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99 Solarized Images
By Joe Constantino AuthorHouse LLC
Copyright © 2014 Joe Constantino
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4969-2845-0
CHAPTER 1
NEW YORK CITY
The many cultures, nationalities, and ethnic groups all come together to form one of the greatest cities in the world. This cosmos of international traffic is further enhanced by the many suburbs whose workers travel to New York City on a daily basis. Three hundred thousand people are transported daily by the Long Island Railroad alone. It is no wonder that so many historic and contemporary buildings and sites are present to form a legacy that will continue for many millenniums.
Presented in part 1 are some of these buildings and structures that are traditionally part of New York and they are presented in a different view so the viewer may be able to approach the city from another vantage point. However, from the old to the new they still represent and are part of the golden age that is New York.
Brooklyn Bridge and Hot Dog Stand
This view of the Brooklyn Bridge just east of the East River is in the DUMBO Section of Brooklyn. Dumbo is short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. The structure on the right is the remnants of an abandoned warehouse. The hot dog stand accommodates the many visitors who patronize the area.
Brooklyn Bridge and Warehouse
Another view of one of the huge stanchions of the Brooklyn Bridge. The two arches that enhance the all stone stanchion stand as a monument to those who sacrificed their lives in the construction of the bridge. The structure on the left is the other side of the ancient warehouse mentioned in the previous caption of the bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan
A barge being pushed by a tugboat slowly makes its way under the large span of the Brooklyn Bridge. The skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan act as a dividing point where the East River and Hudson River meet in New York Harbor. This image was taken from the span of the Manhattan Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge, Another View
This diagonal partial view of the Brooklyn Bridge Span is seen from just outside the old abandoned warehouse. The two walls of the warehouse meet and are framed by the circular arch at the entrance to the warehouse. This area is a popular tourist attraction and is visited by many people on a daily basis.
Brooklyn Bridge, Freedom Tower and Woolworth Building
This image is noted for its historic and documentary value. The Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883; the Woolworth Building, which is to the right of the three buildings, was the first skyscraper built in New York City, the year was 1913; The Freedom Tower will have been completed in the fall of 2014. The formidable stanchion of the Brooklyn Bridge proudly stands as an entrance to Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Bridge Light Stanchion
The formidable ancient style light stanchion is in keeping with the age of the bridge that was completed in 1883. Cables aim toward the top of the western stanchion as the pedestrian walk is evident in the foreground as a sole pedestrian calmly walks the length of the bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge Runner
A solo runner takes advantage of the pedestrian walk on the bridge as he works himself to the Manhattan side of the bridge. This horizontal view clearly depicts the twin towers of the World Trade Center that were destroyed in the terrorist attack on 9/11/01. A number of cables are also visible leading to the western stanchion of the bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge Roadway
The lower roadway and upper pedestrian walkway aim toward the western stanchion as seen from the Manhattan side of the bridge. The second stanchion can be seen in the distance. There are no trains that travel this bridge, it is reserved for vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Cables on the Brooklyn Bridge
The highlighted cables of the Brooklyn Bridge are offset by the lower foreground silhouette which includes one of the bridge's stanchions and a light stnachion. The long vertical lines give a dramatic presentation to the multitude of cables.
Brooklyn Bridge Cables and Walkway
The arches on the lower left and right side of the image are part of the stanchion where the cables and catwalks are attached. The large cables are almost sixteen inches across. Notice the different graphic designs that are formed when simply viewing these cables and the catwalks.
Brooklyn Bridge Cables
This scene offers the viewer an excellent opportunity to see how the many cables on the bridge are attached to the stone stanchion. This view is from the Brooklyn side stanchion and was captured while on a boat in the East River. Notice the slight gradation in the vehicular path and pedestrian walk.
Manhattan Bridge Stanchion
A good look at the large stanchion of the Manhattan Bridge and its roadway. Notice the building on the left that is the Dumbo section of Brooklyn. The metal stanchions contrast the stone stanchions which are prominent on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Arches at the Met
The arches on the ceiling of the Metropolitan Museum of Art comprise the ceiling and are obvious when entering the museum. The entrance foyer is called the Great Hall and was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt. The joining of these arches on the ceiling forms a unique design throughout the Great Hall. This was a well thought design for the entrance to this beautiful landmark.
Columns at the Met
Pictured are two of the eight stately columns that adorn the front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These columns are but a few of the many architectural designs that are prominent in the museum. Their dominating presence are a welcoming sight to the many visitors of the museum.
Inside the Met
The grand staircase that leads visitors to the second floor of the museum was also designed by Richard Morris Hunt. Notice the alternating square and round columns on each side of the staircase. The center dome and the sculpture at the top of the entrance to the staircase all add to the beauty of this part of the museum.
The TWA Building at JFK Airport
This large ornamental structure is part of the entrance to the TWA Building at JFK Airport in new York. The metal design is reminiscent of the head of a bird with large beak. After having gone through a series of renovations the building has been recently opened to the public.
Wing - TWA Building at JFK
The TWA building JFK Airport in New York was opened in 1962. The wing shaped structure was designed by Eero Sarrinen. The unique interior was a delight to behold by the many people who at that time flew TWA. The name of the airport at that time was Idlewild. The large window was part of the unique design.
JFK Tram
The two car trams operate at JFK Airport to service passengers and guests among the various airline terminals that service the airport. There is also a direct service to the Jamaica Long Island Railroad station for a nominal fee.
JFK Tram Station entrance
This tram station is directly connected to the Jet Blue Terminal at JFK Airport. The two vertical lines in the center foreground are the handrails of the escalator that lead directly to the station platform below. Notice the semi-circular design enhancing the entrance.
JFK Tram Station
A lone pedestrian stands by with a bag on his back watching a tram leaving the station. This particular station is entirely covered. Some tram stations at JFK are covered and some are not.
42nd Street Library
A view from the second floor of the 42nd Street Library which is also known as the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building, showing the majestic staircase, arches and columns that enhance this beautiful structure. The library houses 88 miles of shelves with an additional 40 miles under neighboring Bryant Park and has 15 million volumes in its stacks. It is primarily a research and resource center.
Empire State Building
Construction of the Empire State Building took just thirteen months and was completed in 1931. With its 102 stories it was the tallest building in the world for almost forty years. More than 110 million people have visited the observation deck on the 86th floor where they have a panoramic view of New York City.
Flatiron Building
Looking south from Broadway and framed by a light stanchion on 25th Street, the Flatiron Building retains its historical significance as one of the first skyscrapers in New York City. The triangular design was unique and still draws the attention of many tourists and native New Yorkers.
Flatiron Building and Gables
Another view of the Flatiron Building from 6th Avenue. The building was constructed in 1902 and stands 22 stories tall. Notice the gables from a neighboring building as they add a gaphic dimension to a view of the building.
Circular Building
This circular building that rests on a horizontal plane is located at the Avenue of the Americas in the upper 30s in News York City. Notice the variation in tone where the upper circle intersects the circle just below and the tonal variation in the glass of the lower circle. The change from white to black through various tones of gray offer a distinct variation and is typical of the solarization process.
Grace Building
The Grace Building is located on 42nd Street near 6th Avenue. Looking straight up, the natural curve is quite obvious. The building actually gets thinner as its height increases. The concave design indicates a vertical slope on to both sides, 42nd and 43rd Street of the building. The architect of this unique design was Gordon Bunshaft.
Bank of America Tower
The Bank of America Tower is the third largest building in New York City after the Freedom Tower and the Empire State Building. Its construction was completed in 2009. This image was taken from 43rd Street and the concave slope of the Grace Building can be seen on the left side.
World Financial Center
Now known as Brookfield Place. The World Financial Center has undergone years of renovation due to the damage that was done during the attack of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The western section of the glass domed circular design overlooks the Hudson River. It is the home of many corporate offices and was originally designed by Cesar Pulli of Adamson Associates.
IAC Building
The unique design of this building was created by Frank Gehry. The building was completed in 2007. It is located in the Chelsea Area of New York City adjacent to the West Side Drive and overlooks the Hudson River. The outer part of the building is all glass supported by an inner concrete structure.
Residential Building at High Line
The design of this residential building is eye catching. The glass front and side that rises in three sides form a triangle base to a three part vertical rectangle to a four part diagonal rectangle. This building is parallel to the High Line in the Chelsea Area of New York City.
Arches at Randalls Island
Randalls Island is located in the East River between Manhattan, the East Bronx and Queens. It is easily accessible from the Robert F Kennedy Bridge. The arches seen here act as a viaduct for the Northeast Railroad Corridor, Amtrak route between New Jersey/New York and New York Connecticut state lines, New York, New York County, New York. The island is well known for its sports facilities and has many very active participants.
Column and Disc
This Column and Disc was the New York State Pavilion in the 1964 Worlds Fair. It is located in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens. In 2009 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was used in the TV series McCloud and for the movie Men in Black. Plans are now underway to restore the structure.
Unisphere
The Unisphere was prominently featured in the 1964 World's Fair. It was the object symbol of the fair and still adorns the fair site in Flushing Meadow Park in Queens of New York City. It was featured in the movie Men in Black. The image seen here is only a small portion of the lower portion of the Unisphere. It is complimented by a pool and shooting water display. The unisphere is twelve stories high and constructed of stainless steel.
Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and opened in 1959. The unique cylindrical shape starts small at the bottom and gradually gets larger as it rises. This compliments the interior ramp that gradually rises so guests may view the art works at various levels of the museum. The concept was to have the viewing areas flow from one venue to another.
Guggenheim Ceiling with Calder
Looking straight up from the ground level of the museum the walls of the ramp are clearly outlined and from the lower portion of the image the convex outline can be seen. The ceiling is glass designed in triangular sections and to the right in the ceiling are pictured black discs with white outlines. This is the Caldor Sculpture which is actually white but the tone is reversed in the solarization process.
Pennsylvania Station
Looking toward the north end of the promenade the semi circular dome dominates the area. To the right of the promenade are shops and eating places and on the left is the entrance to the tracks of the Long Island Railroad where thousands of commuters enter and exit on their daily commute.
7 Train
The 7 Train is the favorite mode of transportation to Citi Field to see the Mets or to Arthur Ashe Stadium for world class tennis. It is also the daily route for residents of the Flushing area of Queens for their daily trek to their chosen fields in Manhattan. This is a very popular subway line.
Twin Towers at the World Trade Center
The twin Towers of the World Trade Center were composed of a north and south tower. There were indoor and outdoor observation areas on the 109th and 110th floors. The towers were destroyed on 9/11/01 by an Alqaeda terrorist attack. The buildings were officially open in April of 1973. 50,000 people worked in the towers and the towers were so large they had their own zip code, 10048.
CHAPTER 2
INTERESTING AND HISTORICAL SITES
Some of the interesting and historical sites that are represented are the University of Tampa, Florida Southern College and The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Many of the buildings at Florida Southern College were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The University of Tampa was formerly the Tampa bay Hotel and was built by Henry B. Plant. It became Tampa University in 1931 and is unique because of its Moorish Revival Architecture. Their college newspaper is called the Minaret.
In close proximity to Tampa University, right across the Hillsborough River is The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and that museum is housed in a building called "The Cube" because of its unique architecture. Teddy Roosevelt stayed at the Tampa Bay Hotel with his Roughriders before going to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. Also included in this section are some photos of the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The unique design of this building both inside and out is certainly within keeping of the wonderful surrealistic art work of Salvatore Dali that is found inside this building.
A few more other interesting sites will be seen in this section including Coindre Hall and The Phipps Mansion.
Sykes Chapel
Known as the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Value at Tampa University, this chapel was designed as a meditation center for all faiths. The development of character and values was a commitment made by the university to its students with the construction of this chapel. Two praying hands outline the design of the building. Natural lighting was an important consideration when designing the chapel and the materials of cherry wood and glass compliment this concept.
The Organ at Sykes Chapel
The casework of the pipe organ is 55 feet high and has 3184 pipes. It has a mechanical key action and was designed by Dobson. The pipes that cannot be seen and that are hidden from view are housed in a three story room in the rear of the chapel. In addition to serving as a place of meditation the chapel also serves as a recital hall where many concerts are given.
Leepa-Rattner Museum
The Leepa-Rattner Museum was designed by Edward C. Hoffman for which he received an award of excellence by the American Institute of Architects. There are many lines and graphic designs that are prominent in this image of the Leepa-Rattner Museum. The diagonal lines are offset by the vertical and horizontal lines. The rectangles within rectangles and squares also add to the interest of this graphic design.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from 99 Solarized Images by Joe Constantino. Copyright © 2014 Joe Constantino. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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