5 tips for Architectural Photography

1: READ BETWEEN THE LINES: Architectural photography is concerned with buildings which most often are comprised of straight lines. Looking through the view finder or using live-view see how the edges of your black frame (edge of viewfinder) line up with these perspective lines will give you a feel for that perspective. Architecture deals with perspective and symmetry, so often capturing this symmetry will tell the story of the subject. That said getting a photograph which is a true elevation (i.e. a perfect view with no perspective..like a technical drawing) is good but as humans we don't see the world like this and that's where you should free yourself from the tripod and spirit levels and look at those lines. Play around and have fun but keep looking at those lines.

Architectural Photography Tips- Reading Between the Lines

2: STEP AWAY FROM YOUR SUBJECT : You know what it's like when you stand below a towering sky-scraper. The lines of the building all head toward each other making it look more like a pyramid that an oblong. If you trying to photograph the height and majesty of a structure you have to move far enough back so that you don't get the upright vertical line of the building converging. This may also help you photograph the changing usage or features through-out its levels and seeing a building within its environment is useful and can tell a different kind of story. Architectural photography is all about the interpretation of a building by a photographer. You are the translator between the architect and the viewer. So you can show a building towering above the people in the street or go back several miles back and show that building towering above other buildings in the neighborhood. Both images will give out different messages.

Architectural Photography Tips- Moving Back

3: WAITING FOR THE WEATHER: Waiting for the right weather to photograph a building is a luxury I don't always have and what is the perfect weather anyway? Well if you were photographing a holiday home you wouldn't want a dark stormy sky and there are other considerations too. If your building has a lots of glass a few clouds in the sky can look great in the reflection within that glass. Time of day also effects how a building can look as the sun changes in height and shadow change through-out the day. The answer really is to try different times and different weathers and you will soon learn what works and what doesn't. If your learning any kind of photography don't wait for the weather, just get out there and start shooting. A great tip for photographing architecture on one of those flat cloudy days is to wait till dusk. This gives a building more character when all the lights are on inside the building.

Architectural Photography Tips- Don't wait just start work!

4: DON'T GO TOO WIDE: A fish eye or wide-angle lens is ideal for architectural photography as it enables photographers to frame the entire building within its environment without getting too far away. This is important when a photographer is trying to tell the story of a building but often just photographing elements of a building in isolation can be very effective to. Architectural photography is not just about showing a whole structure but small features and details are important too and quite honestly often more interesting. So one useful tip is to change to a zoom or telephoto lens and look for interesting details.

Architectural Photography Tips- Use wide and long lenses

5: EXPOSING YOURSELF: Learning to read light and see the world as the camera sees it is a slow and gradual process. Take control of the camera by shooting in manual (M) mode. This means you'll learn about shutter speed and aperture so much quicker than just using the auto settings. Yes the learning curve is steep but that's why your here....isn't it? Architectural Photography is not about just showing the building as our eyes see it but also using the ability of the camera to under and over-expose for dramatic effect. So take control of your camera and use your screen to view your results as you go, most importantly have fun.

Architectural Photography Tips- Expose yourself using manual control (teehee)

I hope you found some of these tips architectural photography tips useful and please follow my blog for handy tutorial.