Carew Tower--Week 3

This week, I spent some more time inside the Netherland Plaza, trying to get some better shots with a different lens. I initially came in with a Canon 28/2.8 but I wasn't too happy with the results. I really wasn't getting enough of the room I wanted to shoot, and the sharpness wasn't that great, to boot. I decided that I would need to use a tripod, so I opted to bring in my 14-45. It's not very fast, but the should offset that problem.

Orchids at Palm Court

Apollo Room

Continental Room

Hall of Mirrors

Entrance to Hall of Mirrors Balcony

Importance of "The Ask"

I have reached a ceiling in my photographic progress. It's not an artistic ceiling, or a technical one. It's not about money for new gear, either.

It's a relational ceiling.

I have a difficult time asking people for things. I had always thought of it as shyness, but I've come to see that it's really a form of pride. I don't want to be seen as lacking or incomplete in any way. I want to be self-sufficient. Self-made. Self-reliant. This inability to include others in my narrative, to have additional names in the credit reel of my life, is pride.

I have goals for my photography beyond taking "pretty pictures". There are things that I want to capture and preserve. There are things I want to illustrate and draw attention to. There are concepts I want to convey. I can only do so much of that with what I have.

I need to be able to ask people for access to buildings and properties. I need to ask strangers for their photographs. I need to ask friends for the chance to take their portraits. I need to ask people to let me into their lives to show what they are going through. I need to ask for help on photo shoots. I need to ask if I can help with a photo shoot. I need to ask people to pay for my photos. Until I do, these are all obstacles to my progress as a photographer.

In order to overcome this reticence, I must create the habit of asking.

Carew Tower--Week 2

This week, I spent some time with a longer lens, grabbing closer shots of the building, and focusing on detail inside and outside.

The detail inside the building is incredible. There is some interesting ornamentation on the outside, but really the emphasis there is on vertical growth and modern materials. Inside the building, you can see the extravagant foray into 20th century modernity.

The lighting in the arcade area is amazing. You can see some of the detail on the perimeter lighting--the stylized golden leaf themes above the fixtures, and the mixtures of gold, reds and browns. The center of the arcade ceiling has a silver colored ceiling with crossing, metallic strips, bouncing light off of the ceiling.

Along the "skywalk" portion of the arcade, there are a number of art deco reliefs, showing stylized figures in classic poses. The accompanying technological elements reveal the art deco merging of art with machine.

As you exit the arcade are towards the west entrance, you pass through a large doorway, outlined with a large swath of Rookwood tile--an element you find in a number of Cincinnati buildings, and a welcome addition to such an art deco masterpiece.


Finally, as you glance at the shop entrances on the west corridor of that arcade, you will see these stylish light fixtures on warm wood panels. Keep in mind that all of this detail is just in the arcade area where the shops are in the plaza. I hope to show you some of the detail in the Hilton itself in a few days!

Carew Tower--Week 1

For my first week, I used My Lumix G5 and the 14-45mm kit lens that came with my G1. I took a few shots up close, but most of my shots came from a couple of blocks out, as I tried to situate the building in its own neighborhood.

I did manage to take a couple of shots inside the Tower Place Mall, emphasizing the layout from one of the walkways where you can see some of the Rookwood tiling on the walls. I also tried to vary the foreground of the exterior shots, looking for architectural elements to frame the building. 

You'll note that I also experimented with treatments and processing, varying black and white with color, and using different filters and processing options.

The building was completed in 1930, and is one of many art deco treasures found in Cincinnati. Some of this will become more evident as I begin to post detail shots of the interior and exterior next week. Until then, enjoy this collection of photos from last week's walks.