Description

Chinese artist Xu Bing's massive, "Phoenix" sculptures are currently installed in the nave of St. John the Divine. Originally commissioned for a new office complex in China, they were ultimately rejected as being too raw (as well as too politically charged, marking Xu Bing's commentary on the rapid modernization of China and the poor working and living conditions of itinerant laborers creating that new China).
There are two enormous phoenix birds suspended from the 124' high gothic-arched ceiling; each bird weighs 12 tons, and they extend 90 and 100 feet in length, respectively. They are built from salvaged construction site debris gathered in China; you can spot hardhats, electric fans, backhoe shovels, spades, bamboo (from scaffolding), flexible hosing, etc.
I applied several filters to even out the contrasty light & coloring in the cathedral, then coverted it to monotone, bringing back most of the color on the sculpture.

Exif: F Number: 3.2, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/15 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 1600, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 16.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 6D