I spent a day photographing the historic TWA terminal at JFK airport, a 1962 architectural gem recently configured as a hotel. A massive 1958 Lockheed Constellation plane, now a cocktail lounge, is parked just behind the terminal. Rather than photographing the entire plane, I started by abstracting the plane down to its most distinguishing characteristic, its famous set of twin tails. But I did not stop there -- I continued to abstract it down to just one of those twin tails.

The image becomes pure geometry. Segments of the plane's fuselage and wing frame the remaining tail, even slicing the top of it off. Yet the unique shape of that tail, forming a cross, retains its identity and symbolizes the essence of the Constellation. I converted the photograph to black and white, gave it a subtle sepia tint to suggest age, and achieved what I had set out to do.