Here are three different mandala star creations based on skyscrapers in Chicago. The geometry of large buildings makes it easy to come up with interesting compositions and shapes when you manipulate the photos. All sorts of interesting unexpected things happen when you just let the shapes define the composition.
The first image is of the Hancock Tower in Chicago. It looks like a really fortified black obelisk from the ground level. They needed to put extra support structures around the building to account for the high winds that come off of lake Michigan, hence all the elaborate crossbeams on the exterior. It is also sloped slightly where it is wider at the base than the top to add a bit more structural stability.
After cutting out the building I decided to replicate it radially to create a star shape. This composition took about 21 different layers to create. It kind of reminds me of a glorified astericks lol. Or maybe it is some kind of ninja star...
Now here it is with some color animation treatment. With the color added it reminds me of a holiday star that would be on top of a Christmas tree. Perhaps it could be 3d printed and sold with an LED that can have its colors changed via a phone app.
This image is from the exterior entry of Chicago Union Station where train lines from all over the country converge into Chicago. This is the old fashioned portion of the station where only the western lines go to. There is a newer less aesthetic side of the station (the windows in the background) where all the Eastern lines run into. I took this photo on a lunch break where I got lost looking for a restaurant that google didn't update in its maps lol.
After manipulation this one ended up looking a bit like an archaeology find in an Egyptian desert somewhere. The windows in in the background have turned into a diamond artifact that must not be removed. If removed a huge boulder will roll down and crush you Indiana Jones style.
(
With a color treatment the diamond begins to glitter a bit. Or perhaps it starts looking like a party from the 70's with a strangely shaped disco ball.
![mandala5animated.gif]
The next building I manipulated is the London House right in the middle of downtown Chicago on the Magnificent Mile. It has classic features of old Chicago with columns and tan sandstone blocks. The door is adorned with solid brass to make it look gold.
After manipulation it turned into a kaleidoscope of intricate detail. It almost looks like the top of a European cathedral or maybe even a Middle Eastern mosque. The tan sandstone colors seem to add some golden accents that point inward at the light from the sky.
With a color treatment it starts looking more like a star or sun symbol pulsating in the sky. This one might go well as an animation to some music on my Egyptian oud with each layer rotating in 360 degrees.
That's all for now, thanks for looking :-)