There is no view where I live. Just a space in the ceiling over 40 feet of air that can be opened to let the sounds and smells of life in.

Maybe I can go up to the roof for a view I ponder and slowly walk by the walls full of shadows.

I inch my way up the staircase to the roof and see that the world I want to photograph is barred from my eyes by a locked door. 

So I come downstairs and look up at the skylight and the world seems all black and white to me now. 

I decide to put on my rose coloured glasses so I might dream of  photos that would explain my surroundings to the world. 

The sky is clear of fog and  appears to the naked eye to be on fire.  

Most of the leaves have fallen off but some persist in giving colour to the world. 

I hear laughter from children and  fast paced movement going to the city to work. Their sounds seem to fill the sky with motion and sound.

I know if I could look out my window I would see skyscrapers filling the horizon and attempting to void the sunlight. 

Instead I concentrate on the sounds I hear from the bay and wish it was night time and I could hear the lonely cries of the foghorn. 

Smells fill the loft and smoke fills my nostrils that is left over from a building that lost its soul last week. 

I hear dogs being walked by the building. I smile knowing my friend Scotty is probably one of them.

I hear Maggie's geese being let out and listen to their unison chanting. 

I hear screeching of a window being opened in the back of the building and chuckle as I know the owner is probably adding more toys to the frames of her aging window. 

Dusk settles in and I listen to the Jehovah Witness ladies talking amongst themselves outside on the sidewalks quoting John 3:16 and know that the fear factor is near. 

Night arrives and I can smell the fog as it drifts into the loft. 

Suddenly lights fill the darkened loft and day is done until the sights and sounds of tomorrow return. 

All photos and text by Linda Seccaspina -2012

All pictures were taken around my building in the golden triangle of Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville.

The skyscrapers were taken in San Francisco.