When I am in Pittsburgh, I like to visit the Alcoa Building downtown. I love it, at the same time as I don’t. I am drawn to its originality, design and history – but photography-wise, it is a nightmare for me. None of my photos have ever come out to properly reflect the history of successful
American industry, the people that contributed to it, and the creativity of the skyscraper design. Instead, my photos just give a dull and lifeless view of endless rows of monotonic small, framed windows in a sterile geometry on a gray building. Very boring – but must it be? This time I
have tried to blow some life into the building by adding some human elements in post-processing, cropping hard, pushing the contrasts and working with tonality as I converted my picture into Black and White. I would be grateful for any comments, positive or negative, on how to blow life into a seemingly boring subject and hence refuse the idea that a subject is boring. I have copied the original photo on the side."
5 comments posted
Robin Mellor
An interesting building with (I think) awful windows. But you have made a great picture out of it. You have added the figures in just the right places telling a story. Lovely contrast. Also, placing the figures on a diagonal provides a foil to the regularity of the window pattern. Sometimes reality is not real enough and you have to help it along.
One (tongue in cheek) comment - somewhere there is a 'woke' person who will take exception to the placing of the figures. "Why can't a girl look at a man?' they will say. Me - I don't mind which way round things are and I like your picture. Posted: 07/11/2025 13:04:20
Barbara Asacker
Great job, Maude. You took an ordinary image and turned it into an interesting image with a story. Your placement of the two persons draws my eye through the frame. Good tonal variation and contrast on the building. No changes needed. You succeeded in bringing the building to life.
Posted: 07/12/2025 22:34:53
Mark Lieberman
A great take on what could have been just an architectural photo. I love the placement of the two people which adds interest and tells a story. The patterned space between the windows and the placement of blinds/shades also add interest to the photo. Great job!! Posted: 07/14/2025 00:11:51
Peter Elliston
Maude, I really love this. You've transformed a pretty ordinary image into something that is really interesting and witty. I think you have done exactly what you set out to do. I think the people are in just the right places and work well together. I'm intrigued to know what the woman is doing with her hands? Is she blowing a kiss? That seems obvious but if you look closely it seems she is blowing a bubble? Posted: 07/17/2025 08:39:43
Kathleen McCrary
Maude--I'm not familiar with this building but I don't find it boring at all and I can see why you choose to return to it. I like the regularity and strong graphic appearance with the triangles and diamonds and the shapes of the windows. Presumably the whole building is clad in aluminum since it's Alcoa and that must be beautiful. I think skyscrapers in general are hard to photograph effectively, so don't be too hard on yourself. Your decision to add some "actors" to the scene is interesting. The man leaning out of the window is unexpected since I doubt those windows open. A good joke! Posted: 07/26/2025 15:36:29
