The Many Faces of a Building
2020 did not leave much to be thankful for, but I am grateful for the exercise in persistence afforded by my obsession with photographing Paramount at Miami Worldcenter (designed by Elkus-Manfredi with ODP as the architects of record).
I have a weird hobby. I like to drive around the city on weekends when traffic is light. That’s important because it significantly reduces my chances of crashing while distracted by the structures towering above me. All I care about when I am in this zone is watching the light reflect and bounce, carve shadows and sculpt textures.
This hobby often leads to mild surges of obsessions with particular buildings. Paramount at Miami Worldcenter was one such obsession. I remember the first time I saw it nearly topped off as I was driving on the 836 passing downtown Miami. It was enough to draw my attention from The Scorpion Tower, which up until that point had been the most intriguing building dotting the skyline.
The colorful LEDs crowning the top and cascading down to the base were a bold Ice breaker. And the glass panels reflecting the various hues of the sky demanded that I return after conducting my due diligence in scouting for the sun’s direction throughout the day.
The following images were taken over the course of two months as I battled a frustrating, stubborn sun that just didn’t want to cooperate at the right time. Clouds and weather would be the bane of my existence.
In the end, I am very happy with how the shots came out and feel they provide a diverse canvas of what I feel is the anchor of Miami’s World Center.
And ultimately these are some of the most personally satisfying photos I have ever taken because some of the compositions are now impossible to replicate thanks to recent construction that makes these views now inaccessible.
The shot that nearly robbed of my sanity after a month spent pursuing the right reflections.
The Grit of an Architectural Photographer
I grew weary and maniacal with every passing failure. I’d obsessively watch the low lying clouds to try and predict their clearance for sunset to capture the orange reflections on the glass, convinced that this day would be “the day” only to be denied by last-minute cloud coverage. I bailed last minute on social engagements and other commitments swearing it would “be worth it!”
The shot to our left required setting up a 25 tripod on the sidewalk to peek over the edge of the barricades that shield the public from the construction on the new overpass. Images had to be captured using a wireless tethering solution. As you can imagine, it was not the most comfortable and convenient set up to lug around.
I went through various stages of grief and eventually settled on acceptance. Like Sisyphus and his rock, I found humor in the absurdity of launching identical efforts with identical results.
One day, I swore that this would be “the last time.” That it was just not meant to be. Sometimes fate is just cruel. On this day the conditions were perfect. I was finally rewarded for my obsession.
I got the most colorful, beautiful sunset reflections on the glass and was on the verge of tears. Emotions were mixed. There was jubilation at the triumph, and a bit of sadness knowing it was over and that I’d have to find some other muse to offer me a purpose.
I shot these images right when we first went into lockdown for Covid-19. I couldn’t help but notice how calm and eerie these normally congested streets felt. But it did make shooting a lot less stressful.
Every night, the building’s facade illuminates the sky with an elaborate show of colors thanks to the RGB LED fixtures on both sides of the building.
Taken from one of the People Mover platforms in downtown seconds before security kicked me out. Another angle likely to be lost for good after more recent construction.