About seven years ago I took a photograph in which the most important element was a small number 9, and so that became the title of the accompanying written "reflection" which was about the track of that title on the "White Album" by the Beatles.
No such strong association leaps to mind when I consider the number 5, though I am reminded of reading that the Roman "V" (five) comes from the shape made by the hand with four fingers together and the thumb separate. In fact what is prompted by this massive number 5 on the wall of 5 Broadgate, a massive new tower that will hold six UBS trading floors in London, is the thought of how dystopian it looks. It dwarfs people, appears to be the product of a machine rather than humans, and imposes itself on passers-by in a way that few such numbers do. The whole building is clad in the same stainless steel panels, sharp angular shapes and windows breaking the perfection of the surface. It will be interesting to see how perfect it looks after several years of English weather.The building is an enormous "lump" that overall is a poor contribution to the locality but which has some interesting details that drew my camera.
I took a quick shot of a passer-by to give scale to the enormous number. Unfortunately I framed it badly and the feet of the person got chopped off. We waited for someone else to come along but, after a few minutes no one had come along and so I asked my wife to walk by.
photograph and text © Tony Boughen
Photo Title: 5 Broadgate, London
Camera: Olympus E-M10
Mode: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 29mm (58mm - 35mm equiv.)
F No: f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
ISO:200
Exposure Compensation: -0.3 EV
Image Stabilisation: On
