Playgrounds have become a sort of sanctuary for us. The kid and I are equally excited to find a new one to visit. We have an unspoken understanding. He will play and with all the things and, I will stare and photograph all the things.
What things?
Playgrounds are a kind of treasure trove for any one mad about colour, texture, shadow and shape abstractions. They nudge us to reconnect with the kid within us and go "play" with the sights and angles with all the enthusiasm as the actual kids do on the swings and slides. We learn through play, and age shouldn't take this away from us.
As odd as it may sound, I've grown irrepressibly attracted to playground surfaces. I like the bold colours, the abstract swerves, the way shadows fall across them and even that spongey bounciness underfoot. I've learned that they are made of a stable UV resin mixed with granules of rubber crumbs before they are spread out across the empty playground.
I've noticed that blue seems to be the go-to colour for playgrounds these days, though I have seen all sorts of hues around, even black. Interestingly, whatever the colour, every playground seems to take on a personality of its own, the sun bleaches each one in a different way, and even the wear and tear of constant boisterous use adds its own textures to the tale of each playground.