Tag Archives: bridge

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: San Francisco, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Interior, SFMoMA

February 3, 2017 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Interior photograph of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

In the wake of the major expansion and remodel of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA), the feeling of the place has changed. Overall I think that the changes are almost universally for the better, and it seems to me that the new space in the tall and narrow “addition” to the rear of the original building works quite well. (I have a few quibbles — including some back galleries that include audio in their exhibits but are not acoustically isolated sufficiently.) The feeling is mostly open and bright, which I think works well for modern art.

The feeling of the original front portion of the building is somewhat as it was, but it has changed, too. The ground level was originally designed to function as a main entrance and assembly space, but now much of that has been moved further back into the new building. The central atrium is still there, with stairs winding around its space, and lit from above by the light coming through the “oculus” at the top that faces to the west. I’m always intrigued by the shapes and colors and light in this space and the way that geometrical forms warp along its curved surface.

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: San Francisco, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Turret Bridge, SFMoMA

January 29, 2017 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

The bridge across the turret atrium at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) is a fascinating architectural structure, in addition to being the home for a large collection of modern art, including that in the possession of the museum and addition work that travels there for exhibits. Since the recent remodel and expansion, the facility combines two components, the newer galleries and the shorter original building with its central open area. This atrium is the most prominent element of that space, extending from the ground floor to the iconic rounded skylight feature.

A pedestrian bridge crosses the upper reaches of the atrium. Its semi-transparent floor provides a bit of excitement — or terror! — for visitors who have the courage to look straight down. I’m fascinated by visual elements of the bridge and the space it inhabits, with light spilling down into the atrium’s well from that round skylight to flow over and around the curves and angles of the structure.

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: San Francisco, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Detail, Atrium

January 12, 2017 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Architectural details of atrium of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

When I visit museums I often photograph them. I don’t usually photograph the displays, but I do photograph the architecture, people, and sometimes the structural abstractions I can locate. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a favorite museum — for its collection, its temporary installations (Right now go see William Kentridge’s “The Refusal of Time!”)

The museum was recently remodeled and expanded, with a new wing added to the original structure. The original centerpiece of the interior architecture was the atrium, a tall central open space topped by a “turret gallery” with a catwalk. The atrium remains following the remodel, and the light in this space is often spectacular, ranging from shade to bright sunshine. During this visit the light was softened by rainy conditions outside, and the colors ranged from the warmth of electrical lighting to the cool blues of the cloud-muted light coming in through the windows.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Ponte Vecchio

October 17, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Buildings on the Ponte Vecchio bridge across the Arno River, Florence/Firenze

I have mentioned before that I often like to not know too much about a place before my first visit — I love the experience of discovering it in my own way once I arrive. While some research is a good thing, too much can compromise the experience. As a result, it isn’t unusual for me to arrive in a new location completely unaware of some thing that everyone else knows about. (Someone I know still tells the story of my first visit to Arches National Park…) This is a long way of saying that I did not really know about the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge until I saw it moments before I walked across the first time.

I now understand that this bridge across the Arno River in Florence has a very long history, but when I first saw it I simply responded to it on the basis of what I saw. And I had never seen a bridge quite like this before. The old span is almost entirely lined with buildings, many quite old, and apparently it was long ago the location of butcher shops and more recently of jewelers, art sellers, and souvenir shops. We arrived late in the day, just as the sunset light was coming on. I photographed this scene in the shaded side of the bridge, narrowing the composition to focus on the shapes, colors, and textures of the old buildings.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: bridge

Interior, SFMoMA

Turret Bridge, SFMoMA

Detail, Atrium

Ponte Vecchio

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.