The roofline of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía opera house in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences.
Architect Santiago Calatrava’s designs in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences seemed perfect for a little black and white experimentation. One of the advantages of staying in Valencia for multiple days was that it afforded me time to revisit spots, trying out different light, different times of day, and generally just play with ideas.
It was about a two-and-a-half mile walk from my hotel in Valencia, Spain, to the nearest edge of the City of Arts and Sciences, but most of the way I would walk through the Turia Gardens (a former riverbed that was turned into a series of gardens, parks and public spaces decades ago after the Turia River was rerouted for flood prevention). I made the walk several times during my 10-day stay and shot Calatrava’s buildings under different skies and in different lighting conditions. In some instances, I felt that more drama might come by eliminating the color. I don’t do a lot of black and white photography but I enjoy looking at the work of others — especially those that really embrace the contrast and deep shadows.
I’m not sure all of these images are “finished” yet, but it’s been an enjoyable process and has sent me down a few new paths. I’ll probably dabble in b&w more in the future.
The Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, an interactive science museum.
Detail of the upper stories of the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe.
Visitors walking along the reflecting pool that surrounds the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe.
A plane’s contrail crossing behind the Assut de l’Or Bridge in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences.
