Exterior Photography at Mercedes Benz of Chicago
The assignment was to produce exterior photography of the new Mercedes Benz of Chicago automobile dealership for the manufacturer of the steel siding used on the building.
My client requested sunlit photographs of all sides of the building and twilight photography twilight photography of the front. The photos are to be used on their website and in product brochures. Because this building faces south, I knew that we could produce nice photos at both sunrise and sunset. This would mean a long shoot day, but that’s what we get paid for!
We arrived in Chicago the afternoon before shoot day to scout the location and plan the next day’s work. On shoot day we arrived before sunrise to begin the sunrise photographs. We worked throughout the day wrapped up shortly before 10:00PM.
The dealership is a former parking garage that has been brilliantly transformed into a state-of-the art auto dealership by the team of Gensler (architects) and Skender Construction. The 80,000 square foot dealership has separate floors for new cars, used cars and vehicle service. Interior elevators transport cars and customers.
The dealership is located on a very busy road next to a freeway. The traffic and dense urban setting did present a few challenges but our client seemed very pleased with the resulting images.
My client requested sunlit photographs of all sides of the building and twilight photography twilight photography of the front. The photos are to be used on their website and in product brochures. Because this building faces south, I knew that we could produce nice photos at both sunrise and sunset. This would mean a long shoot day, but that’s what we get paid for!
We arrived in Chicago the afternoon before shoot day to scout the location and plan the next day’s work. On shoot day we arrived before sunrise to begin the sunrise photographs. We worked throughout the day wrapped up shortly before 10:00PM.
The dealership is a former parking garage that has been brilliantly transformed into a state-of-the art auto dealership by the team of Gensler (architects) and Skender Construction. The 80,000 square foot dealership has separate floors for new cars, used cars and vehicle service. Interior elevators transport cars and customers.
The dealership is located on a very busy road next to a freeway. The traffic and dense urban setting did present a few challenges but our client seemed very pleased with the resulting images.
Posted by Curt Clayton at 12/21/2010 11:28 AM 
Categories: exterior photography, Architectural photography, Twilight photography
Tags: Mercedes Benz Chicago twilight photography exterior photography architectural photography
Categories: exterior photography, Architectural photography, Twilight photography
Tags: Mercedes Benz Chicago twilight photography exterior photography architectural photography
Some great work on this latest posting. I am wondering if you used HDR on your second image. And if yes which program.
Also, did you do any interior shots?
Thanks
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I occasionally use Photomatix Pro (exposure fusion mode), but for these images I used layering in Photoshop to control contrast.
I would love to have done interior photography at this building but I was hired for exterior photography only.
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Both the daylight and the twilight photos are fantastic, especially the daylight photos as it appears to have been nice and SUNNY on the day of the shoot. I like the daytime photos in that they better portray the quality of the material and workmanship of your client. That is, the daytime photos show the “mechanics” of the operation. However, in my opinion, the twilight photos add as much if not more "value" to your photos as the fantastic job you did with the lighting highlights the “artistic” aspects of the buildings.
I can only imagine how long of a day it must have been, especially with the lighting involved for the twilight shots. However, the photos are certainly indicative of your client’s work as well as yours! Thanks!
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Great insight, great article, and thanks for sharing it.
How to subscribe on your blog ???
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