1. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Imaging Partnership

2. LESSON FOUR The World Around Us – Interiors and Architecture

3. Something of the work of interior and architectural photographers The importance of selecting the best shooting angle How to prepare the space for shooting How to keep vertical lines parallel when shooting interiors What you will learn:

4. Demonstrate how to operate camera using correct techniques required Demonstrate ability to select shooting positions to give the best views Identify and remove distracting objects prior to taking their shots Demonstrate their ability to use natural and/or artificial light to enhance their work Take photograph using correct techniques as required What you should be able to do:

5. Interiors architecture firms, real estate agents, restaurants, cafes and hotels must get their interior photography right or risk being lost in the crowd.

6. Go and stand in the corner Squashing yourself as tightly into the corner as you can go will give you the widest perspective of the interior before you, allowing you to capture more of what makes it special. Try all of the corners of every space to see what the perspective from each of them is like. Some interior design photographers press their camera against the wall to get as wide an angle as possible. Interior Photography

7. It’ll be alright with good light Interior photography lighting is so important that it’s almost a specialism in itself. You need to balance the lighting so there are no dark shadows or bright highlights. Use the light that is available to you in the room – lamps, overhead lighting, fireplaces, and natural light from windows. Play around with different combinations of lights to try to achieve the best for every space. As a general rule, you are looking for soft lighting, so try shooting with natural light from the windows during the photography ‘golden hours’ – early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Interior Photography

8. Organise the space prior to the shoot Don’t just start shooting the interior at random – think about the image you want to capture before taking the photographs. Add features to a room to create a certain atmosphere, if you think the scene on its own is dull. Some carefully placed cushions or a stack of newspapers can give your interior photography some much needed character. Walk around the space and get a feel for it. Interior Photography

9. Ensure that all the vertical lines in your interior image are going straight up and down and not converging at the top and bottom. Use a tripod with a spirit level to ensure the lines of the features – bookcases, doors, windows, tables, etc. – are all parallel within the frame. If the lens is tilted slightly up or down the lines will be going diagonally, providing an unwanted distraction to the viewer. Interior Photography

10. All professional interior photographers know that nobody has a hand that’s as steady as a sturdy tripod. If you want a crisp, clear and professional looking photograph of your interior, make sure you use a tripod. A blurred image will not only make the photographer look like an amateur but the interior designer will suffer from your mistake as well. Tripod

11. Try shooting a wide angle from high up in the corner while keeping the camera straight. Look for a good vantage point up a staircase. Make sure you don’t end up cutting out half of the frame, however. Shoot from high up

12. Pupils to choose their first shooting position. What are the most important features of the room? Decide on best angles to shoot from – which angles give the best overall view of the room? Which angles create the best photographs – is there interest in the fore, mid and background? Does the view extend into another room? Shot Selection

13. Remove clutter, adjust blinds for natural lighting, consider use of flash Prepare The Space

14. Adjust blinds for natural lighting. Consider flash to brighten shadows Consider Lighting

15. Following first shot, go back over: Selecting shots, preparing the space, considering lighting to take further photos from different viewpoints Activity

16. Add detail shots to highlight important features that may be lost in the wider views. Consider detail

17. Architectural photography is the photographing of buildings and similar structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and accurate representations of their subjects. Architectural photographers, are usually skilled in the use of specialized techniques and equipment. Architectural photography is typically created from either the exterior views of buildings, or in the interior of buildings. Architecture

18. Aim: to produce a portfolio of max. 5 shots of exterior of the school building. Architecture Activity

19. Something of the work of interior and architectural photographers The importance of selecting the best shooting angle How to prepare the space for shooting How to keep vertical lines parallel when shooting interiors So what have we learned?