I suppose you could classify glass into three categories: clear, reflective, and opaque. I just noticed moments ago that this image displays all three, arranged in layers. The street level glass is frosted and opaque, the next level is still ground floor, but clear, and because the first floor is lit from the inside you can see through it. Finally the second floor (yet third layer) is not lit in its interior, so those windows reflect the brighter sunlight from outside.
As I’ve already admitted I just noticed that, I cannot claim it was part of my compositional intent, although I do love using windows as a key component of my outdoor architectural work. I believe my primary intent here was to highlight the transition from the building that dominates the frame to the building just barely shown to its right, using the twin pairs of standpipes to tie the whole thing together, if you pay close attention.
LensScaper
6 Jun 2012I love glass for exactly those qualities that you describe. It’s a wonderful medium for a photographer and very well exploited in this image
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Edith Levy
6 Jun 2012You know I was looking at the image before reading your post and I was looking at the shape of the windows, the light, textures and I didn’t notice the different glass until I read the post. Just goes to show it’s important to really look and not just see. I really like this.
Mark Neal
7 Jun 2012I like your description of the elements, Mark. I sometimes miss the details. Great shot!
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