Marlene SarroffComment

A FLEETING GLIMPSE

Marlene SarroffComment

the ordinary

  • Late afternoon with the sun starting to recede the average residential construction site sprung to life and I became fixated at the wonderment before my eyes. The striking aquamarine coloured sisalation paper, wrapping around the perimeter of the structure had caught the late afternoon sun and had literally lit up the structure like a magic lantern. Previously observing the building progress, from the cement slab to the progress of the structural framing, it was a seemly average design and applicable to a suburban lot. Standing alone in a ground cover of sand. (like the beach) The first building on a section of vacant land waiting for further development. I had my daily walk from the wide stretches of sand on the beach through the bush walk and on passed the new building in progress. Such a variety of visions. Always delighting on daily observations whether beach, birds, bush or the built environment with shadows cast by the beams.

  • STUDS, RAFTERS Beams , columns, trusses, and bracing systems. STRUCTURAL FRAMING is the skeleton of a building, designed to support loads, provide stability and shape the structure. It plays a vital role in distributing weight throughout the building., preventing stress concentration and potential failure points. It impacts everything from design flexibility to project safety.

catching the

structure

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS EYE

All images : © Marlene Sarroff 2025

FROM THE ORDINARY TO

THE EXTRAORDINARY

AQUAMARINE : A colour known for a sought after GEMSTONE. (not usually contributed to a building product.) Named after the mineral with the colour, aquamarine is a delicate mixture of green, cyan, and blue. It evokes beautiful pristine beaches and as result, is popular in swimming pools and similar outdoor settings. Aquamarine is soothing, calming and peaceful. The name ‘aquamarine’ comes from two latin words : aqua meaning ‘water’ and marina, meaning 'of the sea.’ What’s more ancient mariners believed that aquamarine had superpowers. They thought it could calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea.

Momentarily taking an opportune moment to meditate on the colour aquamarine. Ironically   started by a structure wrapped in a plastic on a building site. Of which possibly by the time of writing this blog the entire colour would have disappeared by the building being completed with its exterior cladding. 



catching the light

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS EYE

All images : © Marlene Sarroff 2025

All images : © Marlene Sarroff 2025

If you are March born you are destined to wear aquamarine. It is your birthstone. Aquamarines’s colour range is very narrow. It can be blue, very slightly greenish blue, or green blue, the more valuable the stone.

Aquamarine is believed to bring good luck and is associated with the calmness peace of the sea.

The different colours of Aquamarine depend on the amount of iron impurities present within its chemical composition, can be icy blue, very slightly greenish blue or green- blue

AQUAMARINES CAN BE CUT INTO ALMOST ANY SHAPE BUT CUTTERS OFTEN FASHION THEM AS EMERALD CUTS OR AS ROUND OR OVAL BRILLIANTS. THE ROUGH IS FAIRLY PLENTIFUL, SO WELL CUT STONES ARE FAIRLY COMMON.

THE GEMSTONES HARDNESS AND TRANSPARENCY MAKE IT POPULAR WITH DESIGNERS, ARTISTS AND CARVERS. GEM SCULPTORS USE AQUAMARINE FOR FANTASY CUTS AND ORNAMENTAL OBJECTS.

Images: VIA https://www.angara.com

Images below https://oliviaewing.com/ journal/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-pisces-zodia-stone

Being inspired by a fascinating light filled building site at sunset has led this story to not only celebrate the colour aquamarine, but the sought over gemstone its meaning and connecting the blue of the ocean. A meandering round trip, going where the mind takes me and where photography opportunities are always leading the charge.

MARLENE SARROFF