Category: architecture

Ramova Grill

Ramova Grill panoramic photo

Here’s a 360 degree panorama I shot at the legendary Ramova grill in Bridgeport (the neighborhood where last night’s enormous warehouse fire took place) not long before it closed last May. This will be part of an interactive documentary project that filmmaker Jen Kienzler is producing, which will include brief audio stories as told by many of Ramova’s regulars. (She is currently seeking tech help to put it together; if you might be available, please email her.)

The counter, stools, and booths have been relocated to Benton House where they are hosting a “soup kitchen” tomorrow night, with help from Soup and Bread.

Click and drag on the image to pan; use shift and control keys to zoom in and out.

My phone watches a movie

If you bring a smart phone to the Eye Film Institute, look for the installation called “Mobile Thrill.” Place your phone on the conveyor belt, press start, and the machine will swallow it, project a film for it, and spit it back out at you. If you set your camera to record video, you can watch the film too. The installation is by Sander Veenhof, Anika Ohlerich, and Madelinde Hageman.

Architect James Goettsch for Design Bureau

Long live print! The new issue (Sept/Oct) of Design Bureau is out, which features an article on the brilliant architect James Goettsch with a portrait I shot. Those round windows at the Goettsch Partners office were really fun to work with. Put your iPad down for a sec and pick up a copy of this sumptuously printed, handsomely designed magazine.

Homeland Security says OK to photograph federal buildings

Since 9/11 many photographers have complained about being harassed while photographing buildings (federal and otherwise) in the U.S., and now there appears to be vindication for them: the excellent Lens blog from the NYT has published a document from Homeland Security stating explicitly that it’s legal for photographers to photograph public buildings in public spaces.

On a related note, I was surprised about this legal finding from last August—apparently property releases aren’t always needed after all, when photographs of buildings are used in advertisements (as long as trademarks aren’t visible). (I’m no lawyer though, so be sure to consult one if you’re selling pictures of buildings for ad use. Here’s an attorney specializing in photography-related issues.)

Update: Rohn Engh over at Black Star Rising is adamant that when selling a photograph of a person for editorial (as opposed to advertising use, or some kind of product endorsement) use, a model release is not needed. Here’s the post.