ART PHOTOGRAPHY
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Beyond the Figurative 

Abstract Architectural Photography 


Modern architecture has long captivated photographers, offering a canvas of bold lines, striking forms, and towering silhouettes that seem sometimes to defy gravity. The world’s iconic skyscrapers, from their gleaming facades to their intricate structural details, have been photographed countless times and from every angle. How to create a fresh interpretation of these architectural marvels? Inspiration came from the abstract art movements of the 20th century. These movements chart a fascinating journey from the figurative representation of reality to increasing levels of abstraction, employing lines, geometric shapes, and forms to convey meaning. Colour, in this context, becomes a tool, not only for decoration, but for expressing mood, rhythm, and a sense of harmony, or sometimes disharmony. 


 The series of images in the book pays particular homage to two pivotal art movements: Constructivism and Concretism. Constructivism emerged in the Soviet Union after the 1917 revolution, an art form deeply rooted in the functional and utilitarian. It celebrated the beauty of everyday objects, often industrial or mechanical, as symbols of progress and modernity. In my photographic explorations, I echo this appreciation by focusing on architectural elements such as skylights, staircases, and structural frameworks—utilitarian forms that become works of art when viewed through a Constructivist lens. These elements, stripped of their conventional context, reveal an inherent elegance and order that speaks to the movement’s ideals. 


 Concretism, on the other hand, takes abstraction to its zenith. Rejecting any reference to the external world, it asserts that art should exist purely as itself, independent of figurative representation. This philosophy resonates deeply in my approach to photographing architecture. By isolating repeating patterns, lines, and forms, I endeavour to create compositions that evoke the precision and logic of an algebraic formula. These images do not represent buildings as they are, but instead explore their underlying geometry and rhythm, drawing on my own background in mathematics. I seek to reflect a contemplative perspective on the built environment. 


 The photographs in this series were captured during trips to two cities renowned for their architectural innovation: Chicago, with its skyscrapers designed with pioneering modernist thinking, and Vancouver, where contemporary architecture is set in juxtaposition to the surrounding natural beauty. Both cities offered a wealth of inspiration, from the confident verticality of skyscrapers to the intricate play of light and shadow across glass and steel surfaces. 


 Through this work, I invite viewers to see modern architecture not just as functional structures but as abstract compositions – artworks in their own right. By blending the principles of Constructivism and Concretism, I aim to highlight the beauty of architectural forms while transcending their practical purpose. These images celebrate the intersection of art and architecture, offering a different way of seeing and appreciating the urban landscape, and inviting the viewer to take a second look. 


 These photographs were taken in 2024 with a Nikon Z8.

Header slide with the word Chicago
Split-toned (blue-green, pink and white) abstract close-up photograph of windows on a skyscaper in Chicago, with strong vertical and diagonal compositional elements
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple photographs of a staircase at the Art Institute of Chicago, layered and overlayed on a close-up of concrete. Vertical and curved patterns
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple layered photographs of an atrium skylight in Chicago, viewed directly from below, creating strong horizontal, vertical and diagonal patterns
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple photographs of a staircase in Palmer House, Chicago, layered and overlayed on a close-up of concrete. Four heart-shaped patterns
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple photographs of window and staircase at the Art Institute of Chicago, layered and overlayed on a close-up of concrete, creating keyhole pattern
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple photographs of staircase at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, layered and overlayed on a close-up of concrete, creating keyhole pattern
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black and mid-grey, comprising mulitple photographs of staircase in Chicago, layered and overlayed on a close-up of concrete, creating swirling patterns
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple photographs of a skylight in Chicago, layered and overlayed on a close-up of concrete, creating diagonal patterns and two crosses
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple layered photographs of the skylight in the Atrium of 175 Jackson, Chicago, creating diagonal patterns, curves and crosses on a black background
Black and white abstract composite image developed to emphasise black, white and mid-grey, comprising mulitple layered photographs of the skylight in the Atrium of 175 Jackson, Chicago, creating diamond and diagonal patterns on a black background
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of the stairwell skylight at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, creating symmetirc organic petal-like patterns in white and rust overlayed on a black background
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of the stairwell skylight at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, creating a kaleidoscopic flower pattern in blue and white
Abstract composite image in black, white and beige, comprising mulitple layered photographs of the staircase at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, with strong, symmetrical, horizontal and vertical compositional elements and a cross in the centre
Abstract composite image in black, white, blue and brown, comprising mulitple layered photographs of balconies at Marina Towers, Chicago, with strong, symmetrical, vertical, diagonal and curved compositional elements crossing in the centre
Abstract composite image in green, magenta and grey, comprising mulitple layered photographs of beams at the Honeycomb Pavillion, Chicago, creating an organic, symmetrical, plant or flower-like image
Abstact photograph of reflections in the windows of the flagship Burberry Store in Chicago, with strong vertical and diagonal lines in white and grey (with hints of blue and green) on a blue-black background
Abstact photograph of rippled reflections in the windows of the flagship Burberry Store in Chicago, with strong diagonal lines in crea, grey and black
Abstract composite image in blue, golden-yellow and white, comprising mulitple layered photographs of balconies at Marina Towers, Chicago, with strong, curved lines
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of balconies at Marina Towers, Chicago, with strong, symmetrical curved and looping patterns in grey, green, orange and blue-grey
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of sunlight patterns on the road made by the L-System overhead rails in Chicago, creating a symmetrical image of dashed lines in grey pale-yellow, and pale-pink from a central black cross
Abstract composite image in white, grey-green and grey-pink, comprising mulitple layered photographs of balconies at 235 W Van Buren, Chicago, with strong, diagonal lines and rectangluar compositional elements
Abstact image of reflections in the windows of the flagship Burberry Store in Chicago, with strong diagonal lines in grey-green and grey-orange on a black background creating a kaleidoscopic effect
Diptych of two abstact composite images of balconies at Marina Towers, Chicago, with strong checked patterns in white, grey-green and beige with red centres creating a kaleidoscopic effects. Left image is taken directly; right image is of reflections
Triptych of three abstact composite images of balconies at 235 W Van Buren, Chicago, comprising mulitple layered photographs, with strong diagonal and rectangluar compositional elements, in variations of black, grey, violet, green, magenta and orange
Header slide with the word Vancouver
Abstract composite image in violet and pale golden-yellow, comprising mulitple layered photographs of balconies at Vancouver House, Vancouver, with strong, horizontal, rectangluar and triangular compositional elements
Abstract composite image in grey, green and black, comprising mulitple layered photographs of balconies at Vancouver House, Vancouver, with strong, diagonal and triangular compositional elements
Abstract posterised photograph of relections in the windows of Parq Casino, BC Place, Vancouver, in three tones: black, mid-grey and white, with vertical and diagonal lines
Abstract photograph of relections in the windows of Parq Casino, BC Place, Vancouver, posterised in five tones: black, mid-grey, white, marine green and blue, with vertical and diagonal lines
Abstract photograph of relections in the windows of Parq Casino, BC Place, Vancouver, two tones: brown and white, with vertical and diagonal lines
Abstract photograph of relections in the windows of Parq Casino, BC Place, Vancouver, three tones: blue, orange and grey-green, with vertical and diagonal lines
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of an architectural detail at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, creating a kaleidoscopic pattern in blue and white with triangular and rectangular compositional elements
ICM photograph of lights at the Nest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, created by panning the camera horizontally while using a long exposure to create blurred horizontal lines of light in grey and yellow with red against a black background
Cream and grey image of strip lights on the stairs of the Nest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, created by rotating the camera while taking a multiple exposure burst of photographs
Cream and blue-grey image of strip lights on the stairs of the Nest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, created by rotating the camera while taking a multiple exposure burst of photographs
Split-tone, abstract, close-up photograph of the staircase at the Nest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, in three tones: pale orange, grey and black, with strong compositional curves
Split-tone, abstract, close-up photograph of a wooden architectural feature at the Nest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, in three tones: orange, red and black, creating a composition of thin converging lines on a horizontal curve
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in grey, beige and white) at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, with strong diagonal compositional elements set against a sky blue background with clouds
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in pale orange, grey, and black) at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, with strong diagonal compositional elements and a black central cross
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in beige, grey, blue-grey and black) at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, with diagonal compositional elements creating the illusion of a staircase
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of the concrete facade of a building at BC Place, Vancouver, with strong rectangular compositional elements, in burgundy, pale brown, grey and black
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in beige, grey and black) at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, with horizontal compositional elements and a central diamond shape
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (posterized into the colours orange, grey and black) at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, with strong rectangular compositional elements
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (posterized into the colours pink, blue, cyan, white and black) at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, with strong rectangular compositional elements
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (posterized into the colours green, yellow, blue, cyan, grey and black) at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, with rectangular and triangular compositional elements
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in orange and black) at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, with horizontal rectangular compositional elements and diagonal lines, creating the illusion of a staircase
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in pale orange, magenta, grey, white and black) at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, with vertical rectangular compositional elements
Abstract composite image, comprising mulitple layered photographs of concrete beams (in beige, grey, white and black) at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, with vertical rectangular compositional elements
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