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Posted on 26/06/26 08:20:44 AM

Steve Caplin
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Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

I glanced up at the tops of a couple of buildings in La Rochelle recently, and noticed that where the nearest one had a traditional gargoyle to divert rain off the roof, the pair of spouts on the building further down the street were modelled after cannon.

Or are they planning a hostile takeover?

High res is here.

Posted on 26/06/26 12:31:27 PM

lwc
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

First thought.

Posted on 26/06/26 12:38:43 PM

lwc
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon tourists

On second thought.

Posted on 26/06/26 1:59:58 PM

DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Well that's a fun start.

I am having difficulty with those cannons they're so small and far away.

Definitely need more head scratch time. It's 36° now ....... that doesn't help either!

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Posted on 26/06/26 2:05:46 PM

lwc
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Did someone say water spouts?

Posted on 26/06/26 2:11:09 PM

lwc
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

DavidMac wrote:

Definitely need more head scratch time. It's 36° now ....... that doesn't help either!

Good grief, it's only 28° here.

Posted on 26/06/26 4:02:24 PM

dwindt
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

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Posted on 26/06/26 4:03:53 PM

dwindt
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Just so that you can understand what I was trying to achieve, I'll post the background before distortion and everything else.

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Posted on 26/06/26 5:38:33 PM

DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

I am glad you posted both. Truthfully I didn't really understand the first one. It's one of those things that's obvious once you know, but quite obscure otherwise.

I actually think the simplicity of No 2 is much more effective anyway. It's very Terry Gilliam ........

........... and impeccably done! If it wasn't so improbable it would be utterly convincing!

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Posted on 26/06/26 8:22:33 PM

lwc
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

DavidMac wrote:
It's very Terry Gilliam ........

Indeed... and nicely done!

Posted on 26/06/26 8:48:44 PM

lwc
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Posted on 27/06/26 08:18:52 AM

Ben Boardman
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Neighbourhood Watch has gone a bit overboard...
...and the Homeowners Association apparently approved the budget for artillery, missiles, radar and surveillance drones!

Posted on 27/06/26 10:26:52 AM

Mariner
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Steve you might find this article of interest:

http://nicolarochelle.fr/chasse-a-la-gargouille/

Posted on 27/06/26 12:16:10 PM

DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Michael that's very interesting.

For the rest of you, the article, by a local La Rochelle historian, is quite long and in French (lots of interesting pictures).

Since I am a French speaker here is a translation of the two relevant paragraphs about the cannons:

These shapes are quite surprising. But they make perfect sense in a city like La Rochelle. Indeed, the city was often belligerent and considered indomitable by the Monarchy during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Displaying cannons on the facade of one's house was a sign of asserting independence and reflecting the city's rebellious spirit. Furthermore, we can see it as a defiant and warlike message to passersby! In short, you didn't want to mess with the family who owned the property.

Seems Monsieur Ben Boardman was pretty close ......

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Posted on 27/06/26 12:20:54 PM

DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

Ben the lady watering her plants is the perfect touch. She's even dressed perfectly.

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Posted on 27/06/26 1:36:07 PM

Ben Boardman
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is a 1964 musical romantic drama film written and directed by Jacques Demy,

Posted on 27/06/26 1:55:00 PM

Ben Boardman
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

DavidMac wrote:
Ben the lady watering her plants is the perfect touch. She's even dressed perfectly.

Thank you David. Did you spot the coat hanger antenna and the girl in the shower?

Posted on 27/06/26 9:21:48 PM

DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

The image is quite small for my eyesight to pick out details. The girl in the shower I sort of guessed but wasn't quite sure.

The antennae never registered at all because a coat hanger aerial outdoors simply never occurred to me. They were something we plugged straight into the back of the (wooden cased) TV and fiddled around from there.

"Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" - the film that really put Catherine Deneuve on the map.

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Posted on 28/06/26 05:20:26 AM

vibeke
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

DavidMac wrote:
Michael that's very interesting.

For the rest of you, the article, by a local La Rochelle historian, is quite long and in French (lots of interesting pictures).

Since I am a French speaker here is a translation of the two relevant paragraphs about the cannons:

These shapes are quite surprising. But they make perfect sense in a city like La Rochelle. Indeed, the city was often belligerent and considered indomitable by the Monarchy during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Displaying cannons on the facade of one's house was a sign of asserting independence and reflecting the city's rebellious spirit. Furthermore, we can see it as a defiant and warlike message to passersby! In short, you didn't want to mess with the family who owned the property.

Seems Monsieur Ben Boardman was pretty close ......

Thank you for that.

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Posted on 28/06/26 12:35:27 PM

Ant Snell
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Re: Challenge 1111: Rooftop cannon

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