Beit Beirut bullet-scarred facade

The facade of Beit Beirut offers one of the city's most striking architectural photographs: arched windows and balconies of honey-coloured stone pocked with bullet holes. Raking light in the late afternoon brings out the texture. Shoot from the opposite pavement with a standard zoom or wide-angle, and include the surrounding traffic to show the building in its current context. The exterior can be photographed at any time, while interior photography depends on the current exhibition. Traffic is heavy at the Sodeco junction, so keep to pavements. A telephoto lens helps isolate individual bullet holes and balcony details from across the road. The building is close to the Sodeco junction, so cross at the lights and do not stand in the roadway; a short taxi ride from the National Museum links the two stops easily.