This is the TV Guide Building which is right down on Hollywood Blvd., almost at Hollywood & Highland where the Oscars held forth. And this is what I see from my Deck. This particular Ad was for Target. They change the Ads fairly frequently...Here below, another Ad on the side of that building for the most recent "Superman", back in 2006.
I call this "visual pollution".....and I first began noticing this phenomenon in late 2005....! The old Bekins Storage Building, which I also see from my deck began having these Ads for iPod.....Some of you may remember me posting a picture way back then....As time has gone on, these have become more colorful....Anything to attract our attention.
I love that you can see the sign, (backwards) for the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.....a very 'happenin' place once again for young Hollywood.....It took quite a while, but The Roosevelt is back "in" once again, though by the time you read this it may be "out" again.....
I like the colors in this picture above.....Hard to believe how shocked I was the first time I saw this Ad suddenly appear demanding my focus...I was really p.o.'d when suddenly my lovely view was blighted by the all-mighty-dollar......! Now, I'm telling you how pretty the colors are.....!
That is the prettiest color blue, isn't it? Oh Lord, how low I have sunk in just a few years.....
This one above is the most recent rendering....Unfortunately it was a rather overcast day so it is not as clear as the others...And the colors are not as arresting, either.....There are lots of Film Studios in Hollywood and I do think this next painting is rather clever......
This painting is on the side of a Sound Stage.....a very clever use of a rather boring and usually empty space....Below, a closer look at what this painting actually is of....
Not the greatest photo, but still....And incidentally, I have no idea what the movie was, but I know it wasn't Jaws....(lol) Now I see this kind of advertising on many many buildings in my 'view'.....I will post some more the next time.....Oh, and btw: Not quite ready to post the "song" post yet.....I'm hoping it will be by Sunday.....! Keep your fingers crossed.....!
More To Come........
- had this to say:
Hi dear Naomi,
Just dropping by to say hello! I will come back later to read your post and to enjoy your photos. I just go to Avaré now and I will return at evening. Many hugs!- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 3:13:00 AM PST
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had this to say:
The gigantiads COULD be art instead of visual pollution if the city, advertisers, and property owners would get on the same page!
We need a board comprised of artists like you, really creative ad agency people, designers etc. to set the standards for these things and not approve garish, ugly or crass works. Guess what? they'd do a better job of selling the product! The ipod project is an example. The opposite is true of our "ugliest building in the Western Hemisphere" at Hollywood and Highland--an assault upon our aesthetic sensibiliities! It is a money (and everything else) loser.- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 3:56:00 AM PST
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wow, you sure have some zoom lens!!! I love the whales on the side of the sound stage..that's very peaceful feeling..
you sure have a great camera!!! and a great eye to capture so many wonderful things- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 4:47:00 AM PST
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had this to say:
I'm ambivalent about building adverts and decorative murals. What I loathe is billboards blocking out the scenery.
Pollution, indeed.
Cheers.- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 5:40:00 AM PST
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Naomi, I guess if you have to have signs in your view, it helps if they have pretty colors!!
I love the soundstage!- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 5:42:00 AM PST
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That TV Guide building is a big building. They probably go to a lot of work and expense to change that out as often as they do. I wonder how they do it? Posters? Painting? It looks like it's on some sort of turnable slats.
Hmmm, sounds like you've changed your perspective... it's hard not to when they use pretty blue colors. :)- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 8:38:00 AM PST
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had this to say:
Hi Naomi:
We have a lot of high rise buildings in nearby Philadelphia and I hope they don't get the idea to do these types of ads.
I think they are distracting to drivers as are the many LIVE (moving) billboards on our highways. I equivocate it to using cell phones ... both are distractions that take your concentration off the road.
While the ones you have showcased in the past month or so are very pretty and unique, it is just my opinion that they would be distracting to drivers.
From a distance and to those who view them from their balconies/decks, I would think the advertisers would spend their money in a more cost effective way. On a different note, how are they put onto the building? They look like projection but when you showed the cranes (during Oscar preps), it looked like painting or wallpaper type.
Oh well, just IMHO. Nice photos, Anne- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 9:38:00 AM PST
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Just think of what Times square looks like......When TF and I were there, we saw a sign advertising a watch. The sign was of a naked lady with her arms and legs placed in stragic places and all you could see was the watch...It was a giant ad and rather offensive to me. All of the signs at Times square we gigantic! I suppose "one mans trash is another mans treasure."
- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 10:22:00 AM PST
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I remember us talking about this on your balcony. It does seem like very invasive and aggressive advertising to me, too.
~S- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 10:49:00 AM PST
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Well, they're not horrible to look at and if the building is ugly or boring to begin with, I guess it's an improvement. As for me, I think I'd much rather look at trees, flowers and hills.
- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 12:23:00 PM PST
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That was interesting. We have a lot of buildings with paintings on them that reflect the history of an area but not advertising yet... unless it's a store but even then I can think of a small store in a small town with a huge wagon trail mural. I always think how many talented artists there are. Out near where I live there is a covered bridge; so someone painted it on the side of their shed.
- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 2:49:00 PM PST
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I remember when you first coined the phrase visual pollution, you have changed your tune a little lol.
Still pretty ugly though really at the end of the day.- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 3:17:00 PM PST
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had this to say:
Excuse my eagerness, but you really hit me here Naomi! I could not agree with you more - this is really eyesore and a disgracer. It ruin the wonderful view of a beautiful city with lovely architecture. Its also an insult and I cant understand how they feel it promote their products: to me, it would be a hint of not buying their products at all!
I'm glad Norway has a very restrict policy on this, but maybe I'm to old fashion!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend dear blog friend :-)- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 3:34:00 PM PST
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Now that is what you call ginormous and humungous advertising! It overpowers everything else around it. I think it's too much, though I do like the paininting on the side of the sound stage.
I'm back! :) Thanks so much for your supportive messages while I was doing my project essay. It was hell but I did it. Now I just need some sleep as I am still exhausted!- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 4:41:00 PM PST
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i supposed i haven't thought much about such advertising, but i think i'd be a little bothered if some new graphic the size of a building obscured my usually beautiful view of the hollywood hills.
keep snapping those pictures and sharing your amazing thoughts and stories.- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 7:57:00 PM PST
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I agree, those are definitely visually polluting. Think your reaction now is just a necessary accommodation, finding something of value rather than poisoning your system with frustration and anger about them. Geeze, I didn't mean to turn this into an analysis! ;-)
- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 9:20:00 PM PST
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The ads are truly visual pollution!! but then they are among buildings in a large city...I guess I am used to see such ads downtown, I would hate it if they would hide the pine trees in our area.
Don't get me wrong, I truly understand your point of view! you've shared that in the most literal sense!- Friday, March 7, 2008 at 10:58:00 PM PST
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I HATE how low we have sunk with allowing commercials during skating events, soon above concerts! I refuse to become accustomed to it. Trees in our national forests will be next,it is out of control.
- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1:07:00 AM PST
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We have those same ipod signs decorating downtown Miami. They're huge and you can't help but notice them and nothing else.
In your last post, there was a tease photo and a promise for some songs. I look forward to hearing at least one of those songs.
Have a great weekend, Naomi.- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 6:37:00 AM PST
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That is one of the reasons I moved from the city....mind you I never really lived in the heart of the city....I don't mind when I see murals on buildings....but advertising is something completely different...it does become an eyesore...I don't mind the picture of what looks like whales on the side of that one building but the others are to much....advertising...it's huge business...sell it however they can....
- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 8:52:00 AM PST
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Hi Naomi- Sometimes those signs can be interesting, but I do know what you mean. Btw- I meant to tell you, when I go to LA I usually stay at the Roosevelt hotel. its one of my favorites. That photo you took with the hotel name backwards is really nifty.
- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1:16:00 PM PST
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Wow! Those are huge freakin' ads!!
- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 3:02:00 PM PST
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hi
just stumbled upon your blog but wanted to let you know that the whales are artwork. there is some guy whose name escapes me but has published a book of the water wildlife murals he has done all over the world. hmmm, maybe if one googled "whale murals" it would come up... yep, his name is Wyland and you can find him at wyland.com- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 3:25:00 PM PST
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I bet those huge ads cost a FORTUNE!!!!
I remember when you posted that first ipod one. You did not like it, but as you said, these ads are growing on you.
When I was in Philly a few years ago, I noticed they have a lot of artwork on various walls around the city... sides of stores, buildings, etc..
It really brightens up an otherwise blah area, and draws one's eye to it. Their murals are much more enjoyable than those ads. They also have a number of sculptures. Not all of them are ones I liked, but they added a lot of interest to the city.- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 4:35:00 PM PST
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I am always fascinated by what flows in and out as being the "cool" hangout. I think young people just have to have it their way to feel like they matter. I remember being that way. You just have to be different from other age groups. But I love it when things go old school or retro!
It is so funny, I can't see a bullseye anymore without thinking Target stores.
I loved these photos and your insider views, thanks Naomi!- Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 6:23:00 PM PST
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It's good that you have learnt to live with them. What else can you do - and there are worse eyesores. They
have a certain quality in their field.- Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 5:07:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Intrusion, invasion. I guess eventually you become desensitized to it and it's like a calendar page flipping to a new picture. Boy it's in your face, though.
- Monday, March 10, 2008 at 6:46:00 AM PDT
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I remember you grouching about those signs and find it hilarious that you can now admire their color! I guess you just get used to things!
- Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 1:43:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
You might like to take a quick look at Paula Panich's new blog
http://www.atplayinla.blogspot.com/
She has a photo she shot in LA not far from you. A close up. Stunningly graphic. Beautiful patina is rare, but possible in LA.- Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 8:10:00 PM PDT
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