Seatlle Public Library (EXTREME DIAL-UP WARNING)...

[regnaD kciN]

And now, for something completely different...the recently-built Seattle Public Library may be an architectural standout, but it can be a bear to shoot. Because the outside is almost entirely glass, contrast is a real problem on sunny days, while overcast weather (as here) means that the interior is surprisingly dark. And one of the most interesting levels (the all-red "meeting room" fourth floor) is almost completely closed off from the rest of the building, and lit only by dim spotlights. Add to this the library policy that forbids the use of tripods, and you find you have to hand-hold shots as slow as 1/4s, and rarely faster than 1/30s. Several of these shots, taken under those conditions, could never be printed at full-page size due to obvious camera shake, but they reduce well enough to work on web galleries such as this one.

[superconnected]

1. Wonderful pics! I've always wanted to photograph there since it opened.

I still haven't been inside.

Thanks for sharing!

[superconnected]

2. Hey, I can really feel a mood going on from pic to pics. Did you feel strong room ambience while

you were there?

I just imagine that place would evoke feelings because of the rooms swathed in primary colors.

[regnaD kciN]

6. Actually, when it came to primary colors...

...you have the fourth floor (meeting rooms), which is the all-red section. That's really impressive, but, as I said in the OP, very dimly lit. For the rest of the building, you have lots of florescent-yellow in the escalators that run through the center of each level, but most of the other colors are one shade or another of monochrome (black - gray - white). It's more that there are splashes of color in a utilitarian structure than a primary color scheme. I can't think of much green or blue in the library at all.

The third level is really odd. It's the "media floor" (where they keep the computer terminals) and, I guess in order to help people focus, the walls and ceiling are painted black. It's a strange effect, because the level is very high-ceilinged and cavernous, and very dark...except that, beyond the inner shell, you've got light streaming in from the all-glass outer shell. To my mind, it was the least-successful floor in the whole building, although it did have a series of large flat-panel screens playing an interesting animated display based on common search terms (these didn't photograph too well):

[priller]

3. These are really nice!

I have a hard time doing interior shots myself. But these are great. You were obviously inspired.

[NashVegas]

4. Nice Angles

I particularly enjoy the long shots.

Can you sneak a telescoping monopod into the red room?

[JeffR]

5. That's what architectural photography should be.

I've never been a fan of Rem Koolhaus, but it looks as if I might have to rethink that.