Uptown Campus, University at Albany

The Uptown Campus of the University at Albany is filled with striking modernist architecture. The campus was designed as a single bold idea rather than a scatter of separate buildings. The Academic Podium is the heart of the campus with its series of low buildings all tied together under one continuous canopy and ringed by rows of tall, slender white columns. The columns are just begging to be photographed, you can easily use the repetition for strong leading lines and bold patterns of light and shadow, especially when the sun is low and spreads out along the length of it. Out in the central courtyard, line up the fountains with the tower soaring behind for added height, and when the water is still you can catch the columns and sky mirrored in the pools. The glass domes over the courtyards and the four corner dorm towers give you more to experiment with as you explore the campus. Ideally you should aim to come in the warmer months when the fountains are running and the lawns are green, the campus often feels bare and gets brutally windy in winter. Early morning or evening light warms the pale concrete and deepens the shadows, plus quieter times like weekends or university breaks make the clean architectural shots much easier. The campus is open to the public and free to walk, with parking around the edges. Remember this is a busy university campus so respect the space of the students and people who work here if you are shooting during the day. (Albany, New York, USA)