Door #72

Doors as a subject matter doesn’t sound like much of an interesting subject matter but for me the old building doors around town fascinate me. Old as in the buildings of the 20’s and 30’s because the designer of the building incorporated the door to the design, unlike today. Today’s buildings seem to treat the door as an afterthought or something to hide. Today’s doors are just a pane of glass with a handle and words painted on it, or it is glass framed in a metal sleeve. A cold barrier that is relative unimpressive and uninviting.  

Looking at the buildings of the era you can see that the door is something that was thoughtfully designed to accent the building. A door way is a place that greets visitors, to prepare them for the wonders of the design of the inside and the object that announces you to the outside. A door is functional keeping the weather out but a door should incorporate the design of the whole building. A door is more that its name implies.

The Matyk Building Door is set in, giving you the feel of being in the space without being truly in. The welcoming being closer to the inside, the shelter of the space from the weather gives the space warmth.  This accented by the plants, which are dead, and the glow of the gas light above and the wood. The wood that gives life and character of the door. Wood is warm, life and a welcoming feeling to the space to the house. I believe no matter what the rest of the building is made from, a wooden door will always warm you before you go into the house and that is how it should be.

The exit door from the TCR Building has that quality as well. The doors have that feeling of the warmth of the inside sheltering us announcing us to the world. What this space says to me, “Thanks for coming, we have enjoyed you but now the story is over and it’s time for a new story somewhere else.” That sounds funny but to me that is what a good exit door should be.

Doors, there is a lot of them around town that I will be photographing because I believe in some way they are a part of our town visually and metaphorically.    

The Matyk Building Door. The plants are long past dead but still gives life to the space. 

The TCR Exit Doors. This space is a warm thoughtful exit out to the world that says to "thanks and comeback again." 

Lamp #1

Despite the gloomy skies, I made my way downtown and began my photographic journey creating images of Cedar Rapids.  Because the grey flatness of the sky I looked for subjects that did not depend on it to be enhanced. I headed to the Iowa Bank Building to see if I could create an image using the street lamps and building. As I passed this building I have often felt the arches are something you see in a bigger metropolitan city in the financial district. The street lamps seem to compliment that feeling when you see them next to or visually placed on the building. That is what I am after.

The one side, 3rd Street sidewalk, has construction going making it impossible to create an image without a lot of clutter. So, I opted for the 2nd avenue sidewalk and created this image. I had shot many angles but felt that I created close to what I wanted to create on the other sidewalk.

What draws me to this building and why I created this image is the fact it looks like a building for a bigger town. It was built in the 20’s when the money was flowing and big and important was the design of the financial institutions. There are a few buildings in town that were built at the same time but do not have the arches and windows this does. The arches give it that step up. I have often wanted to photograph just the arches but at this point I can’t get at the same level as they are to create the image.

The other part of this building I find fascinating is the columns that are currently being covered up by the construction work. They too have that big city look to them and I have often wanted to photograph them as people walk by them. And being in a small town the foot traffic is not that heavy. I think I would have a harder time finding to one or three people walking by them at the right time than having too many people in the shot.

I plan to make more images of this building and the street lamps through this project. I believe I have a taste of what I am looking for but not it entirely. Once the construction clears away I will create images of both the street lamps and arches along with the columns.   

View fullsize

Guaranty Bank Building

This image is of the Guaranty Bank Building, one of the oldest buildings in Cedar Rapids. I created this photograph about 5 or so years back while a friend of mine, Johnny B, and I were on a photo walk. It was created about sun set on a warm summer day. I was across the street when the warmth of the red of the bricks reflected the quality of light while everything on street level was growing dark. So, with camera on tripod I made a few exposures before the light disappeared.

This image is a great example of how lines both direct and indirect can move one’s eye through a composition.  Direct lines that show up due to the ledges and the shadow cast by them move the eye from the bottom left to the top right. The indirect lines are created by the darken windows and the perfect alignment of direction as the ledges. I believe adding to the ease of the eye traveling through the image is the fact the lighter end is on the left to the darker end on the right, the same way we read.

The movement up and down this photograph is done in much the same way with the windows moving the eye and the raised outcrop in the center helping. Again, the light has the ability to move your eye through the piece. With the brighter spot bordering the first and second third of the photograph, you eye is drawn to move to the darker right side.

Light does not only convey a mood but helps with the details of the building that is unique to its design. There are 4 truly visible window air conditioners that move from bottom left to top right which expose the two different window types, arched, and straight edged almost framed. Light also reviles the bands that seem to be holding the outcropped portion of the building. These raised pieces almost look like the tape that holds the outcrop on to the building. Finally, the highlights of the small reliefs that are in the shadowed side of the photograph.

Lastly the quality of the light captured along with the simple pattern give this piece a calming effect. This could hang on a wall and not get a lot of great attention but with the warm color your room would be a warm calm place away from the stresses of the day. I get a feeling of serenity and confidence that all will be well while you are here and when you leave.

Over all this was a piece that I at first did not give too much consideration to. In fact, it sat for some time before I decided to process it. Once I did I have enjoyed it as a background screen on my computer and phone. I could see this in a large print size, matted and framed hanging on a wall in my office or my Living room.  

View fullsize