Shutter Mike Photography

The University of California San Diego is a haven for architectural photography buffs.  The campus sits near the bluffs of Torrey Pines, steps away from the Pacific Ocean, in La Jolla, CA.  I did not get much time on campus during my visit so I was limited to the School of Medicine which by itself offers some great architecture and details to photograph.  On a typical gray Southern California morning the concrete structures of the School of Medicine present a challenge to an architectural photographer.  You risk a drab gray on gray monochromatic image where nothing really stands out.  The best solution to this problem is to wait until the clouds burn off which usually happens by late morning.  When that is not possible I’d suggest trying to include color from the landscape or other elements in the image.  Or, when all else fails, add in your own blue sky with the help of Photoshop.

This is part II of my photographs of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA.  I went into detail on the design and architecture of the institute in part one which can be viewed here.

Salk Institute South Lawn

The Salk Institute was started in the 1960s in La Jolla , CA by Jonas Salk, the founder of the polio vaccine.  Salk enlisted the architectural firm of  Louis Kahn to design the institute’s buildings on a mesa in Torrey Pines that overlooks the Pacific.  The key elements of the architecture are its symmetry and stark modern materials.   On a gray and misty Southern California morning the concrete and weathered teak that make up the facades of the buildings almost blend with the surroundings.  The two identical structures that house laboratories, offices, a library and auditorium are divided down the middle by a courtyard and stream of water that appears to empty into the Pacific at the West end.  The simplicity of the unfinished concrete, teak wood that has aged in the sea air and sharp, clean lines give the Salk Institute a very contemporary and clean appearance.  Very suiting for a scientific research facility.

I went to the Salk Institute on a weekend so the main courtyard was locked.  But you can still gain access to the exteriors of the buildings for photography.  If you can make it during the week they offer free architectural tours Monday through Friday at noon.  And the courtyard houses an exhibit of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures on display through August, 2010.

Check back later in the week for part II of my Salk Institute architectural photography collection.

Flowing water can be a difficult subject to capture.  You can capture the motion of the water by using a longer shutter speed resulting in a blur effect that conveys motion.  Or you can freeze the flow by using a much shorter shutter speed that allows you to capture the water in one split second of time.  To keep you lighting accurate for you will need to adjust your aperture (f-stop) to compensate for the shutter speed you choose.  Generally, when conveying motion with the long shutter speed use a larger f-stop (smaller opening) or when freezing motion use smaller f-stop (larger opening).  Again, those are just general rules.  Your setting, lighting, and circumstances will vary and your camera needs to be set accordingly.

These photos were taken in Gilbert, Arizona along a walking trail that runs parallel to Elliot Rd., just on the north side of downtown.

f/5.6 – 1/8 sec – ISO 200 – Focal Length 105 mm