Ladder to the Clouds

Here's an image I captured last weekend when during an open-day and demonstration by the fire services in Oslo. This impressive ladder climbed up to an impressive height above the central square of a little park in the city centre, cutting an unusual and captivating silhouette against a moody sky. The statue beneath is of Henrik Wergeland, a celebrated Norwegian writer and figure of the 19th century. He usually dominates this square, but today has to play second fiddle to the enormous ladder. Though it's not easy to see from this angle, someone had placed a fire helmet on his head for the day, the back of which looks a little like a red wig here. It's always difficult to take pictures of tall objects that do justice to their height and the impression they give in real life. Here the statue (itself oversized) gives some perspective to the ladder and makes the picture much more interesting than had it been of just the ladder by itself. The trees add to the sense of heightened diagonal cutting of the field of view in two is intentional. Sadly, I was not one of the lucky ones able to ascend and take pictures from the control basket at the top –which is just as well, as I am not too good with heights, and just standing down here made me dizzy!

Location: Oslo, Norway