Compositions in Rio de Janeiro

March 28, 2025

Every time I visit Rio something interesting happens. The hunt for the perfect shot gets relaxed and photography becomes almost a second thought to what is happening in front of me. Maybe it’s knowing that so many visually interesting things will present themselves to me throughout the day that I relax knowing that by the end of it I will almost always have something visually stunning to show for it. The beauty and chaos of this beach city is nothing short of inspiring, for artist or tourist alike.

In the following images, taken mostly in Rio’s Ipanema neighborhood and surrounding areas, I look for color, layers or subjects that might transport the viewer into the scene. I seem to gravitate to silhouettes as a way to portray subjects in their element. I love the illustrative nature of the aesthetic it brings to my images.

Rio Botanical Gardens, dating all the way back to 1808. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rio Botanical Gardens, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

View of Corcovado from Urca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Christ the Redeemer Statue on Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

General Osorio Open Air Market, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Exploring Oscar Niemeyer's Brasilia

March 15, 2025

Architect Oscar Niemeyer’s designs for Brasília, Brazil’s futuristic capital, embody his belief that architecture should be bold, fluid, and artistic. Commissioned in the late 1950s, Niemeyer worked alongside urban planner Lúcio Costa to create a city that symbolized Brazil’s progress and modernity.

Niemeyer believed architecture should serve the people and inspire imagination, which I feel is exactly what his Brasilia designs achieve.

I try to photograph architecture next to human subjects when possible to show the massive scale. Having a clear blue sky to contrast the architecture is also important so was pleased to have the right conditions. Watching the light work its way across the monuments and create interesting shadows was a highlight.

Shot using a Sony a6700 and a Sony a7riv.

Camera dos Deputados Anexo IV by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Memorial JK by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Palacio do Planalto by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Cine Brasilia by Oscar Niemeyer, mural by Athos Bulcão, Brasilia, Brazil

Panteão da Patria e da Liberdade by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Congresso Nacional by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Biblioteca Nacional de Brasilia by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Museu Nacional da Republica by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Supremo Tribunal Federal by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Concha Acústica by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Teatro Pedro Calmon by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Annexo do Ministerio da Saude, Brasilia, Brasil

Congresso Nacional, mural by Athos Bulcão, Brasilia, Brazil

Palácio da Justiça by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Brasilia Palaca Hotel by Oscar Niemeyer, mural by Athos Bulcão, Brasilia, Brazil

Brasilia Palaca Hotel by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil

Brasilia Palaca Hotel by Oscar Niemeyer, tile mural by Athos Bulcão, Brasilia, Brazil

For licensing/image inquiries please contact info@ericvannynatten.com

Photographing San Francisco's Art Deco Architecture

December 30, 2024

I recently spent some time walking San Francisco’s hills and capturing some of the Art Deco facades I saw along the way. One of the best neighborhoods to witness Art Deco influences is Pacific Heights where I found residential buildings and movie theaters adorned with geometric patterns and ornamental details that capture the glamour of the 1920s and 30s. On a larger scale the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown skyscrapers also feature stunning Art Deco design work.

Seeking out and photographing these gems offered a glimpse into one of the most captivating design movements of the 20th century.

Shot using a Sony a6700 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Thanks for reading!

For licensing/image inquiries please contact info@ericvannynatten.com

Chicago Observations

October 02, 2024

While exploring Chicago I was looking for scenes mostly highlighted by light and shadow. I wanted to show architectural features and some of the more abstract patterns I observed around the city in a not so straightforward way so I approached with a longer focal length and tighter compositions, focusing on shapes, shadows and reflections I encountered.

In a city so rich in diverse styles of architecture it’s an exciting challenging to hunt for all these shapes and facades in their best light, which often requires multiple visits to the same locations.

The Chicago Picasso by Pablo Picasso, Chicago, Illinois

The La Salle Building, Chicago, Illinois

Reflections captured on Anish Kapoor’s Cloudgate (The Bean) Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Board of Trade Building, Chicago, Illinois

The Wintrust Building, Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Board of Trade Building, Chicago, Illinois

Thanks for reading!

For licensing/image inquiries please contact info@ericvannynatten.com

Exploring Shapes and Colors in Seattle's Central Library

September 11, 2024

I had the pleasure of exploring the Seattle Central Library on a recent summer afternoon and ended up spending a couple hours in this amazing building.

It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and it’s asymmetrical shape, unlike any other building in Seattle, is the result of its use of overlapping platforms and clusters to reflect the varied uses of the library. What I enjoyed the most while exploring the multiple levels and interior spaces was the use of bold colors throughout and the way natural light was floods through the whole structure. Truly a work of art and I could’ve spent many more days observing and finding interesting compositions to photograph.

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