I have a number of photographs of what I jokingly refer to as "art-itecture” — photos that rely on architectural elements to create visually pleasing or intriguing images. I think of it as the intersection where architecture combines with other elements to become art.
It's difficult to describe art-itecture, but I know it when I see it through the camera's viewfinder. Everything seems to suddenly fit together to create an interesting and attractive composition.
I don’t set out with a plan to add photos to my art-itecture files. Sometimes it just happens when I’m on a photo hike through a city. All the composition factors align — subject, surroundings, light, shadows — and I see art-itecture.
At times the photos are simply straight representations of the design itself, like the repeating arches along the exterior walkway of Union Station in Washington, D.C., or the futuristic and colorful entryway to Bally's in Las Vegas, or the repeating lines of balconies on an apartment building in New York City. In those cases, it’s the interesting architectural design itself that is artistic.
At times it's the position of the camera that helps to create the interesting image. For instance, shooting straight up at the atrium in the Guggenheim Museum in New York or the rotunda of the Texas state capitol in Austin.
At times it's lighting that attracts the eye, like the lighting on New York's Rockefeller Center and surrounding buildings at night.
And at times it's truly a combination of art and architecture, like photos I have of sculptures outside tall buildings or passageways in museums that frame artwork in the background.
I look for patterns, curves, angles, colors or interesting lighting and how those different elements play together.
And when I see it through the viewfinder I know I'm capturing a work of art-itecture.