Growing up in a family of architects, it makes sense that when Columbus, Ohio-based shooter Brad Feinknopf was thinking about what he wanted to capture as a photographer, the answer was buildings. “I have been looking at buildings my entire life,” he says, adding that he was originally studying to become an architect himself, but early in his education found that he enjoyed photography even more. He redirected his efforts towards appreciating and capturing structures, instead of designing them. Brad has found great joy in this, and clients see this passion in his photographs.
Recently, Brad was hired by Architectural Record for a very special project; they wanted him to be one of the first people to photograph the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, designed by Zaha Hadid—one of the most famous female architects in the world. Zaha is known for her futuristic, powerful and curving designs, as well as for being the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. For an architecture buff like Brad, this assignment was special due to the museum’s vast departure from Zaha’s typical style, as the building “deals largely with straight, angular surfaces.” Brad says he was also attracted to the project because he’s, “interested in shooting interesting architecture that helps expand one’s belief of that which can be possible”—and Zaha Hadid’s work certainly fits the bill.
Brad was given creative freedom to “interpret the building” as he saw fit and tried to create shots that were both “unique to me and true to the building.” The shoot went well, minus the freezing weather and cloudy skies. Brad shrugged off the environmental problems though, adding
Sometimes it’s the more challenging atmospheric situations that ultimately render great end results.
The photographs prove it was one of the those times. Architectural Record was very pleased with the pictures and they were used in their January issue. Archdaily.com also posted some of the images on their site. But most importantly, Brad says,
This shoot was just another testament to ‘photograph what you love.’ It’s all about the little victories.