Unexpected Views

High Line 024, 2011

Over the now more than six hundred posts here at What I Saw—who thought I’d ever make it this far? —I’ve touched frequently on the issue of perspective; that is, the angle of view or the broader viewpoint one brings to observing and capturing in a photograph.

I wrote the other day about how being open and aware of one’s surroundings exposes you to things that you might wish you hadn’t seen, or didn’t want to have to reconcile in your own mind and conscience.

But there are also times when being aware results in little visual treats, like the view above in High Line 024. The background for this work of art is a Manhattan rooftop, a rather hemmed in one at that since it's boxed in between between the plain brick walls several taller buildings. So this scene is only visible to those who can see the rooftop from above. That audience includes perhaps a few  nearby office workers, a few neighbors, and whoever among the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the High Line elevated urban park peeks over the edge to see what’s beyond the trees and shrubs.

So it’s not like nobody sees it. And I’m pretty sure whoever created this didn’t do it because he or she wanted it to go unseen. Rather, I think whoever did this did it as an artistic expression, maybe even a bit of self-promotion, and to provide a little unexpected visual engagement to High Line visitors.

Whatever the case, I appreciate the gesture. Thanks, whoever you are.