Westin Bonaventure Hotel
The Westin Bonaventure is a striking piece of brutalist architecture in downtown Los Angeles, defined by its five mirrored glass cylinders that reflect the surrounding skyline and create endlessly interesting abstract compositions. The exterior glass towers are best shot from street level looking up, where the curved reflective surfaces distort and multiply the surrounding buildings in ways that reward experimentation with framing. The interior atrium is where things get really interesting for photographers: soaring open space, external glass elevators climbing the towers, geometric bridges, and layered balconies give you strong lines and dramatic perspectives from multiple levels. A wide angle lens works well for the atrium interior, while a longer focal length helps isolate the reflections on the exterior cylinders. Midday light is actually useful here since the mirrored surfaces need direct sun to come alive. The lobby is publicly accessible, making it easy to explore without any special access. (Los Angeles, California, United States)
