VIA 57 West Abstract Architecture Photography | New York City
Geometric Facade of Manhattan's VIA 57 West
At first glance, this hardly looks like a building.
I made this photograph of VIA 57 West in Manhattan in 2017, concentrating on a small section of the structure rather than trying to describe the entire tower. The repeating windows, sharply angled panels and strong diagonal division transformed the architecture into something much closer to an abstract composition.
I had photographed VIA 57 West more than once before finding this particular viewpoint. What finally interested me was the way two very different sections of the building collided within the frame. One facade sweeps diagonally across the photograph in a disciplined pattern of recessed windows, while the other becomes a tighter arrangement of balconies, glass and rectangular compartments.
The geometry is complicated, yet there is still order in it.
I chose black and white because colour was unnecessary. Removing it pushed the photograph further away from a conventional architectural record and toward line, repetition, contrast and shape. The bright exterior panels become almost white against the deep window openings, making the entire surface feel graphic and dimensional at the same time.
VIA 57 West was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, and its unusual form has always stood apart for me among Manhattan's modern buildings. I wanted this photograph to exaggerate that difference.
For me, the result is less about recognizing a New York skyscraper and more about questioning what I am looking at—a real building reduced through composition into pattern, rhythm and abstraction.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2017
Premium Archival Fine Art Prints
Each photograph is produced using archival pigment inks on premium fine art paper, chosen for excellent tonal depth, fine-detail reproduction, and long-term image stability.
The refined surface provides beautiful detail while reducing distracting glare under normal indoor lighting, making it particularly well suited to both color and black-and-white photography.
Each photograph is sold as an unframed fine art print, allowing it to be framed according to your space and personal style.
Every print is made to order specifically for you.
Free Shipping
Shipping is included with every fine art print at no additional charge.
Your photograph is carefully packaged for protection during transit and shipped directly to your delivery address.
Tracking information is provided when your order ships.
About My Fine Art Photography
Every photograph in my collection comes from my own travels, explorations, and years behind the camera.
I create my work as photographic art rather than mass-produced decoration. From street portraits and abandoned places to landscapes, architecture, and the unusual subjects I discover along the way, each image begins with something that made me stop and look.
My photographs are available in multiple sizes so the same image can work in anything from an intimate wall space to a large statement installation.
