inspired by : concrete

It was only when I looked through the lens that I saw beauty in concrete.

Seemingly bland to the eye, concrete reveals its texture and quirk in a photograph. It has a surprising depth to it; ingrained with bits of ephemera, caught. When a little girl dances atop it, or a petal lies still…that’s when I see such wonderful contrast – delicate meets tough, natural meets industrial.

Whilst I’m always grateful for the green and blue around home I find the gritty grey completely inspiring. How about you, what are you inspired by this week?

inspired by : colour and keke

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Showing 33 comments
  • Saskia
    Reply

    Yes I agree, concrete in all its simplicity acts as a lovely backdrop…your recent drive-way chalk drawings say so:)
    What lens do you use Jodi?
    x

  • G
    Reply

    Concrete is typically something I'd struggle to see beauty in – I love this. x

  • Princesspillar
    Reply

    funny where we can find inspiration when we open our eyes to the beauty around us…im finding it in the way the wind blows dust and leaves into strange piles and corners all around our yard.

  • Preeti Dubey
    Reply

    You are right, I find the concrete pavement in our parking to be perfect platform to get a good contrast. I shot the picture for my son's g'day invitation on the concrete floor and concrete walls with him in a bright contrast color clothes, it was a success. Being in UAE makes us less fortunate for greens and blues 🙁 so concrete becomes an easy choice. 🙂

  • Caroline
    Reply

    I was only just thinking about concrete today, particularly in regards to driveways. My house, built pre-1927, does not have a hard-driveway as such – it still resembles a grassy lawn and it's been that way since the house was built. I'm keeping it that way despite the fact that we are about to embark on a major reno. We are only 2kms from the city, so the more green around our home the better. We are, however, adding some nice concrete accents around our rear terrace. xx

  • fliss
    Reply

    Funny enough its been concrete too! Just shot a collection against it again and one against white wooden VJ boards, and the concrete will always be a favorite!

  • sian
    Reply

    hey jodi,

    i'm feeling inspired by my son's observations and ideas 'i dream by looking through my pillow mum' also by plantlife, one huge triffid thing i dragged home after finding it in the street and the little bean seedling my son gave me as a mother's day gift which is now shooting up sat in the sun on our bathroom window sill.

    do you have an external viewfinder for your camera? your recommendation makes me want to invest in one (panasonic lumix GF1, yes?). i read that this model doesn't come with one as standard and that you have to buy one (quite expensively). i always use the screen to take photos with my digital point and shoot camera but with my old SLR obv only had a viewfinder, not sure if i'd be able to get used to 'focussing' a shot on screen… also, do you always use the pancake lense, does the camera take nice photos without?

    thanks in advance for your answers.

    sian

    • Jodi
      Reply

      Sian, hi

      No I don't have an external viewfinder – I focus and shoot from the screen. And I only ever use the pancake 20mm 1.7, it's the only lens you'll need. I've seen quite a few GF1's on ebay lately and I know that Em from Beetleshack is selling hers….x

    • sian
      Reply

      oh, thanks so much for the prompt response, i really appreciate it. meant to ask also, do you find it OK for shooting indoors and in low light? sorry to bombard you with questions… x

    • Jodi
      Reply

      The 1.7mm will allow you to shoot in relatively low-light but I don't shoot any higher than 400ISO. Hence why I'm upgrading soon. x

  • natalie
    Reply

    smooth concrete floors can be very inspiring, lovely reflections jodi
    inspiring me this week is memories of my old haunt in sydney- the colour of the sea, textures and patterns of old wall paint and morning light..x

  • Kate
    Reply

    I am so not inspired by concrete.
    But I am inspired by the fact that you are.
    And that top photo….wow!!
    xx

  • Lil Muse Lily
    Reply

    i love concrete and wish i had it in my home. believe it or not even though it is only wednesday, it has been a horrible and emotional week for us. i'm ready for it to end. inspiration is all around me like always but i just don't have the eyes or the heart to see it this week.

  • Bella Mills
    Reply

    I'm inspired by being outdoors after the rain. The fields are vibrant green and the sea shines blue again. I've even been able to run further along the beach now that the waves have restored most of the sand on top on the rocks. My seaside life inspires me. I feel like I'm a part of it, it soothes me in ways I cannot express with words. xx

    Bella @ Sea and Salt xxx

  • Jesi Langdale
    Reply

    Lately after moving from the city I've been inspired by the lushness of the Peninsula, foggy evergreens and moss covered trees, tons of Ivy. I loved the concrete in Seattle though, especially when colours were splayed over! The Panasonic always has this darker edge to it, so it really captures the feel of concrete. You do wonderful things with that camera!

  • Jo
    Reply

    The hundreds of little seedlings sitting in pods in our living room, poking up out of the dirt. I've been coaxing them out, watering them lovingly, and dreaming of the tomato plants they will grow into. The time changed this week and I am inspired by the extra hour of sunlight we were given, and how each evening the sky stays bright just a little bit longer than the night before. The little birds sneaking around our balcony, shelling sunflower seeds and then flying away. The stacks of heirloom seeds we ordered that will soon arrive in the mail from a nearby nursery. Those five acres of rich, dark soil waiting for a shovel and a hoe and a lot of sweat and inevitably a little flesh, as farming injuries are imminent.

    Spring, in a word, is what inspires me.

  • Anne Hill
    Reply

    love the concrete! so austere and beautiful.

  • cranny + me
    Reply

    That first picture is my favorite. I love the contrast with the pavement and the wood of the chair and your adorable girl! Just this past week, I've been taken with the look of newspaper as a background. I happened on it by chance, but loved the outcome. (I know it's nothing new to use newspaper as a background, but why hadn't I tried it earlier? I'll never know!)

  • mel @ loved handmade
    Reply

    I'm with you, there is something about concrete with it's rugged cool tones, always makes for a great backdrop. On the 'to do wish list' around here is concrete flooring in our kitchen..one day x

  • BerlinRoses
    Reply

    I also have found inspiration in cement, I love wet cement the most, I simply cant resist etching a little face every time. Also have been recently drawn to oil stains on driveways and the Rorschach type images they reveal. I love your observations about cement and shall think more eloquent thoughts about it from this day forward.

  • Maxabella
    Reply

    I do see your point, Jodi… but you lost me at "Inspired by concrete"… concrete. Inspired. Not sure. But still. x

    • Jodi
      Reply

      ..as the lovely Ms Claire Connell would say, it's about finding magic in the mundane x

  • vindiebaby
    Reply

    She looks adorable in her floral dress, great pictures by the way 🙂

    http://www.vindiebaby.com
    Vintage Inspired Fashion by Independent Designers for Your Little darling

  • Karina
    Reply

    You said it perfectly. The contrast of the concrete with the softness of the petal or child is so beautiful. The mixing of elements in photos or decor is what makes things so interesting and gives them depth. Beautiful xx

  • sunday collector
    Reply

    I agree – concrete grey is my favourite colour ever. A beautiful concrete and white kitchen I would love one day. x

  • thea
    Reply

    aaaaaaw, that image on the bottom left is just crazy adorable!!!

    thea.
    spoonfulzine)

  • tinyparticlesoflight
    Reply

    I am a long-time concrete lover – haha! But I do love all the texture, pattern, and sometimes color in any old piece of concrete.

    xo
    cortnie

  • Kym Piez
    Reply

    Of course, your photos make anything look fabulous. But yes. I do love concrete. Very much. And perhaps you've inspired me to try and make it look as good as you do! xx

  • Jane@flightplatformliving
    Reply

    i have always adored concrete and never got why others didn't…tried to talk my husband into concrete kitchen worktops…he thought i had gone mad! x

  • JoKnows
    Reply

    What a surprising source of inspiration. I love how you have made us view concrete in a new way. Great shots!

  • Elle
    Reply

    This is the first time I am seeing your pretty little blog. I am a fan! i love concrete… I stayed in a house in the south of france one summer and they had used concrete all over the place and it was stunning. And so very cool in that hot climate! Great post! Love Elle xo

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