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 Air
      
Location: Canada
 |  | What's old is new again, Symes
< on 1/29/2008 6:31 PM >
|  | | | Watching TV this morning I came across this music video "Say" by Low Level Flight.
http://ca.youtube....atch?v=q4V0Kmp_DgA
Locals from Toronto will recognize it as the much whored Symes waste transfer station. Now not only privy to free tekno parties and sketchy raves. The scale makes a great debut.
But I'm wondering, did all the talk get this great location exposed to film scouts?
[last edit 1/29/2008 6:31 PM by Air - edited 1 times]
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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bonnie&clyde
 
Location: 510 & 415
Cleverly disguised as responsible adults
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 1 on 1/29/2008 8:24 PM >
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But I'm wondering, did all the talk get this great location exposed to film scouts?
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That's their job. All they do is drive & chopper around looking for locations. professionally Explorers. They are bound to find everything eventually. Then do the research & get the permission needed to make it all safe n legal. I wanna be a location scout.
I'd bet there are a few film scouts that are members on this site.
[last edit 1/29/2008 8:26 PM by bonnie&clyde - edited 1 times]
The question is not when are we gonna stop, It's who's gonna stop us?
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 2 on 1/29/2008 8:50 PM >
| | | | Posted by bonnie&clyde
That's their job. All they do is drive & chopper around looking for locations. professionally Explorers. They are bound to find everything eventually. Then do the research & get the permission needed to make it all safe n legal. I wanna be a location scout.
I'd bet there are a few film scouts that are members on this site.
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I'm not sure how they are paid, but from looking at the video, we had a discussion a while ago why the location may have been sealed, & it probably was right after the video.
Symes, best feature was the scale, which got some airtime.
[last edit 1/29/2008 8:50 PM by Air - edited 1 times]
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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kowalski
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 3 on 1/29/2008 9:34 PM >
| | | | Posted by Air 33
But I'm wondering, did all the talk get this great location exposed to film scouts?
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All the talk about what was an incredibly uninteresting structure?
I know I've mentioned Symes at least a couple of times to people who contacted me looking for somewhere easy to go "exploring" in Toronto. I mentioned it because nobody's interests would be hurt by increasing its profile, and because it seemed to represent (even more than the Brickworks) the sort of stereotypical empty, pedestrian structure that every person who RSVPs the monthly Toronto meetup seems to be happy to visit and revisit.
I guess Symes is the physical incarnation of the contemporary practice of urban exploration -- a big empty shell signifying nothing. Maybe that's what's so appealing about it, there's never a little nagging (Kowalski) voice saying "hmm, maybe we should be investigating further." It's abandoned building cheese whiz.
Even in the video, the band members, doing their best to project pretend expressions of reverent awe, seem to walk around thinking "Hmm, just what exactly are we supposed to be excited about in this empty waste transfer building?"
Well, that and, "Hmmm, who's outside watching the tour van?"
[last edit 1/29/2008 9:40 PM by kowalski - edited 1 times]
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kowalski
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 4 on 1/29/2008 9:40 PM >
| | | | Actually, on further reflection, the video is a tremendously apt allegory about the experience of "exploring" a building like Symes.
The ghostly woman, you see, represents the urban exploration sublime. You may chase her, you may spy a fleeting glimpse as she disappears into a moldering stairwell, but all you come away with are a handful of dreadfully cliched photographs that tell you nothing about where she came from and who she's having coffee with tomorrow.
Ante Kovac is a genius of our time.
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 5 on 1/29/2008 10:27 PM >
| | | | Posted by kowalski
All the talk about what was an incredibly uninteresting structure?
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I never said it was interesting. The scale maybe, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as a true artifact.
Posted by kowalski
I guess Symes is the physical incarnation of the contemporary practice of urban exploration -- a big empty shell signifying nothing. Maybe that's what's so appealing about it, there's never a little nagging (Kowalski) voice saying "hmm, maybe we should be investigating further." It's abandoned building cheese whiz.
Well, that and, "Hmmm, who's outside watching the tour van?" |
Oh noes, were not branching off to this territory again. Sometimes a cigar just isn't a cigar ? I thought we've (and others) discussed your prophetic views on the torrid state of urban exploration. Obsess/ruminate much? Its a shitty building, not nearly as interesting as the brickworks considering the structures original purpose, regardless of its popularity. A shitty building is much like a shitty drain, regardless of how you flip it there is not much to it.
I'm not sure what's so cliched about an open space and rooms with a giant trash scale? Its not an asylum in NE you know, with the same tired-ass wheel chairs and orbs.
As for the video, I didn't dig the treatment they have the editing, but its not a stretch from what passes as acceptable on much these days. At least it didn't have 4 minutes of thong ass shaking.
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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kowalski
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 6 on 1/29/2008 10:46 PM >
| | | | Posted by Air 33
I thought we've (and others) discussed your prophetic views on the torrid state of urban exploration. |
What, you posted this thread expecting serious and revealing dialogue on the narrow, topical significance of an empty building appearing in a music video?
| I'm not sure what's so cliched about an open space and rooms with a giant trash scale? |
I think the size of the thing (both the trash scale and the space itself) are being a bit overblown. Neither were particularly remarkable, and if the building's name didn't have an unusually placed 'y' I don't think anyone in the Toronto community would have paid it much heed at all.
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 7 on 1/29/2008 11:41 PM >
| | | | Posted by kowalski
What, you posted this thread expecting serious and revealing dialogue on the narrow, topical significance of an empty building appearing in a music video?
I think the size of the thing (both the trash scale and the space itself) are being a bit overblown. Neither were particularly remarkable, and if the building's name didn't have an unusually placed 'y' I don't think anyone in the Toronto community would have paid it much heed at all.
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As someone who prides himself on scholarly analysis, you sure missed the lack of point here and read far too much into the post. It was more of an attempt as casual chat "hey anyone seen that crusty music video which featured symes" then anything else. I also was curious if anyone here was a scout (surely so) because I've been contacted quite a few times on flickr in regards for info on unnamed spots.
I'm not sure if the "Y" ever had any significance in the buildings appeal apart from the fact it was jokingly easy to get into in the first place, like the brickworks, and the Malt plant. The most interesting thing about the building is its design and the scale.
And if anyone manages to get in now, kudos to you , now it will be a task.
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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kowalski
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 8 on 1/29/2008 11:58 PM >
| | | | | It was more of an attempt as casual chat "hey anyone seen that crusty music video which featured symes" then anything else. |
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought this was the Main forum, where we try not to be overly Toronto-centric and instead post threads that have some generalizable use to people from Miami, Dusseldorf or Rosinka who aren't particularly going to care that "Symes," aka an empty structure about the size of a large auto dealership, appeared in some unremarkable Toronto band's music video.
Forgive me for reading the concluding question of your post as asking for a discussion relevant outside the small circle of people who might consider Symes to be a "great" location. I think I've actually directed one or two Ryerson film majors to Symes over the years. Maybe one of them was Ante Kovac.
But back to the video... did you notice that they even had a shot of peeling paint? It's like the video director has been spying on us or something.
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argonian
Location: Toronto, ON
Gender: Female
"Now with added cats!"
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 9 on 1/30/2008 12:15 AM >
| | | | Posted by Air 33
But I'm wondering, did all the talk get this great location exposed to film scouts?
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Posted by Air 33
Its a shitty building, not nearly as interesting as the brickworks considering the structures original purpose, regardless of its popularity. A shitty building is much like a shitty drain, regardless of how you flip it there is not much to it.
I'm not sure what's so cliched about an open space and rooms with a giant trash scale? Its not an asylum in NE you know, with the same tired-ass wheel chairs and orbs.
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Oh how you confuse me so. Was your first post sarcastic? Is the second quote I posted sarcastic?
Anyhow, I can understand why someone would want to visit it. It is beautiful from the outside, so why not want to see what the innards look like? Also, if you have never seen a waste transfer dump it might be interesting to check out, just to see what one looks like. I imagine it will only take you about 15 minutes to walk the place and eradicate that interest.
I certainly wouldn't travel to see it, though I would travel to see the same tired-ass wheel chairs.
Que pasa, baby? |
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 10 on 1/30/2008 12:38 AM >
| | | | personally, Symes never captured my attention or imagination as much as Hearn or CMaltingP. Also, the surrounding generating stations have my attention entirely. If I had not the hectic working life that i have, I would've made it a point to see them before their destruction.
There was a vending machine plant in Whitehall NY that was recently leveled and it kills me, absolutely kills me that I did not have the balls, time or wherewithal to take a look inside.
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 11 on 1/30/2008 3:44 AM >
| | | | Posted by argonian
Oh how you confuse me so. Was your first post sarcastic? Is the second quote I posted sarcastic?
Anyhow, I can understand why someone would want to visit it. It is beautiful from the outside, so why not want to see what the innards look like? Also, if you have never seen a waste transfer dump it might be interesting to check out, just to see what one looks like. I imagine it will only take you about 15 minutes to walk the place and eradicate that interest.
I certainly wouldn't travel to see it, though I would travel to see the same tired-ass wheel chairs.
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I would say its more interesting outside then inside, yes. I've shot it a few times at night.
I don't get the appeal of wheelchairs at all. Although i find old machinery to be far more interesting, although some people don't really dig that, and they like empty spaces. Its the same with peeling paint. I think I got my fill at Spaulding Fibre.
I was being serious about the wheelchairs.
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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micro
Gender: Male
Slowly I turned
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 12 on 1/30/2008 5:04 PM >
| | | | I never really got the appeal of wheelchairs either until Argonian posted this particular photo:
I think the problem a lot of photographers here have is that they aren't capable of convincing anyone other than themselves as to why things are interesting. I'm by no means a hospital/asylum person, but I'd rather look at something like that than a photo of a Toledo scale or series of valves.
Edit: sorry for being so off-topic. Or something.
[last edit 1/30/2008 6:09 PM by micro - edited 1 times]
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argonian
Location: Toronto, ON
Gender: Female
"Now with added cats!"
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 13 on 1/30/2008 6:13 PM >
| | | | People have their interests, me I am easily interested, I suppose. I am just as happy with a hospital as I am with a power plant. I like them for different reasons. The history behind their vacancy is also fascinating, for different reasons. However, I have no idea, none whatsoever, how someone could not be captivated by a beautiful, old, wooden wheelchair.
micro makes me blush and I am already ruddy enough
Que pasa, baby? |
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 14 on 1/30/2008 6:43 PM >
| | | | Posted by micro
I never really got the appeal of wheelchairs either until Argonian posted this particular photo:
I think the problem a lot of photographers here have is that they aren't capable of convincing anyone other than themselves as to why things are interesting. I'm by no means a hospital/asylum person, but I'd rather look at something like that than a photo of a Toledo scale or series of valves.
Edit: sorry for being so off-topic. Or something.
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I guess then my question would be, how come you don't photograph more asylums, as opposed to industrial locations?
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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argonian
Location: Toronto, ON
Gender: Female
"Now with added cats!"
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 15 on 1/30/2008 7:20 PM >
| | | | you will find the answer you seek hidden deep within his post.
Que pasa, baby? |
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micro
Gender: Male
Slowly I turned
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 16 on 1/30/2008 7:42 PM >
| | | | Posted by Air 33
I guess then my question would be, how come you don't photograph more asylums, as opposed to industrial locations?
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Because I happen to enjoy industrial locations more. Just because a particular photo happens to make me understand the appeal of something doesn't mean I want to go out and photograph it myself.
Anyways, to bring this back to Symes. It is a fairly boring location, but at the time of its discovery, I was fairly excited about it. This was just a few months after I first joined this site and I was happy just to be able to get inside a building that no one else here seemed to know about. I was happy with it because it seemed like my "discovery" and I actually went to some lengths to prevent it from ever becoming widely known. Even the neighbouring building (which is even more boring) felt special for that reason. At the time, the power was running and if you were willing to overlook the fact that someone had emptied a fire extinguisher or two, it was as a "virgin" place. That seemed pretty cool to me at the time.
And yeah.. its loading bay office (with the famous scale) is probably one of the first places that inspired me to start putting more emphasis on former employees in the pictures I was taking. Given that, it's a bit strange to see it appear in a music video.
(Kodak Easyshare DX4900 FTW!)
[last edit 1/30/2008 7:44 PM by micro - edited 1 times]
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blackhawk
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Mission Control
UER newbie
| |  | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 17 on 1/30/2008 8:41 PM >
| | | | Posted by micro
Because I happen to enjoy industrial locations more. Just because a particular photo happens to make me understand the appeal of something doesn't mean I want to go out and photograph it myself.
Anyways, to bring this back to Symes. It is a fairly boring location, but at the time of its discovery, I was fairly excited about it. This was just a few months after I first joined this site and I was happy just to be able to get inside a building that no one else here seemed to know about. I was happy with it because it seemed like my "discovery" and I actually went to some lengths to prevent it from ever becoming widely known. Even the neighbouring building (which is even more boring) felt special for that reason. At the time, the power was running and if you were willing to overlook the fact that someone had emptied a fire extinguisher or two, it was as a "virgin" place. That seemed pretty cool to me at the time.
And yeah.. its loading bay office (with the famous scale) is probably one of the first places that inspired me to start putting more emphasis on former employees in the pictures I was taking. Given that, it's a bit strange to see it appear in a music video.
http://www.workson...s/symes_office.jpg
(Kodak Easyshare DX4900 FTW!)
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Zee Micro is back!
Industrial sites rule; there are too many "empty" asylum shoots here on UER while some of civilized man's greatest marvels lay rusting away... forgotten by almost all.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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argonian
Location: Toronto, ON
Gender: Female
"Now with added cats!"
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 18 on 1/30/2008 8:53 PM >
| | | | Awww, the love between Blackhawk and Micro is so adorable.
Que pasa, baby? |
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: What's old is new again, Symes
<Reply # 19 on 1/30/2008 11:37 PM >
| | | | Posted by micro
Because I happen to enjoy industrial locations more. Just because a particular photo happens to make me understand the appeal of something doesn't mean I want to go out and photograph it myself.
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That's a pretty interesting thing to say when you said this earlier :
"I think the problem a lot of photographers here have is that they aren't capable of convincing anyone other than themselves as to why things are interesting. I'm by no means a hospital/asylum person, but I'd rather look at something like that than a photo of a Toledo scale or series of valves."
...so between not wanting photograph but rather appreciate certain locations, why would you find one artifact more interesting then the other? Purely personal? If were gonna talk about actual uses items have, not just photogenic places/things -- why did you say that the scale is not as interesting as wheelchair? You know they are both are the same things, items used for specific purpose, which are both now discarded. Their life cycle is gone, and sitting here arguing about why a wooden wheelchair is more interesting then say a bunch of bottles in a chemistry lab, boilers, creepy dolls in an auditorium, or pouring over old maps or even Toledo scales also doesn't get us any closer to why "photographers here aren't capable of convincing anyone other than themselves as to why things are interesting".... because so far all that's gone on here is "I prefer this to that"...
So it seems this is one giant circular argument going nowhere fast.
Argonian: I don't mind wheelchairs, but if I'm gonna drive 12 hours anywhere, it won't be for that.
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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