this building as seen in daytime! :)

22 Jul 2008 2:55am

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Wonderfully designed structure. Love your framing

22 Jul 2008 3:56am

@sherri: MS didn't like the open spaces on the sides, but while I am not entirely pleased with the image, I kind of like the open spaces.

danthro from Suburbia, United States

i like the framing with the tree branch silhouettes and the blue and yellow colors. you're right, totally looks like an owl! i think you mentioned that in a daytime shot but i didn't see it then

22 Jul 2008 4:30pm