Vetter Kline Architects·2025
Downtown loft renovation for an architect client
A brick shell on North Willson turned into two floors of office and living space. Photographed over one long day for the firm's award submission.
Vetter Kline needed the finished loft documented for an AIA Montana submission with a deadline eleven days out. One day on site, twenty six finished images.
The building has a north facing clerestory that fills the upper floor for about four hours and then gives up. We shot the top floor first, moved down to the stair core at midday when the light column reaches the bottom, and finished with the street level after four.
Everything on a tripod with tilt shift lenses, verticals corrected in camera. The only added light was a bounced strobe in the two interior bathrooms, which have no windows at all.
The firm used nine of the images in the submission and the whole set on their site. The project took an honor award, which they are very polite about mentioning every time they call.
Hotel atrium under glass. Detroit Publishing Co., c. 1903, Library of Congress.
Formal interior, natural light only. Carol M. Highsmith, 2010, Library of Congress.
Theater ceiling detail. Carol M. Highsmith, 2010, Library of Congress.
Vaulting and stone, interior study. Carol M. Highsmith, 2010, Library of Congress.- Steel, glass and a long sight line. Carol M. Highsmith, 2015, Library of Congress.
Second floor, before the renovation. Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress.
