Abstract Architecture at the Marta

Who or what is Marta Museum?

The Marta in Herford, Germany, is a museum for art, architecture, and design. It was designed by architecture superstar Frank Gehry and opened in 2005. Like so many of Gehry’s buildings, the Marta’s features a spectacular facade with smooth shapes, consisting of metal plates and red bricks – a true eyecatcher.

Many photographers say that they always look for light when they are shooting. I don’t. I look for stories. Of course, light is crucial for storytelling. Some stories can only be told with certain light conditions. However, unlike many photographers, I don’t think there’s good or bad light. Great stories can be found at any time, regardless of the light. By looking for stories instead of light, I try to be open for what a location with its given condition has to offer. If I can’t see or feel any story, the subject and the light don’t interest me.

Close-ups of lines and shapes

The photographs in this set are different. They are abstract architectural photographs, and as such, they don’t tell any particular story – at least none that is easily conceivable. The Marta itself may be a fascinating building, but it is not exactly easy to photograph. The number of angles is very limited because the building is situated in a densely built environment. So, I decided to photograph close-up shots and look for interesting lines and shapes in the facade. Framing and composition would be crucial and of course, the light would be important, too. I needed direct sunlight for the shiny reflections and deep shadows it would create on the metal surface.

So, as you can see, there are a lot of things going on in the images you are about to see. But there’s no story. You could argue that the lack of story envokes the feeling of mystery which incites the viewer to think a little more deeply about the images and focus on the emotions it evokes a bit more. If this is true, then it is a good thing, especially in times of reduced attention spans and photos just mindlessly floating by in photo streams.