It is a fairly common statement that when taking photos, one should look behind them. The best photos are not always in the direction that first caught a person’s interest. Photographers, like other artists, Plein Air artists, are compelled to record on canvas, on paper, or in print, something in a scene that caught their attention. Looking at a scene, one is struck by something, perhaps on a sub-conscious level, in which something of interest is present. Looking behind to that which is not so obvious is good advice. How about looking up, looking to the sides, and looking down. Spending time on elevated platforms allows a different perspective of surroundings. People, particularly as they go about routine activities, rarely look up. I guess the same could be said for looking down. Being provided a small balcony pushes one to look down I suppose, especially when the surroundings are other building – over time, even those buildings take on characteristics of not before seen interest . Viewing umbrellas from above gives the impression of multi-colored dots moving about…some with more purpose than others. Some colorful, some black, some domed, some transparent, some broken…all employed for one purpose: trying to stay dry – does little for the feet though. So, what does the color or style of umbrella say about the personality of an individual? Maybe nothing. The intrigue of watching people from above is made a little more interesting by circumstance and the deployment of an umbrella.