Wilson Building
Built in 1904 and modeled after the Palais Garnier in Paris, the Wilson Building brings ornate Beaux-Arts architecture to the heart of downtown Dallas, making it one of the most decorative facades in the city. The building sits at the corner of Main and Ervay Streets, giving you two distinct elevations to work with. The Main Street side rewards a wide-angle lens for capturing the full symmetry of the facade, while stepping back to the opposite sidewalk lets you include street-level activity and neighboring buildings for context. Look up to emphasize the intricate stonework, arched windows, and detailed cornice work with a slightly longer focal length to compress the ornamentation. Overcast days are ideal since harsh Texas sun can blow out the light-colored stone, but early morning on a clear day gives you soft directional light on the Main Street side with minimal foot traffic to contend with. (Dallas, Texas, United States)
