History and commentary
Buckingham Fountain is a Chicago landmark in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world. Built in a Rococo wedding cake style the crown jewel of Grant Park is fit for a king — literally. The design was inspired by one of the ornate fountains at the Palace of Versailles in France, built for Louis XV. It just happens to be double the size of the original, making it one of the largest fountains in the world. The size is meant to symbolize the enormity of nearby Lake Michigan and uses as much as 15,000 gallons of water per minute.
Opened to the public in 1927, Buckingham Fountain was commissioned by avid art collector and philanthropist Kate Sturges Buckingham as a memorial for her brother Clarence. The “wedding cake” design was the work of architect Edward H. Bennett, while the fountain’s sculptures — including four sets of Art Deco-style seahorses representing the four states bordering Lake Michigan — were created by French artist Marcel Loyau, who won the Prix National at the 1927 Paris Salon for the project.
Buckingham fountain is one of many urban spaces in Chicago that I find fascinating to shoot. Water presents many opportunities to photographer. Fountains are a unique genre that offers the containment of the drama of moving water. The fountain itself can be a great architectural image. Mixed with, encased perhaps, or shielded by structured movements of the fountains: the fountain itself merges into a background that provide opportunities to both tourist and professional photographers photographic to both tors and professional photographer alike.. The Buckingham fountain present so many opportunities of the blend of light reflection, architectural structure, and movement that cameras seem to be magnetically attracted to it. Natural and artificial lighting create a visual interplay that intrigues all who watch it. It turns to casual glance into long moments of staring.
Opened to the public in 1927, Buckingham Fountain was commissioned by avid art collector and philanthropist Kate Sturges Buckingham Fountains are a unique genre that offers the containment of the drama of moving water.The Buckingham fountain present so many opportunities of the blend of light reflection, architectural structure, and movement that cameras seem to be magnetically attracted to it. Click Here
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