by maiac

Created on: August 07, 2007   Last Updated: August 17, 2007

Architectural photographs of modern buildings, interiors, shopping malls, models, or historical sites, can be very rewarding artistically and financially for photographers with a good eye for detail. Take a look through the books in your library and see how many contain photographs of famous or unusual buildings, or interior shots of clubs and hotels. Architectural photography captures a great deal of information about the society we live in, and will always be sought after.

The three key areas to consider in photographing architecture are lines, lighting and originality. No matter what film, lens or camera you choose your pictures will fall into the realms of "snaps" without working at these three areas. With some imagination, good luck, and an understanding of good composition you can produce some great results.

Let's look at each of these key areas, beginning with its lines. A good architectural photo shows its structure, an awareness of the architects plan, and the way the building fits in or contrasts with its surroundings. Was it designed, like the White House or the Taj Mahal, to be a showpiece, dominating the surrounding area? Or does it contrast sharply with the buildings around it? And, very importantly, does it have some history associated with the architect, the inhabitants or an event? How close do you need to get to the building? Do you want to show it in its entirety or just selected details? Some buildings are best photographed from roofs or windows of adjacent buildings to get the perspective that you want. Others are better taken from a boat on a nearby river, or a hilly park, while detailed shots can be taken from the surrounding streets.

Wherever you choose to take the photo from, look at the lines that you see through your lens. Can you adjust the angle of your camera to show them running parallel to each other? Are they parallel to the ground, or other buildings? Lines will converge at the top of the building and by tilting your camera you can exaggerate this (to show height) or reduce it (to show the structure). If the building has a curved roof or arch, focus on brickwork or tile formations to draw attention to the curves. Even when taking a picture of a small detail, keep the lines of the building in your mind. An interesting feature should be perfectly framed by the surrounding structure.

Next, lighting can present some real challenges when photographing architecture. Too much bright sunlight and the results will be distorted by dense

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>