210/365 challenge

Lines in black and white. Another sexy bridge in Geneva

209/365 challenge

Through the glass jungle

173/365 challenge

Four giants under the fog

These four skyscrapers constitute a business complex accomodating mostly offices, but there are also services such as a hotel and a garden. Furthermore, each tower has several underground levels for parking and road access. The construction of these four buildings began in 2004 and work was completed in 2008. Over 820 feet high (248 meters!!), the Caja Madrid Tower is the tallest of the complex, and in Spain as well. It was designed by Norman Foster. The floors are organized in the same manner as a bookcase.

98/365 challenge

The Beauty of the Curve

Discovering the universe of Renzo Piano in Bern, at the Paul Klee Museum (built in 2005). Detail.

The Italian Renzo Piano is an internationally renowned and distinguished architect. His work is marked by a predominant commitment which unifies the demands of technical, artistic, skilled, natural und social expectation. Since his design for the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Piano counts among the most international established architects. Known in Switzerland for the building of the Beyeler Fondation in Riehen near Basel, Piano was directly entrusted with the task to build the Paul Klee Museum by Maurice E. Müller.  

Canon 5dmarkIII, Canon Lense 24-105 mm

88/365 challenge

Still industrial life

Visiting this industrial site was quite an experience, specially since I managed to be totally on my own, just surrounded by this rough material, playing with shadows, puddles from yesterday's rains and the very strong light, unusual for October.  Inspite of the brutal appearance of the metal blocks, the place was extremely quiet. I enjoyed composing my pictures, like a child playing with a gigantic Lego. 

77/365 challenge

Afternoon shadows at UNAIDS building ...

UNAIDS building by Austrian architects Baumschlager & Eberle is located in the former WHO park and in complete harmony with the 1960's main WHO building and the trees still present in the park. I like the lights inside the building enhanced by glass walls and inner courtyards with great luminosity. The outsite is playfull, a bit LEGO like and offers great shadows for photography. 

Captured with my little LUMIX- panasonic and edited with PS + LR

76/365 challenge

Lines

I always admired the elegant white lines and yellow lights in my gym, so today was the day. I looked it up with my mini Lumix in my hand and took some pics for the challenge. I quite like the result. 

Lumix Panasonic

71/365 challenge

Lights  and Shadows a the (former) Slaughterhouse

Matadero Madrid is a former slaughterhouse converted to an arts centre. Built in 1911, it is one of the most singular industrial establishments of 20th-century Madrid architecture. The buildings were in use as a slaughterhouse until 1996 when  Madrid City Council decided to turn this space into a laboratory for contemporary artistic creation.

Architect: Luis Bellido

The beauty of the place is the conceptual simplicity of it all and the faboulous shadows reflected on the pavement if you go there around midday on a very sunny day. 

68/365 challenge

Shadows dressing architectural spaces

A pattern of shadows, under a glass fassade, pure magic in one of Madrid's main roads. We had a splendid end of summer light throught the day, perfect for photography. Thanks to my unknown model, a perfect match for my pattern.

My handy mini Lumix did an extremely good job. 

50mm, f/4,shutter speed 1/500 ISO 80

64/365 challenge

A night at the Victoria Hall

Today we had the great pleasure of listening to Russian classics by the St. Petersburg Philarmonic Orchestra. The public was totally thrilled. Me too ! 

The venue: The Victoria Hall was designed by the Geneva architect, John Camoletti, built between 1891-94. Its façade is characteristic of the French "Beaux-Arts" style, inspired by classical and renaissance architecture. A quite simply decorated foyer leaves concert-goers totally unprepared for the decorative extravagance of the auditorium in a neo-baroque style verging on the rococo.

Canon 5dmarkIII, Tokina Fish Eye Lense 10-17mm, Iso 2500, f/4,  1/13   light conditions were quite dfficult, and in the absence of tripod I had to adjust the other parameters, the result wasn't as sharp as I wished. 

61/365 challenge

With my fish-eye through the night. Geneva

Night life in my neighourhood is not really exciting, just the odd  car and passer-by. I took my tokina Fish eye to give a more interesting touch to the pic and just waited till some movement arose in the empty streets.

Canon 5dmark III, Tokina 10-17 mmm, fisheye at 14mm, 1/13 seconds aperture, f/4 ISO 6400

59/365 challenge

Classic elegance

Following the golden rule of photography with this very classy Staircase. This week-end  Geneva celebrated Les Journées du Patrimoine, an European day when you get the chance to visit private houses and other architectural hidden places. 

This staircase belongs to a private residence close to the Old Town.

Canon 5d MarkIII, 24-105mm

57/365 challenge

A Mario Botta creation, Geneva

The Julius Bär bank in Geneva was designed by Mario Botta (b. 1943), an internationally renowned Swiss architect from Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. He is  known for using relatively inexpensive traditional materials, such as bricks, and simple geometric forms, like circles, squares and rectangles, in multiple combinations.  One of his best known works is the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco (1995).  

Taken with my little Lumix automatic and edited with PS

47/365 challenge

My favorite staircase in Geneva, revisited

Spiral staircases have something very appealing  This one is located in a car park, very ugly from the outside, but beautiful inside. I had already  photographed this staircase last year, but there are always new angles or lights to explore. 

Canon 5dmarkIII, Lense Canon T&S 17mm, ISO  320, f/ 4, speed. 1/60,  handheld

45/265 challenge

Through the night...

Empty Geneva streets at night have a special mystery and quiteness. This picture was taken around midnight, I stopped for a little while in front of the Musée d Art et d'Histoire only interrupted by the occasional car or passer by. 

Canon 5DMarkIII, Canon Lense 24-105mm at 24mm, ISO 100, f/7.3, long exposure (13 sec), on tripod. 

44/365 challenge

Night colors ....

A building I get to see everyday when I am in Geneva. It is specially  appealing at night with all the colors. I love the conceptual garden surrounding the premises, with artificial fog coming among the concept-trees every now and then. A brilliant design

Lenz & Staeheli Building, Amandolier, Geneva

Panorama out of two vertical pictures. Canon 5DmarkIII, Tilt &Shift Canon Lense 17mm, ISO 100, f/8, long exposure (15 secs)

40/ 365 challenge

Construction sites can be beautiful... in Bellevue-Geneva

Today an unexpected professional photo shooting on the shores of Lake Geneva, in a beautiful villa under construction in Bellevue. Construction sites can be also sexy. I was blessed with a beautiful end-of-sommer light. Loads of editing with photoshop for this picture due to the strong light difference inside and outside

Canon 5dmarkIII, Tilt & Shift Lense Canon 17mm, ISO 100, f/9, speed: 1/40, on tripod

39/365 challenge

Geneva's landmarks:BMF

Since 1883 the Power Plant Building is one of Geneva's highlights. Today a theatre, this amazing venue is a former hydro power plant called Usine des Forces Motrices.  It is positioned near the point where the river Rhone flows out of Leman Lake.

I was strolling there on this very sunny summer morning, nobody on sight except for the swan and some petty drug dealers who seem to love this place and its surroundings. I was very tempted to portrait them as well, since they had interestig features.

Canon 5dmarkIII, Canon lense TS E 17mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/320

38/365 challenge

Pink! Saturday night lights

Le Bain Bleu, a new icon in Geneva's architecture, is a Spa designed by Swiss Architecture firm GM. Today looking totally pink, fairy tale like. As I was waiting the end of a series of long exposures (30 seconds each) I saw all party goers passing by straight to Les Voiles open air bar. Unfortunately I left my stilettos at home, so I wasn't able to enter the venue with my tennis shoes - dress code required!

Canon 5dMarkIII, Canon Lense Tilt & Shift 17mm, ISO 100, f/8, shutter speed: 30 seconds

35/365 challenge

Ephémère....Geneva, Switzerland

One hour before midnight looking for something worthwhile a photo shoot, I discovered this termporary constructions on the shores of Lake Léman, with people chilling out around the tents on this warm summer night. 

Canon d5markIII, Canon Lense 24-105mm, ISO 100, f/8, 10 seconds (very long exposure since, apart from the lights inside the tent it was pitch dark, as usual in Geneva), on tripode