Please enter your email and website or LinkedIn to receive more information about our free and paid accounts.
Please enter your email address below and we’ll send you instructions on how to change your password.
Montreal-based photographer David Giral has worked with Montreal’s Public Art Department since 2010. The organization is responsible for integrating artwork into public spaces, and its goal is to increase awareness about Montreal being an international art destination. Recently, the organization commissioned David to shoot images of the new public artwork by international artist Jaume Plensa called Source, located on Project Bonaventure.
To reintegrate different neighborhoods in Montreal, the organization recently undertook the project of demolishing an elevated expressway in the heart of the city to be replaced with an urban boulevard called Project Bonaventure. For Montreal’s 375th anniversary, the city received this new sculpture, thanks to the contribution of Montreal-based philanthropists France Chrétien Desmarais and André Desmarais. To help create a more symbolic, aesthetically pleasing entrance to the city, the sculpture is located at the beginning of the boulevard which is a major intersection in the city.
The Public Art Department wanted images of the new sculpture on the boulevard for its archives to be used as collateral and for publicity use. A few weeks before the completion of the boulevard, the organization reached out to David to shoot the images displayed throughout this story. Since the photos needed to be taken before the completion of the boulevard, David scouted the location only one day before and spoke with the supervisor of the construction area to confirm that the site would be available and in top shape for David to photograph.
To capture breathtaking images that illustrated the detail and true beauty of the sculpture, David was sure to shoot the photos at different times of the day.
Just like any exterior architecture photography project, the main challenge is making sure that the site is clear and that the weather is the best for the shoot. Because the artwork was lit at night, it was important to shoot at dusk. The day part of the shoot was straightforward, mixing photos taken with a 24mm tilt shift lens and a 24-70mm standard zoom lens. The tilt-shift lens is really a must-have here to avoid any kind of distortion and perspective issues.
Though he worked alone, David thoroughly enjoyed completing this assignment, as it allowed him to work at his own pace and complete the project just as he wanted within a reasonable time frame. David is most keen on capturing exterior architecture at dusk because he feels it’s almost like meditating based on how much focus and patience it requires.
The final selects chosen to be used for this project were beautiful, and David did a great job showing the relationship between the artwork and its environment. The Public Art Department and the artist were elated with the outcome of the photos. With the success of this project, David has since been commissioned to shoot images of other sculptures around Montreal.
See more of David at davidgiralphoto.com!