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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Six: Vantage Point makes the difference > Keating Building, Downtown San Diego, California, 2004
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18-APR-2004

Keating Building, Downtown San Diego, California, 2004

My low, close-in vantage point does two things to make this image work more effectively. By walking in and shooting up at the name of the man who built it, I give the structure its identity. My vantage point also allows me capture the glare of the sun in a window, which makes this historic building in San Diego’s old Gaslamp District seem to wink at us.

Leica Digilux 2
1/400s f/8.0 at 19.6mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis18-Jul-2006 03:49
I love the way this image has stirred your imagination, Ceci. The architect almost certainly wanted to intimidate those who approached his building. It is, and probably always was, inhabited largely by lawyers. Skewer the opposition, indeed. Right in the wallet. Thanks for the brilliant word picture you paint here.
Guest 18-Jul-2006 03:41
This picture gives me a feeling of an implacable knight, heavily armored, sitting on his horse, waiting to skewer his opposition with his lance. The building knight almost squats in its place, full of threat to the "opponent", immovable and unbeatable -- and the sun shines off the helmet.
Phil Douglis02-Aug-2005 03:50
You are so right, Christine -- there is a totemic effect here. I think it comes from those curves above the arched windows. They are like the eyes and eyebrows on those totem poles. Thanks for making this observation. I will never look at this picture in the same way again.
Guest 02-Aug-2005 03:39
The curved lines add to this picture, making it almost alive. A fast look can also make us think of a totem like those carved by Natives on the Canadian Pacific Coast.
Phil Douglis06-Jan-2005 21:49
Thanks, Dandan, for being the first person to finally comment on this image. That is just how i wanted you to feel, wink and all.
Guest 06-Jan-2005 10:13
Phil, I almost feel like this is the face of the builder...who is looking down on us.
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