Vintage Photography
May 07, 2010

The Chrysler Building: New Article

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/0925/chrysler_building.jpg

Chrysler Building Spire, 2010 by James Maher

I just put up a new article about the Construction of the Chrysler Building, which in my opinion is the most iconic building in the city.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/0927/chrysler_building_1930.jpegThe Gargoyles are probably the most talked about aspect of this classic Art Deco building, but I much prefer the metal spire, which can often be seen glinting like a diamond in the hot sun, or glowing throughout the night.

The building was the work of architect William Van Alen and industrialist Walter P. Chrysler and was built with an aesthetic of the machine age of the 1920s; particularly with the Chrysler automobile.

The building was part of an epic race to become the tallest building in the world, which began out of Walter Chrysler's personal arrogance.  It is said that he asked his builders to make sure his toilet was the tallest in the world, so that he could "shit on Henry Ford and the rest of the world."  And indeed he shat on them for the next 11 months, until the building was surpassed in height by the Empire State Building.

 

 


*If you like the photos in this post please help me spread the word by sharing. Thanks.



3 Comments for "The Chrysler Building: New Article"
T. Becque says:
May 07, 2010 13:08
This is an incredible shot! Your tones and shapes are great as is the dark/light sides. http://www.thoughts-n-images.blogspot.com
Andoman says:
May 07, 2010 14:23
Really like this shot. Is it a half and half combination of 2 different black and white treatments? Just curious.
James Maher says:
May 07, 2010 17:44
Thanks! The shot of the building itself is one exposure, I just altered the tones in the lit and shadowed sides to get it to where it is. I masked off the building and changed the tones of the existing background on each side to where I wanted them to be and then added in a slight vignette. Nothing too tricky.