St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo, designed by Kenzo Tange, is a striking modernist church clad entirely in stainless steel, with eight hyperbolic paraboloid surfaces that sweep upward and meet to form a cross shape when viewed from above. The reflective exterior catches light in dramatic ways, making it a rewarding subject in almost any weather, from bright sunny days when the steel blazes with contrast to overcast skies that bring out a moody silver tone. Shooting from ground level with a wide-angle lens lets you emphasize the soaring curves and the way the walls lean and twist as they rise. Try low angles near the base to exaggerate the height, or step back to capture the full cross silhouette from a distance. Early morning gives you clean light without crowds, and the surrounding trees can frame the structure nicely. The cathedral is in a quiet residential neighborhood and easy to reach on foot from Edogawabashi or Mejiro stations. (Tokyo, Japan)
