The Spokane Parkade

The Spokane Parkade

The Parkade was the target of mine for a recent photo shoot, from the top of the Old National Bank building in downtown Spokane.   One week prior to this recent shoot, the Parkade was featured prominently in one night shot from the top of the Chase Bank building, but the lights were not illuminated on top of the Parkade roof.  Such was the case for the shoot from the Old National Bank building two weeks ago.

I spoke with Steve Gelhausen about the Parkade lights, and Steve knows something about how to get those lights turned on.  Steve has worked at the Parkade for the past 43 years, and Steve arranged for me to have the lights above the roof of the Parkade, turned on.  As a result, my second shoot from the top of the Old National Bank building was perfect to see the lights displayed on the Parkade.  My thanks to Steve Gelhausen, and of course, Steve’s son Adam who tipped his father off about the light issues I was requesting when I shot the downtown area from the Old National Bank building.

On shoots prior to 2012, I cannot ever recall specifically targeting the Parkade for a night shoot, but it is so prominent in downtown Spokane, that the Parkade building and its rooftop lights are visible from almost everywhere.  The Spokane Parkade, is simply put, a downtown landmark.  Everybody knows it, everybody sees it, and everyone recognizes it.  Of course there are other landmarks visible downtown, including the RFP Clocktower, the bell towers of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, The Old National Bank building, and even the Davenport Hotel.

Yet, the Spokane Parkade building is very colorful, as well as displaying the rooftop light that is so easily viewed from locations throughout downtown Spokane.

In some select shots over a period of years, here are some examples of Spokane’s Parkade building in downtown Spokane.

2012

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthp50.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthp66.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthp103.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/parknw.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/park.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/parkdwtn.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/west.htm

2011

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/reflectionsinrfp.htm

2010

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/clocktower3.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/clocktower5.htm

2008

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/qwer.htm

2007

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/geese.htm

2006

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/pne.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/toparkade.htm

John D. Moore, CPP
Spokane Night Scenes
http://www.spokanenightscenes.com
photos@spokanenightscenes.com 

Spokane’s Old National Bank

The past two weeks, I have had the privilege of shooting from the roof of the Old National Bank building, after dark. The cooperation and scheduling of the two visits was second to none, and in particular I would like to thank Jesse Putnam for his assistance to me on top of the grand old building.

Two weeks ago, I was able to take up 7 other photogs for the shoot, and many of their images will be presented to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) for use at and before their national conference in Spokane this year. This week, I needed to take additional shots of something I was unable to get last week, so I took one other photog to the top. My preference, for safety issues on rooftops, is to always have at least two people when access to a roof (after dark) is undertaken. 

Simply put the Old National Bank views were nothing even close to being “less than spectacular.” In fact, the views of downtown Spokane were close to being the best from any of the rooftops I have visited over the past year. To have two opportunities to view what I was able to view, was an awesome opportunity. To have gotten an opportunity to give some very technical photogs an opportunity to join me on the Old National Bank building, even made these visits more fun for me.

I wish that everyone who lives in Spokane had the same opportunities that I have had to see the views of downtown Spokane over the past year. Unfortunately the best thing I can do is to try and capture some of the views, and then share them online.

Some of these night/evening views of downtown from the Old National Bank building, and other rooftops, begin at:

(Archive 1) http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/dwtn6.htm

(Archive 2) http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/dwtn7.htm

Daylight views of dwtn Spokane for NTHP:

(Archive 3) http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthp.htm

(Archive 4) http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthparchive2.htm

(Archive 5) http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthparchive3.htm

John D. Moore, CPP

Spokane Night Scenes

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com

photos@spokanenightscenes.com

Spokane Night Scenes, a collection of Spokane’s Riverpark Square Mall

Spokane Night Scenes, a collection of Spokane’s Riverpark Square Mall

Over the past 4-5 years, I have collected a series of images of Spokane’s Riverpark Square Mall, and it’s surroundings in downtown Spokane. The management team and public safety staff assisted me in scheduling a number of shoots from the rooftop of Riverpark Square Mall, and in doing so I was unable to capture any images of their facility. Well, actually I did, but from other vantage points. Here are a few links to images of Spokane’s Riverpark Square Mall.

Daylight images of Riverpark Square Mall

Spokane's Riverpark Square Mall, in downtown Spokane, Washington. http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthp33.htm

Riverpark Square Mall, a look from the roof of the SRBC building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/riverparksquarexmas.htm

Spokane's Riverpark Square Mall building in downtown Spokane. From a sunset view on the roof of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/amcimax.htm

Night images of Riverpark Square Mall

A look at Riverpark Square Mall and the Monroe Street bridge, from the rooftop of the Bank of America building http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/amc20monroebridge.htm

Photographers Chris Thompson and Eric Strate on the rooftop of the Riverpark Square Mall. http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/chriseric.htm

A look at Riverpark Square Mall and the street activity on west Main Street, from the rooftop of the Spokane Club. http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/amc21024.htm

An entrance to a River Park Square parking garage, in downtown Spokane, Washington. http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nordstrom2.htm

Spokane's Riverpark Square, a downtown theater and shopping mall. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/amcwest.htm

A metal sculpture of a Bloomsday runner, by the Rock City Grill http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/rockcity.htm

It is cold and icy in front of the Rock City Grill, Downtown, Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/rcg.htm

A cold and icy evening in front of Spokane's River Park Square, Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/amc.htm

John D. Moore, CPP

Spokane Night Scenes

photos@spokanenightscenes.com

(O) 509 327 5627

Spokane Night Scenes, photography from the roof of the Spokane Business Resource Center (SRBC)

Spokane Night Scenes, photography from the roof of the Spokane Business Resource Center (SRBC)

The SRBC was one of the most challenging rooftops of all the locations we have shot so far. The walls were approximately 5 feet tall around the roof area, and the width of the wall was at least a foot and a half. It made it almost easier to just use a bulb setting after configuring the camera systems (ISO, AF or Manual Focus, and DOF). With a tether or wireless remote, the camera could sit upon the flat area atop the walls and using the cameras remote shutters the images could be taken without any movement of the cameras.

There were no ladders on this rooftop, and the maintenance staffers put barrels around the rooftop so we could stand on them (optional) if we needed to get some height because of the roofs wall height.

Here are a few images from the Spokane Business Resource Center night shoot.

• The Cowles and Great Western building. Shot from the rooftop of the SRBC building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/cowlesgray.htm

• Riverside Avenue, a look to the east from the roof of the SRBC building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/riversideeast2.htm

• Riverpark Square Mall, a look from the roof of the SRBC building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/riverparksquarexmas.htm

• Riverside Avenue, a look to the east from the roof of the SRBC building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/riversideeast.htm

• The Lincoln building, a look to the west from the roof of the Spokane Regional Business Center (SRBC) building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/lincolnwest.htm

John D. Moore, CPP

Spokane Night Scenes

photos@spokanenightscenes.com

(O) 509 327 5627

Spokane Night Scenes, photography from the roof of the Bank of America building

Spokane Night Scenes, photography from the roof of the Bank of America building

I began discussing an arrangement to do a photo shoot on the Bank of America building in downtown Spokane, in May of 2011. I made an arrangement to get on the roof, with Ron White, who was VERY helpful in getting the materials to me for members of the photo team I would take up with me on the roof.

I met Ron in the Bank of America Lobby area, and after a glitch where one of my shooters did not show up, the rest of us all made the voyage to the top of the Bank of America building.

It was cold, breezy, and maybe I should emphasize the point, COLD. Parts of the roof on top of the BOA building began to freeze, even though it was still not dark yet..so we knew we were going to have a chilly photo shoot. Ron stayed on the roof with us for as long as he could, but the COLD got to him, and he returned to the interior of the building while the photog team stayed out on the roof. While we were out on the roof we were visited by Geese flying right by us, and the sound of crunching whenever somebody moved one of their feet on the increasingly frozen rooftop.

What a view, especially after it got dark. Yes, this is the tallest building in town, but the angles of adjacent buildings and targets were exceptional. All of the photogs shot until the appointed time for us to clear off of the roof area, and it was a great feeling to walk back into the interior of the building and make our way down to the security team checkpoint. Ron White gave us a splendid opportunity to see some amazing vantage points on top of the building.

There was NO daylight visit to this building, and this night visit was the only opportunity I had to view downtown Spokane.

Night visit, Spokane’s Bank of America rooftop in downtown Spokane.

A look at Riverpark Square Mall and the Monroe Street bridge, from the rooftop of the Bank of America building http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/amc20monroebridge.htm

The Washington Trust Bank, Davenport Hotel, and the Bing Crosby Theater in downtown Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/davenportcrosby.htm

The Lincoln building in downtown Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/lincbldg.htm

A northeast view from the rooftop of the Bank of America building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/ponb.htm

A view of the Bing Crosby Theater, from the rooftop of the Bank of America building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/bct.htm

A view of Spokane's Riverfront Park, from the rooftop of the Bank of America building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/rfpwash.htm

John D. Moore, CPP

Spokane Night Scenes

photos@spokanenightscenes.com

(O) 509 327 5627

Spokane Night Scenes, photography from the roof of the Chase Bank building

Spokane Night Scenes, photography from the roof of the Chase Bank building

I had been looking forward to this location for quite some time, especially since I was unable to get to it for the daylight series of shots. From almost every other rooftop, you could see the distinct advantages of shooting from this particular location in downtown Spokane.

I arranged for four of us to gain access to the rooftop of the Chase Bank building, and photography began immediately upon our arrival on the roof. Every single roof angle of the Chase Bank building delivered some incredible views, and the opportunities to get good views of downtown Spokane, as well as Spokane’s Riverfront Park. At the end of the shoot we took some time to gather to get a group photo on top of the Chase Bank building. I am incredibly thankful to Ryan Walters from Kiemle Hagood Company, who worked with me to get this Chase Bank building on the schedule for this particular night shoot. All of this time and coordination is well worth my effort when you get a chance to stand back and look at downtown Spokane, at sunset and after dark.

There was no daytime visit to the Chase Bank building, just a night visit.

Here are some images I shot from the Chase Bank rooftop.

• A panoramic sunset view to the northeast, from the rooftop of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/rfpano.htm

• A sunset view to the southwest, from the rooftop of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/riversidedwtn.htm

• A sunset view to the southwest, the SRBC building on Riverside. Shot from the rooftop of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/srbc.htm

• A view down onto Howard Street, and the Steelhead Bar and Grill. Shot from the rooftop of the Chase bank building http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/sbargray.htm

• The Bank of America building, a look to the southwest from the roof of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/bbboa.htm

• The Parkade building, the ONB building, and a look to the southeast from the roof of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/parkonb.htm

• The IMAX Theater in Spokane's Riverfront Park. From a view on the roof of the Chase bank building. http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/IMAXtheater.htm

• The Spokane Transit Authority building in downtown Spokane. From a view on the roof of the Chase bank building. Spokane, Washington http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/bb.htm

John D. Moore, CPP

Spokane Night Scenes

photos@spokanenightscenes.com

(O) 509 327 5627