5th Street Looking West – Austin, Texas

I’m on the northern edge of Republic Square, on 5th street, looking west. To the left, the shadowy outline of the Federal Courthouse, the subject of yesterday’s post. You might be able to make out the cyclist crossing the street. I timed the picture to capture the bicycle when it was in the middle.

I like how some of the new buildings in Austin are more than just rectangular boxes. The combination of curved walls and triangular towers make for a more compelling geometry. Some of the angled walls are more than just aesthetics, however. There are view corridors in downtown that are not allowed to block the sightlines to the Texas State Capitol. Cutting off the rectangle ensures compliance with these regulations.

Photographically, I kept the shadows dark, though I could have easily lifted them in post-production. I thought it gave a more mysterious and less distracting appearance, emphasizing the shape of the buildings.

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