Messe Basel New Hall

The Messe Basel New Hall is a huge three level exhibition building by the architects Herzog and de Meuron that bridges right over the Messeplatz square in Basel. Uniquely its whole frame is wrapped in twisting aluminum bands that are designed to look like they are woven together and shimmer as the light changes. The showpiece for a camera is underneath, where a giant circular opening has been created in the roof framing a perfect circle of sky above the trams and people passing below. Ideally setting up directly under it allows you to shoot straight up capturing the full symmetry, with an ultra wide lens to hold the whole ring and the woven metal that lines the inside of the hole. Walking around Messeplatz and along the surrounding streets allows you to experiment with capturing the rippling metal looking different from every angle, and the glass at street level as it creates in reflections of the square. The central plaza sits in the shade most of the day so you will be working mainly with the light dropping through the opening. Dusk and after dark are amazing when the place is lit up and the circle frames a deep blue or colour filled sky. An overcast day evens out the metal weave nicely too. The plaza is easily accessible and free to explore at all hours with a tram stop right inside, though the exhibition halls themselves only open for fairs and events. (Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland)