Some photographic disciplines They seem to resist more than others. Some due to laziness, others due to teamwork, others due to ignorance and others because we have the feeling that they are “big” for us. I have the impression that one of them is architecture. Of course, I speak from my point of view and from my experience, because that’s how I feel. However, experience also tells me that with desire and some advice everything can be undertaken, therefore, I dedicate this article to the architecture photography, in case you are in a similar situation, that you remove your fear and launch yourself into architectural photography, the one that tempts you so much.
What is architectural photography?
First of all, it is better to define concepts, so that they are very clear and we know what we are talking about. Architectural photography is responsible for capturing the elements and spaces created by man. Includes both the Exterior of buildings like the inside or the details that make this work unique.
Exits of architectural photography
Photography can be done for the love of art or as a means of earning a living. If what you have in mind goes more with the first, you can skip to the next paragraph. On the other hand, if you are looking for new job opportunities in photography, you are reinventing yourself, or you need to expand your business, you may be interested in knowing possible Departures of this type of photography:
- Document a built project for the archive of the architect or the architecture studio that designed it.
- Publications in books, web or magazines, architecture, decoration, etc.
- Advertising of construction companies, hotels, restaurants, real estate
- Dynamization of tourism
Recommended Equipment for Architectural Photography
One of the first questions that will come to mind is “What I need?”. Although it is not necessary a great equipment As in other photographic disciplines, I have to tell you that you should have some considerations and that certain material, if it is not essential, will be of great help.
You also have to take into account what the purpose of photography is, if it is on an artistic level, if it is to practice and enjoy or if it is for a publication or a sale. Well, in the latter case, customer expectations can be even higher than yours 😉 .
Tripod
You can do architectural photography without it. Although I recommend that you include it (one with a ball head) in the ideal equipment for interior photographs and for those cases in which the light conditions are poorer, such as a sunset, blue hour, etc. It can also help you when capturing the movement around you.
By the way, if you are thinking of buying a tripod, do not miss this guide with tips and recommendations to find the best one for you.
Recommended lens for architectural photography
Perhaps it is in this part of the team that you have to pay more attention. To photograph a building, mainly because of its dimensions, you will have to use optics wide anglebut beware, that they are not too extreme because it is important to avoid distortions.
Ideally, you would use a offset lens, although for its price, it is something to consider when things are serious. To test, practice, enjoy, etc., in principle it is not necessary. The important thing is that you avoid distortion by keeping your camera straight and parallel to the focal plane.
You can also try other types of more standard lenses to capture details, textures, etc., or telephoto lenses, when you want to achieve some compression effect between the work and the environment. Well, with these objectives a lot of depth is lost and the different planes seem to be together.
Bubble level
It is something very cheap which, however, can help you that the lines do not fall. Help yourself with a spirit level to make sure that the camera is completely straight in the different planes.
Indoor external flash
Although it is useless outdoors, indoors, if used well, it can get you out of trouble. You will not always have large windows in broad daylight.
polarizing filter
Another photographic accessory that will come in handy on certain occasions is a polarizing filter. And what are those occasions? For example when it comes to avoiding reflections on glass, when you want to contrast clouds or when it comes to saturating the skies that surround your main building. If you want to know a little more about filters, you can go deeper here.
Remote Switch
When making long exposures, a remote shutter release will prevent shakes from the shot (if not, you can pull the timer on your camera, but it is somewhat uncomfortable to shoot many times).
Indicted
Although the ideal is to use an offset lens so that the lines do not fall, is not always possible. Neither is avoiding these crooked lines if you can’t change your point of view, because no matter how much you put your camera at the right angle, part of the building that you want to include is still left out. That is why you have the option of correcting lines with an editing program, however, avoid it whenever you can because it will never be the same, the photo will be cut, information will have to be filled in, etc.
On the other hand, not only the lines require processing, the lighting, which is a key factor, will also require certain adjustments. Especially if there are different ambient lights with different temperatures. A good white balance adjustment will be essential. For the best result, shoot in RAW.
Finally, when you edit a photograph of architecture, try to make it resemble reality as much as possible, photographs that are too artificial lose interest.
the soul of the building
Find out about the building, what its history is, what the architect’s intentions were, if you can contact him or her so that they can talk to you about the essence of their work. As much as it is a static and supposedly inanimate element, it has a soul. It has been created by a person who has put dreams, illusions, desires, effort and a lot of care into it. If you manage to capture even a small part of his essence, you will have a great journey gained.
what do you want to tell
In line with the above, once you know the personality of the building, think about what you want to tell about it. Based on this you can take one type of photography or another. You can use one type of light or another, include movement around or people to show its scale. You decide what you want to tell according to the work and your interests (or the client’s), but whatever it is, try to have it more or less clear before planting yourself in front of the building or architectural work.
Environment
Ortega y Gasset’s phrase “I am myself and my circumstances” comes to mind, since we could say that something like this happens to a building, in this case it is the building and its surroundings. A work of architecture is not usually isolated, it coexists with other buildings, with other architectural or natural spaces. This coexistence is sometimes casual, others it is managed in a very incompetent way (especially in certain past decades where many architectural “crimes” were carried out in this country (Spain)). Although that is another topic. And other times, that relationship is studied, cared for and pampered. Stop to think about it, observe, if you can find out when you investigate the work itself and keep it in mind when taking your photographs. But never forget the environment.
Inside
If you think that only the exterior of a building or architectural work matters, it will be good for you to know that this is not the case. On the contrary, an architecture professional pampers both the interior and the exterior, how and where the light affects, the spaces, the orientations, the details, etc. Remember that when shooting you will have to use the tripod and if there is ambient or artificial light, watch the white balance.
The keys in architectural photography
In photography there are two key elements, which although they are in photography in general, here they have a special importance. I’m talking about light and composition.
1. light
For something the great architect Le Corbusier affirmed:
Architecture is the meeting of light with form.
In photography light is important (as well as necessary), in architecture it is too. When a professional projects a building, he does so keeping light in mind at all times, since it is what helps him, among other aspects, to shape spaces and create volumes. Both daylight and its changes are taken into account, as well as the way of artificially lighting the spaces. All this affects the way the building is perceived, both outside and inside. And it even influences the mood of those who inhabit or visit it.
For this reason, it is very important that you observe the light and how it coexists with the work before planning your session. It is convenient for you to know what light favors you the most, which one is more suitable to tell what you have proposed to transmit with your photography.
Some tricks:
- Except for looking for backlights, the ideal is for the sunlight to be behind us or at most 45º to our left or right.
- The hard light from above highlights the textures of the walls.
- Exteriors look great in the warm, soft light of sunset or sunrise.
- Blue hour is a great time to combine the blue of the sky with the yellow of artificial lights from houses or streetlights.
2. Composition in architectural photography
Perhaps a photograph that conveys strong emotion can be forgiven if the composition is not very good. In architectural photography it will not happen to you. If you don’t pay special attention to the composition, it won’t do you any good to have found the perfect light. Take care of the lines, study the different perspectives, maintain visual balance and get the most out of the vanishing point.
Another resource that you can use in your photographs is the human factor. Including people within the frame will help you show scale. On the other hand, if the purposes are, for example, real estate advertising, this resource will give you an emotional addition.
Most common problems in architectural photography?
The main problems you will encounter will be:
1. light
Indoor and after sunset you will find yourself with the problem of lack of light. Solutions? On the one hand, the use of the tripod, on the other, the external flash that indicated you to photograph interiors or certain exterior areas. It’s…