Architecture

A Guide to Architectural Photography Architecture is a broad subject, and one that surrounds us on a daily basis. It comes and no surprise then that it is also a very popular topic in photography. But despite its diversity there are a number of simple rules that apply in most situations, or will at least get you thinking more deeply about how you can best portray a particular piece of architecture.

Old Architecture When photographing old architecture, a straightforward and simple composition usually works best, showing the natural beauty and elegance of the building. It usually helps to include some of the surrounding scenery to give context to the architecture and make it feel less cramped.

Modern Architecture When photographing modern architecture you can get away with using a much more modern, abstract style. Experiment with wide angle lenses to produce extreme perspective, or photograph the building from unusual angles. Also, because modern buildings are often squeezed in very close to one another, you can crop in tightly on the building without making the photo feel unnatural.

Put Your Architecture in Context... or Don't The question of whether to show your building's surroundings depends on the situation and the message you want to convey. Ask yourself whether putting your building in context would add to or detract from the photo. If the scenery compliments your building then shoot a wider photo, but if the surroundings don't fit with the message you want to convey, cut them out.

As an example consider an old building in the middle of a modern city. If you wanted to capture this sense of not belonging then it would be important to include some of the surrounding modern buildings. But if you just want to emphasise the beautiful old architecture then the newer buildings would only detract from the photo, so you should crop them out.

Lighting Lighting is a crucial part of architectural photography. Of course we have no say over the position and orientation of a building, and lighting the building ourselves is usually out of the question (not to mention expensive!). Instead we have to make do with what nature provides.

Side-front lighting usually produces the best architecture photos. It provides plenty of illumination and also casts long, interesting shadows across the face of the building, making its surface details stand out and giving the building a more three- dimensional look.

Back lighting is the worst kind for architectural photography because it creates very uniform, dark surfaces. The best way to deal with a backlit building is to either crop out the sky and use a longer exposure to rescue some of the detail, or photograph the building as a silhouette. Alternatively you could wait until it gets dark...

Reflections Add an extra dimension to architectural images and allow the photographer to create a canvas on which the building can be playfully distorted. Urban environments are littered with a multitude of reflective surfaces, so you’ll never have to look too far to practice, for example: windows, water features, puddles and wet streets, sunglasses, rivers and modern art.

Balance Make sure the photo is framed correctly Also check for obstructions

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Pick Out Interesting Details Most architecture is covered with small- scale details which make fascinating photos in their own right - from ornate windows to patterns of rivets to decorative cornices.

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Be on the lookout for these details and crop in tightly on them for a more intimate photograph that conveys the character of the architecture.

It's Not Just About Buildings When photographing architecture it is easy to get stuck in the mindset that 'architecture equals buildings'. Of course this couldn't be far from the truth, and in fact most man-made structures come under the architecture umbrella - bridges, towers, windmills, monuments, and even lamp posts. Think laterally and see if you can find some interesting photos that most people would miss.

Interior We are told it’s what’s on the inside that counts and sure enough architecture photography isn’t restricted to the fascia of a building. Interior shots in older buildings tend to be more irksome because they traditionally feature small windows and doors – thus lack natural light.

Architectural images shouldn’t just be aesthetic and graphic; they should also provide dynamism and movement – so play with the lines, the light and the shadows to provide interest and consider the hierarchy of levels and areas. Architecture is built on the principle of symmetry, so capturing this symmetry will ultimately reinforce the subject matter and hopefully strengthen the composition.

Alternatively break free of the cold and sterile straight lines and rectilinear angles and follow the principles of nature by including curves and circles in the form of shadows or reflections can help to soften the structure

Stair ways Lines, patterns, symmetry and interesting shapes have long been used by photographers to produce intriguing compositions that draw your eye in. That's what makes staircases such a great subject - they have them all in abundance.

Staircases by their very nature lead somewhere, so use this to your advantage - choose a viewpoint that hides the far end of the staircase, enticing the viewer to wonder where it could lead. This 'mental exploration' adds mystery and engages the viewer.

Leading lines are a great way to draw your viewer's eye through your scene. Banisters and handrails are particularly useful for this, so position yourself so that they create an interesting path through the photo.

Find an Unusual Angle We are used to seeing staircases from eye-level - we do so all day long. A photo taken from this level will seem too familiar to be interesting to us. Instead, experiment with different shooting angles and positions, for example:

Dont Take a photo dead on And make sure the photo has CONTRAST!!!