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81 Fulham Road ("Michelin House"), London, 2004
All the pixels, drinking up the hazards, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/54196628571
#photography
@mattblaze@federate.social OMFG this is the best thing ever. (Le pneu Michelin boit l’obstacle, indeed.)
@20002ist@thepit.social Definitely caused me to do a double take the first time I saw it.
Captured with the Rodenstock 40mm/4.0 HR Digaron-W lens (@ f/5.6), Phase One IQ4-150 digital back (@ ISO 50), Cambo 1200 camera (shifted vertically -8mm).
Opened as the London headquarters for the Michelin Tyre Co in 1911, and now a mixed commercial building, the Art Nouveau Michelin House features whimsical tire-themed ornaments and stained glass windows with the original Michelin Man "Bibendum" character in various, generally terrifying, poses.
I wish I had had more time to photograph this delightfully weird building. The hard morning light only allowed this one angle.
@mattblaze@federate.social Do you rent lenses? If so, do you typically rent them from one supplier and take them with you, or do you find a rental business where you're going, or some combination?
(I'm assuming you've sprung for the IQ4 since you use it so often, but I guess that doesn't /have/ to be the case either...)
@vathpela@better.boston I own a fairly full complement of the Rodenstock digaron lenses at this point, but I rented each several times before buying.
@mattblaze@federate.social welcome to london Matt! There's a mad building just off old st roundabout (aka silicon roundabout) you might enjoy. All weird angles and false perspective.
@mattblaze@federate.social I visited back in the 90s. Glad to see the landmark is still there. Thanks for sharing.
@mattblaze@federate.social A much milder version of Daft Automotive architecture is in Grinnell, Iowa’s downtown historic district. I believe this was purpose built as a multi-bay garage but am too lazy rn to pull up the nomination form’s inventory.
@20002ist@thepit.social That's quite something. I wonder where you buy winged wheel gargoyles.
@mattblaze@federate.social IDK but that motif seems to have used widely. The facade of the Capital Garage in downtown DC—allegedly the largest parking garage in the world at the time it was built—had something even more elaborate, albeit not as three-dimensional.
@mattblaze@federate.social this is so cool and strange, I love it. Art Nouveau plus the Michelin Man is not a pairing I'd expect to see. Great shot of it also!
@mattblaze@federate.social @AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social Still there - I use a hotel just past it regularly. I’ll get you a picture next time I am there there - it is lovely (and fully in use)
@davidbcohen@twit.social @AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social well, it was there Monday morning, at least.
@mattblaze@federate.social @AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social
@mattblaze@federate.social @AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social Sorry, misread the figure caption on Flickr - thought it said 2004!
@mattblaze@federate.social
I know it well as I've lived in South Kensington and Chelsea.