As the photos clearly demonstrate, the stainless steel architecture of the Disney Concert Hall tends to reflect, diffuse and even distort the colors of ambient light and nearby objects. In this way, the building seems to live (one might even say "respire") by virtue of its setting. The Disney Concert hall may be compared to a baroque building in the sense that it hides and minimizes its tectonics, while maximizing its suggestion of overall form -- intimately associated with the way it absorbs and contrasts with its surroundings. Even so, Gehry's structure distances itself from what is usually considered baroque ornamentation; indeed, it rather owes its baroque monumentality and rhythms to minimalist sculpture -- reminding this writer, in particular, of Richard Serra in stainless steel.

In this first of these two sets, I have attempted to preserve, and even to emphasize the baroque manner in which the building reflects or contrasts with aspects of its surroundings. In this regard, I have also included several images of its architectural setting. In one direction along Grand Avenue lies large hotels and office buildings, while in the other (just across 1st St.) are the structures of the Los Angeles Music Center. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion -- is shown reflected in one image, and appears summarily in another. Does the negative space (glass) of the Concert Hall's entry intentionally mimic the shape of City Hall? One wonders.

The second set of photographs commenced the next day at approximately 1:00pm when the sun is high, bright and the air is clear. In many of these images the silvery tone of the building's "skin" is dominant. While some of the silver derives from diffusely deflected light, sharper highlights and more focused reflections are sometimes created by areas of polished stainless steel that distort and concentrate motifs taken from ground, building and sky.

Images of the interior spaces are not included in this set.