Prefontaine Building
Built in 1909, this terracotta-clad Beaux-Arts office tower is one of the most ornate facades in Pioneer Square, covered in intricate relief detailing that rewards a close lens as much as a wide one. Stand across the street to capture the full vertical sweep of the building, using the rhythmic rows of arched windows as a natural compositional grid. A wide-angle or tilt-shift lens works well for minimizing distortion while emphasizing the building's height, and getting low helps exaggerate the upward perspective dramatically. Overcast days are ideal here since Seattle's flat grey light eliminates harsh shadows and brings out the warm tones of the terracotta without blowing out the details. The surrounding streetscape adds context, so including pedestrians or the street-level signage can ground your shot and give a sense of scale to the richly decorated upper floors. (Seattle, Washington, United States)
