This building was Charleston’s first “skyscraper,” erected in 1911 as the home of the People’s National Bank. Many residents saw it as a sign of “progress,” while others claimed it ruined the city’s historic skyline. Visitors came to it just to ride in its elevators. In 1936, the bank closed and was purchased by the Southeast Securities Company. To mark the transition, a pair of marble leopards was installed at its entrance. Carved in Italy, they were brought to Charleston from an estate near Boston. I photograph one of them with a 24mm wideangle lens, matching its pair of massive paws and heavily muscled legs with the gleaming pair of pillars in the background. I processed the image in black and white, which best expresses the beauty of the monochromatic subject matter. The building has recently been converted to luxury condos overlooking the entire city.