Joy of Light Photoblog
Mosaic Reflection
Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 8 January 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.
The Crown-Zellerbach Building at One Bush Street in San Francisco.
Built in 1959 - back when Mosaic tiles were very 'in'. The tiles seen here rise 94 meters (308 feet) up this twenty-story building.
© copyright 2009 by Stephen Phillips Photography / San Francisco / www.joyoflight.com
please respect these rights - do not copy or use these images without permission
Your comments are invited. You will also find me at ...
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Very impressive way to fill the frame.
8 Jan 2009 5:17am
Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom
Judging by the fact the wall still has all its tiles I can only guess the builders never employed the same tiler that did my kitchen. Nice perspective to this shot.
8 Jan 2009 5:29am
@Mike: Oh me oh my, Mike - this kitchen project does not sound to have gone very well. It is good this is not the case here - as I imagine the tiles falling from up to twenty floors would probably hurt. I hope you managed to get the tiles put right.
yz from Budapest, Hungary
Fantastic geometric composition! And the light is also great!
8 Jan 2009 7:36am
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Wow! This is incredible! Would love to see it with my own eyes! :)
8 Jan 2009 7:50am
chrissy from London, United Kingdom
this is very unusual and very impressive, like it very much
8 Jan 2009 11:31am
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
tiles at a very different perspective....nice...;)
8 Jan 2009 12:24pm
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Impressive. A different perspective making it look bigger!
8 Jan 2009 12:30pm
Chris from South Jersey, United States
cool perspective on this shot - I like all the interesting angles in this.....
8 Jan 2009 4:48pm
dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States
308 ft. by 30 ft. - I don't even want to think about how many 1 x 1 tiles that is. Great perspective.
8 Jan 2009 5:46pm
@dogilicious: My poor mind started going down that same steep path. I even thought of going back and actually counting one row so I could get an accurate accounting. Then my better senses kicked-in, and I went and enjoyed a good burger...
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
awesome shot - I like the reflections on the face of the tile building also - with the sky and the buildings showing on the tile face - the shapes and composition really grab my interest. Have a great weekend coming up!
8 Jan 2009 6:23pm
@Scott Schilling: Thanks Scott - you're the first to mention those subtle reflections off the tiles. That's what drew me to taking this in the first place. A good weekend to you as well.
Shrig from Washington, D.C., United States
Up! In the sky! It's complete awesomeness! :P
And to answer your question about Dupont Circle, I'm going to have to ask someone who has been here longer then 6 months. I've only been to Dupont (as in outside the Metro station) twice, and I loved it both times. I'll get back to you :)
8 Jan 2009 6:33pm
@Shrig: Hey Shrig - while you're investigating - I'd love to know if 'The Grog and Tankard' bar is still there just off the circle. I know I could just Google the answer - but you might enjoy researching this. Now - it has been 38 years - so don't look too long or hard. Great bar.
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Awesome composition! Like Sherri said impressive (and very original) way to fill the frame. Great photo. Bravo!
8 Jan 2009 6:46pm
grant from kansas city, United States
another interesting composition and great photo.
8 Jan 2009 8:53pm
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
Hi... I'm here again...
Great angle Stephen!... I like the tones and your perfect light here... and sometimes... your acrobatic shots... :))
8 Jan 2009 10:52pm
@Francesc B.: I was thinking about you just a few minutes ago - and here you are! Serendipity! Thank you kindly, Francesc!
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
In French we say "Les beaux esprits se rencontrent"... The last small walk with "grandma Greta" and time to go to bed, it's more than midnight here !
See you tomorrow.
8 Jan 2009 11:14pm
@Francesc B.: ...beautiful, indeed, Francesc - good night and sleep well.
JJ from Jersey City, United States
Great perspective, such an interesting building with the light and tones from this angle
8 Jan 2009 11:54pm
@JJ: Thank you, JJ. I was 10 years old when they put this up. I remember mosaic everything for a time - ashtrays, napkin holders, lamps, coffee tables, and even artwork hanging on the wall.
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Wow, what a perspective... dramatic and powerful! Great to see this mosaic wall remain intact. Mosaic tiles at this age would have been peeling off tremendously in my place.:-(
9 Jan 2009 12:31am
@hugo poon: With the earthquake standards in California - I'm guessing these tiles were laid out in commercial sheets with an interior bond - they are in perfect shape after fifty years of exposure to the air.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Fabulous point of view and very imposing with all the skyscrapers looking down. Beautiful mosaic wall, did you count them...?
9 Jan 2009 1:13am
@Observing: 7,523...7,524...7,525...
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States
Extraordinarily power image! Great work.
9 Jan 2009 1:54am
Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany
My kind of shot,I love angles like this..It just goes up and up and up !!
9 Jan 2009 7:18am
melodia from ffm, Germany
spiraling! (hope that's the word i was thinking of in german)
15 Jan 2009 6:36pm
Katie-Rose from United Kingdom
I love the angle you've taken this from. It's a great shot.
17 Jan 2009 11:30pm
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