The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue

The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue
The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue

This concrete and glass “tower” sits on the corner of Downer Avenue and Bellview Place on the East Side of Milwaukee.  I’ve tried shooting this many times and have never really captured the shot I wanted.  But then today, after shooting it once more, I discovered one of the reasons I was not satisfied.  The building on the corner is not quite symmetrical!  When you stand on the corner looking up at the tower, the facade on the right is larger than the one on the left.  That is why it always felt off.  Doh!  How did I miss that before?

So in processing today, I took some creative liberties.  (Like I always do!)  To balance the shot as best I could, I duplicated and mirrored the left side parking structure over to the right side.  While not perfectly symmetrical, it certainly helps balance the shot, left to right.  Extra sky above added some negative space to the shot and helped balance the structure vertically.

Finally, I adjusted the color to accentuate the contrast between the blue of the sky and windows and the warm tones of the concrete.

Day 300 of my 365 photo a day project.

The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue
The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue

This image and most of the others from this project are available as prints and digital downloads.  You can also check out the rest of my portfolio here.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss anything.

Here is the RAW shot I started with.

The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue - Before Processing
The Glass Tower on Downer Avenue – Before Processing

By Scott Norris

Emotion. Mood. Feelings. This is what I capture through my photographs. Whether it is landscapes, architectural elements, still life, or macros - it is a very personal journey as my own fears, triumphs, beliefs, and shortcomings are exposed with each photo. In the end, it is all about telling compelling stories.