9/11 - Twin Towers, Mirrors to the Sun
With a refective shiny steel exterior, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were "Mirrors to the Sun". The key was to wait for the right light and get to the right location. On a cloudy day the towers were gray and blended into the surrounding. Mithcell Funk has spent 32 years shooting the towers and has compiled the most definitive body or fine art photos.
The Twin Towers were a mirror to the sun. From the photographers' standpoint, they were 100 story light reflectors that became the focal point of the skyline.
To Mitchell Funk, the Twin Towers, of the World Trade Center were the perfect synthesis of commerce and art. Most modern architecture is simply functional. Minoru Yamasaki's Twin Towers were in fact something quite radical. They were a steel and glass expression of Minimalism on the grandest scale in human history. Everything in the towers was stripped down to its essential quality with nothing extraneous added ….. except light. The way the buildings reflected light made them unique and inspired Mitchell to record them in color for 32 years. Although, the exterior was actually made of a very light blue/grey stainless steel the warm light of daybreak and sunset could change their color and transform them from buildings into and mystical monumental sculptures. With the help of the sun as a key player, Mitchell’s images of the Twin Towers progress from the mystical to the spiritual as they reflect the sun’s intense golden energy. Under these conditions, one could argue, that the Twin Tower housed the same type of divine energy as the adjacent churches.
Merging of Sun and Steel, 1976
There must be a deeper meaning to why these two monument structures interacted with the sun in such a profound way. This cropped version focuses on the reflection and the sun's energy. Compostionally, it it quite powerful, as the building occupy half the the picture area.
110 Story Reflectors of the Sun
World Trade Center with Blimp , 1995
The light made the tallest buildings in the world even taller ad bigger. It dominated the space. Yet, only through the eye of a visionary photographer could you capture the magical lighting effects.
Giant Becons in the Sky
Golden Monoliths, 1990
They rise above the skyline like sumptuous and glittering jewels.
Mitchell Funk waits for the right light. Then the magic happens
Twin Towers Looking Up, 1976
Mitchell Funk is a photographer of light and design. The architectural forms of lower Manhattan are the perfect place to apply your craft. You need to know where and when to point the camera.
Enter mitchell funks light-filled world
Calder's Red Sculpture Compliments the Twin Towers, 1976
With a top or sidelight, the towers would shin in silver. The perfect counterpoint to them was the Red Sculptures by Calder.
Solid Red against Shiny Silver
The Twin Towers Redifined, 1975
Mithcell inverted one image of the towers above another to create a graphic statement that could be interpreted as a vortex into the sky
Vortex into the sky
The North Tower Refects Light back to the Church
The amazing juxtaposition was achieved by Mitchell from a special vantage point. Only at a certain time of year and time of day when the sun's was in alingnment was this possible.
Perfectlly aligned
White Towers in Lower Manhattan
A white cruise ship punctuates this scene and echoes the white light effect that we see on the Twin Towers.
Man Ray Clouds add to the surreal quality of the image
Glowing World Trade Center Looms above Manhattan
This may be the most quintessential image of the Trade Center Towers. We see how they dominate the cityscape and New York Harbor. Funk shot it from Jersy City to get the perfect mirror effect. The new Trade Center building does not reflect light in the same dramatic manner. Later on in the 1970s, the Port Authority and city of New York developed the land in front of the Trade Center and this unobstructive view was lost.
Towering above it all .
Twin Towers Looking Up in Yellow Light. 1977
Light gives life to the surface and contrast of the tower with the deep blue sky
Golden Yellow
St. Joseph Chuch front the Twins Towers, 1974
The warm terra-cotta bricks of an adjacent church glow along with the Twin Towers. The intense light of late afternoon on a perfect cloudless day make for a powerful graphic.
Cloudless day
Hand Against Red Phone Booth Twin Towers, 1976
This powerful graphic with spotlight type lighting was the cover on Popular Photography April , 1977
Popular Photography Cover
Popular Photography Cover
Hi-res image one this minimalist photo with bold glowing colors and intense light
Intense light
Lower Manhattan with Glowing Trade Center, 1989
More recent stuctures obscure the whole view of the Twin Towers that were visible in the early 1970's. Funk works to find another angle where the building mirror the sun. This was taken from Weehawken, New Jersey
Twin Towers from Weehawken
Twin Towers with a Red Glow
The lower the sun in the sky the more atmosphere integrates into the light. This extraordinary and hyper-dramatic lighting creates a stunning view of the towers with pleasure craft in the foreground. Notice the construction of a hotel.... that ruins the pure view of the monlights.
Hyper-dramatic lighting creates a stunning view of the towers
Sunset Glows with Trade Center Twin Towers
Finally, the sun is setting and yet against the Twin Towers take on a new look.
Twin Towers with sunset glow
