Natural Lens Photography

CITY VIEWS

  • Rome, Italy. The Roman skyline at dusk; violet and blue sky as a backdrop against the orange, red, and brown clay buildings and terracotta roof tile was irresistible, a perfect Tuscan scene. Rome is the capital city of Italy and a special Comune (named Comune di Roma Capitale). Rome also serves as the capital of the Lazio region. With 2,872,800 residents in 1,285 km2 (496.1 sq. mi), it is also the country's most populated Comune. It is the fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. It is the center of the Metropolitan City of Rome, which has a population of 4.3 million residents. Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber. The Vatican City is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.
  • This image is a view overlooking the top of the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, and a lovely church dome peeking above the rooftops in Rome, Italy. Prominently shown are bronze statues of the goddess Victory riding quadriga- detail on the roof of the monument. The monument, also known as Altare della Patria, ({quote}Altar of the Fatherland{quote}), was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. The monument is also glaringly white, built from {quote}corpse-white marble{quote} imported from Botticino in Brescia, making it highly conspicuous amidst the generally brownish buildings surrounding it. It occupies a site between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill. The monument is the largest in Rome.
  • Rome, Italy. Roof gardens are most often found in urban environments. The environmental and aesthetic benefits to cities are the prime motivation. A roof garden is well suited to roof spaces that incorporate recreation, entertaining, and provide additional outdoor living space for the building's residents. It may include planters, plants, dining and lounging furniture, outdoor structures such as pergolas and sheds, and automated irrigation and lighting systems.
  • House tucked away in an alley off Liberty Street, near the historic Prospect Hill District, Cincinnati, Ohio. Generally bounded by Liberty Street, Sycamore Avenue, Boal Street, Channing Street, and Highland Avenue (Mt. Auburn). Prospect Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 4, 1980. The Prospect Hill Historic District includes over 200 buildings, which together comprise a community of marked architectural significance. Built as single and double homes, the buildings,are mostly tall brick structures with long, narrow floor plates. Among the architectural styles in this hillside area are Italianate, Queen Anne, Federal, and Greek Revival,
  • Over-The-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio. Roughly bounded by Reading Road, Dorsey, Sycamore, Liberty, and Vine Streets, Central Parkway, and McMicken Avenue (Over-the-Rhine). OTR was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 1983. The Over-the-Rhine Historic District encompasses 362.5 acres of the original German community. The majority of structures are two-, three-, and four-story brick or stone edifices erected in the last half of the 19th century for residential and commercial uses. Vernacular, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne styles predominate the neighborhood. The area was once one of the largest German-American neighborhoods in the United States.
  • This is a view from the Staten Island Ferry, on the Hudson River. Jersey City is the second-most-populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark. Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City is bounded on the east by the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay and on the west by the Hackensack River and Newark Bay. 30 Hudson Street, also known as Goldman Sachs Tower, is a 238 m (781 ft), 42-story building in Jersey City, New Jersey. It is the tallest building in New Jersey. Completed in 2004, the tower was designed by César Pelli. The tower sits on the waterfront overlooking the Hudson River and Lower Manhattan
  • This is a view of downtown Cincinnati from a hillside in Mt. Adams. Cincinnati is a city in the United States state of Ohio and is the government seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers. The city drives the Cincinnati–Middletown–Wilmington combined statistical area, which had a population of 2,172,191 in the 2010 census. With a population of 301,301, Cincinnati is the third-largest city proper in Ohio and 65th in the United States. It is the fastest growing economic power in the Midwestern United States based on percentages and the 28th-biggest metropolitan statistical area in the United States. Cincinnati is also within a single day's drive of two-thirds of the United States populace.
  • Vancouver, British Columbia, a bustling seaport, is located on the Burrard Peninsula, The North Shore Mountains dominate the cityscape. Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2016 census recorded 631,486 people in the city, up from 603,502 in 2011. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2,463,431 in 2016, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada with over 5,400 people per square kilometer, which makes it the fourth-most densely populated city with over 250,000 residents in North America behind New York City, San Francisco, and Mexico City according to the 2011 census. Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada according to that census; 52% of its residents have a first language other than English.
  • Over-The-Rhine Cincinnati, OH. In 1875, Cincinnati businessman and community leader Reuben R. Springer had the idea to replace the decrepit Exposition Hall with a musical hall to house the cities classical chorus, and first-rate orchestra. Springer donated $200,000 toward the construction of Music Hall. Samuel Hannaford designed the structure in the style of High Victorian Gothic.. Construction began in 1875 on the west side of Elm Street, just north of 12th Street, on the original location of the {quote}Pest House,{quote} which earlier served as the Orphan Asylum. The grounds of the asylum became known as {quote}Potter's field,{quote} when it was used as a burial ground for indigents. Since the graves were not marked, Music Hall was simply built over them. Construction was completed in 1878.Music Hall was added to the National Register of Historic places on January 26, 1970, and designated a National Historic Landmark on December 2, 1974.
  • The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, originally known as the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky. When the Roebling Bridge was formally opened on January 1, 1867, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,057 feet (322 m) main span. When it opened, the driver of a horse and buggy was charged a toll of 15 cents to cross; the toll for three horses and a carriage was 25 cents. Pedestrians were charged one cent.The bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975 and was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1983. It remains the busiest of Cincinnati's four non-freeway automobile or pedestrian bridges. Initially called the {quote}Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge{quote} or {quote}Ohio River Bridge{quote}, it was renamed in honor of its designer and builder on June 27, 1983This image was taken from the Smale Park Riverfront Park, a 45-acre park on Cincinnati's downtown riverfront situated between Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium
  • Scripps Center - Downtown Cincinnati, OH. This image was taken from the corner of the building, which, in my opinion, has more visual interest. From this perspective, it almost looks like two buildings, one glass and the other masonry. This angle and close framing accentuates the contrasting visual between glass and masonry. I think the ninety-degree angle at the corner breaks up the straight linear pattern of the windows adding depth. My idea was to give the viewer access to an aspect of the building that is different than the primary visual at street level.Scripps Center is a Class A 35-story office building that opened in 1990. Developed by Cincinnati real estate and philanthropic icon Manuel D. Mayerson, Scripps Center is the first premiere Class A office building on the Cincinnati riverfront, defining the city’s skyline. At the height of 468.01 feet (142.65 m), with 35 stories, it is the fourth tallest building in the city.The building was designed by Houston architects Hoover & Furr; Glaser & Associates was architect of record. Space Design International was also involved with the building's design.The headquarters of the E. W. Scripps Company is located in the Scripps Center.
  • Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. I think the striking juxtaposition of strong vertical and horizontal patterns of the building design, different architectural styles and age, and close proximity of massive structures to each other are a large part of what makes a city unique.
  • Great American Tower - Cincinnati. The building is most often photographed showing the full height of the tower including the crowning tiara, but I wanted to give the viewer a different experience. I decided to photograph the prominent rotunda entrance at Fourth & Sycamore, and from a somewhat disorienting perspective, using the flagpole in the center of the frame to give the image an uncertain, fractured appearance. My idea was to play with the viewer’s expectations and preconceptions about architecture and landscape photography. I think of the flagpole as an intervention between the viewer and the subject to further amplify the visual discontinuity. Great American Tower at Queen City Square is a state-of-the-art 41-story office tower located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati's business district. Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum architect designed he tower, and construction was completed in 2011. This building surpassed the Carew Tower to become the city's new tallest building.The tiara (not shown here, but in many images online) was inspired by Cincinnati's nickname, Queen City, and by a photograph of a tiara worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. The tiara is made of steel tubes, weighs 400 tons.130 feet tall and measures 159 feet from east to west and 93 feet from north to south.
  • Atrium Two, Cincinnati, Ohio - This image is based on the same concept as Intervention I, except the suspension bridge tower and cables in the foreground are interposed between the viewer and the subject. This image was taken at night.Located at 221 East Fourth Street in Cincinnati, Ohio, ATRIUM TWO has a highly desired position within the Central Business District (CBD). ATRIUM TWO is just steps from The Banks, an 18-acre residential, retail and entertainment development that is transforming the River between Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium.Atrium two is the headquarters of Cincinnati Bell. The logo for the Cincinnati-based telecommunications company was affixed to the Atrium Two building in 2015. The {quote}C{quote} and the {quote}B{quote} are about 7 feet tall. The other letters in the sign are 4 feet tall. The sign will be white and illuminated by LED lights. Avondale-based Holthaus Lackner Signs is installing the sign, which faces the riverfront.The building construction was completed in 1984 and is 351 ft. high, 28 floors, and was designed by architect. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
  • Seattle, Washington - In 1959, Seattle hotel executive Edward E. Carlson, who was a chief organizer of the 1962 World’s Fair, traveled to Stuttgart Germany where he was inspired by a broadcast tower featuring a restaurant. He doodled an idea of a dominant central structure for the fair on a napkin in a hotel café convinced that such a tower could make a permanent center-piece for the fair and an enduring symbol for Seattle. He called it a “Space Needle.” The basic Space Needle tower was completed in December 1961, eight months after it began. Architect John “Jack” Graham, Jr. worked on sketches and ideas before a final design was reached just a year and a half before the World’s Fair. Architect Victor Steinbrueck came up with the wasp-waisted tower shape based on an abstract sculpture of a dancer called “The Feminine One.”
  • The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is a triangular 22-story steel-framed landmarked building located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, which has been called {quote}one of the world's most iconic skyscrapers and a quintessential symbol of New York City.{quote}
  • Roebling began dreaming of spanning the East River between New York and Brooklyn (which were then two separate cities) as early as 1857, when he drew designs for enormous towers that would hold the bridge's cables. At the time Roebling knew the bridge would have to be the largest bridge ever built, nearly twice the length of the famed Menai Suspension Bridge, which had heralded the age of great suspension bridges when it opened in 1826.Perhaps the greatest innovation dictated by John Roebling was the use of steel in the construction of the bridge. Earlier suspension bridges had been built of iron, but steel would make the Brooklyn Bridge much stronger.By the time it was finished in 1883, the bridge had cost about $15 million, more than twice what John Roebling had originally estimated. And while no official figures were kept on how many men died building the bridge, it has been reasonably estimated that about 20 to 30 men perished in various accidents.This image was taken rom Staten Island Ferry, East River.
  • Statue of Liberty as viewed from the Staten Island Ferry.on Upper New York Bay.
  • In the center of West Campus is Tangeman University Center. Architects Harry Hake and Harry Hake Jr. built TUC in 1937 in response to a growing student population. The building was constructed with a Georgian Colonial style and highlighted by the large columns at the entrance and the clock tower. The image of TUC's clock tower has been utilized on countless materials showcasing the campus of the University of Cincinnati. The clock and the Brown Memorial Chimes within the tower were donated in recognition of UC alumni Sanford Brown. Brown contributed to the campaign to secure funds for building TUC and with his tireless effort, funds from the Public Works Administration and the city of Cincinnati, ensured that the student Union could be built. TUC was known originally as the Student Union or simply as the “Union.” At the time of its construction, it was one of the two largest buildings on campus and it housed the majority of the student organizationsAs the student population continued to grow additional space was added on the Student Union in 1967 at a cost of approximately 3.6 million.[10] Funds were raised for the construction through a special fee students agreed to pay. Charles Gwathmey’s firm designed the Tangeman University Center at the U. of Cincinnati. The design preserved a red-brick facade, along with a clock tower, and grafted on a metal-shrouded addition. After construction; Student Union was renamed in honor of Donald Core Tangeman, the son of University of Cincinnati alumni.[12] The addition nearly doubled the size of the TUC providing more areas for student activities.[13] Between 2001 and 2004, renovation became necessary to bring the building up-to-date and TUC underwent a major transformation[14]. Additions were added on both sides of the building and the 1967 addition was removed.[15] Once reopened, students were able again to congregate, eat lunch and buy books, while the new amenities of TUC allowed students to see movies at the MainStreet Cinema or engage with fellow students in the Catskeller Game & Sports Lounge.[16] Although it has undergone many changes, Tangeman, at its core, remains a place for students.
  • Old McMicken Hall was designed by famed Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford, The cornerstone of McMicken Hall, at its new site on the former Burnet Woods park, was laid on September 22nd, 1894 and the building was completed in September of 1895. The architecture was of Neo-Georgian design in an effort to connect the university with other universities in the country and evoke feelings of patriotism and academia. The old McMicken Hall would remain standing until the late 1940s when it was razed in order to build a new hall in the same location. Dedicated in April 1950, the new (and current) McMicken Hall was of similar design to old McMicken. Designed by another famed Cincinnatian, architect Harry Hake, the hall maintained a Georgian style, repeating the two flanking wings of the previous building and even including 650,000 bricks from old McMicken. It was intended to resemble the student Union (now Tangeman University Center), which was completed in 1937. This image is a view seen exiting the DAAP building, from a lower elevation facing south.
  • The 4th Avenue Theater. Anchorage, Alaska, is listed on The National Register of Historic Places. The theater was designed by B. Marcus Priteca, a leading designer of themed cinemas in America, in association with Seattle architect A.A. Porreca for Cap Lathrop, a prominent Alaska businessman. The theater's lobby featured a gold leaf mural of Mount McKinley,
  • The church was founded in 1939 as Bible Presbyterian Church at Central High School. The first pastor was Rev. Edgar Archer Dillard, and one of the founding elders was Billy Graham's father Frank, whose participation was in part a response to Billy's conversion. The first building was completed in 1941 on Fourth Street and held 750. Under Rev. Ross Rhoads, who began his more than 20 years of service in 1973, Calvary increased membership from 400 to 2000 in three years, with the first building at a new location at Sardis and Randolph Roads. A 1500-seat sanctuary had its dedication in 1978. Groundbreaking for the current building took place in 1986In December 1989, the current (fifth) building opened in Charlotte, N.C.. The designer was Roe Messner, who began construction, and J.N. Pease Associates Architects modified/completed the design. The main sanctuary seats more than 5,000.
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