Minoru Yamasaki is best known for designing the original World Trade Center Twin Towers. This detail shot captures the front elevation and entrance to one of his earliest works outside of Detroit - the Michigan State Medical Society offices.
Goal - As a hobbyist photog with an affinity for architecture, I wanted to use this competition as an opportunity to try "recreate" my favorite shots instead of submitting older imagery. This image was created originally to be used in a mock up of an architecture focused mobile app. So there was to be ample space left in the sky to allow for text placement, while keeping a deep contrast-y look for the entrance.
Prep - The site is currently on sale/for lease for the first time since its completion in 1961. Unfortunately- there was a host of construction equipment by the entrance, which I used the hedges to conceal while angling the shot upward. Fortunately Michigan weather mostly cooperated and provided a sunny albeit cold and windy day - nothing a weight on the tripod couldn't handle. I picked a time when the shadows available would be approximately 45 deg across the south elevation. If I were taking this shot for a job, I'd have attempted to get facilities to close the curtains on all windows to capture the angle of the shadows falling across.
Shot info -
Shot on 2/24/24
Sony A7C + Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 Art on tripod @ 70mm focal length
HDR stack of 3 images
ISO 100
SS 1/250
F/10
No additional lighting or modifications used
Post processing - Unfortunately the reflective tinted glass facade picks up reflections of electric poles and wiring even across the road. I wanted to preserve the "aged" look of the Modern architecture and not embellish it too much. So I limited touchups to hiding cracks in paint, rust and other staining and removing all wiring and reflections of anything but foliage. Besides that I decided on a 2:3 composition horizontally with a 50/50 split vertically.