Arctic Building
The Arctic Building is a stunning Beaux-Arts terra cotta facade from 1916, best known for the row of sculpted walrus heads encircling its third floor, making it one of Seattle's most distinctive and photogenic architectural details. Position yourself across Third Avenue or Cherry Street to get a full facade view, then move in close to isolate the walrus heads with a mid-range or telephoto lens, around 85mm to 135mm, which compresses the detail beautifully. The cream white terra cotta with blue and orange-brown accents renders best in overcast Pacific Northwest light, which is common in Seattle and eliminates harsh shadows in the deep relief work. Early morning gives you the cleanest shots with minimal foot traffic and pedestrians blocking the base of the building. Look for upward angles from the sidewalk to emphasize the vertical scale and the ornate detailing climbing toward the roofline. (Seattle, Washington, United States)
