Padlock, Montrose

One of a series of locks, catches, doorknockers and the like that have caught my eye in Scotland! This one happened to be next door to a wee art gallery and frame shop....imagine that! Rust metalwork is to me like candy to a toddler - just can't get enough! The COLOURS>> Especially near salt water - it seems to add a particularly kaleidoscopic quality to rust and decaying metal. This 'gorgeous' padlock and hasp secures a yellow-painted door on the High Street in Montrose, a seacoast town full of history and interesting wee shops. The light is often diffuse and soft in Scotland, no matter the time of day, so strong contrasts of darks and lights using shadow is not as much of an issue in clearer atmospheres. This offers the enjoyable challenge of speaking through subtlety, creating depth with an emphasis on value and warm/cool colour contrasts.