BASIC RULES FOR PHOTOGRAPHING ARCHITECTURE. PART 2

Hello again to all photography lovers. Before we start with this new chapter, here is a reminder of what we saw in the first installment.

Link to Part I

In this second part we are going to see how to compose an architectural image so that it describes the building well, both inside and out.

First of all, everything is susceptible of modification and interpretation, although there are some basic guidelines, which sometimes are not even written down.

It should be noted that the vast majority of architectural photographs are taken with wide-angle lenses. If we take them with a mobile phone or tablet, there are already many that have the wide-angle lens option. So let's put the widest aperture lens we can on our camera.

In the basic image of an architectural reportage it is advisable that the camera (the sensor) is completely parallel to the facade of the building or to the back wall in an interior. That is if the space we have to take the photo allows it, as there are times when this is very complicated.

This a clear instance of that, where the complexity of the façade is better capture with the parallel shot.

Another instance of more simply façade

The same rule also applies to interior spaces.

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Lets see some exceptions of the rule, basically because the lack of room to place the camera.

Here we have an example of the difficulty of not having space for a frontal shot, as there was an insurmountable wall behind, so the final image was the oblique one, because the frontal one was too tight. Note also that the part of the building to be highlighted, the floating façade, can only be taken vertically.

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In very small spaces, it is simply impossible to take parallel shots and we are forced to shoot diagonally. In this example we see the shot and the counter shot, to see the difficulty of the lack of space.

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Another important aspect is the time to take a photo of the exterior of a building. It is always advisable to visit the area before doing the job and evaluate how it is situated in relation to the sun and the possibilities we have to shoot from different angles.

In this example we see the differences in lighting from one shot in the morning and another almost at sunset. In this case I opted for the afternoon shot, as the warm, grazing light enhanced the textures of the stone and gave the house a more pleasant atmosphere than the cooler light in the morning.

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For a long time in building photography it was avoided to put a human figure in the scene. Fortunately this is now a thing of the past and people are now featured in many building photography pictures.

In these two images we can see the difference between a space with and without a human figure.

Another example of the inclusion of people in photos of buildings.

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We can also use elements that can sometimes be annoying, and integrate them into the image by giving them a function. On this occasion, the wooden post and the beam served to frame the rest of the scene.

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Finally, it is also advisable to show small details of the spaces we photograph. Here a small window with a bougainvillea in the background, which gives the place a natural touch.

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Of course there are many aspects of architectural photography that have been left out, there is not enough space in a post to summarize what is a speciality like this, but we will try to keep evolving the topic.

And that's all for today. I hope these tips will be useful and that some of you will be able to apply them to your photos of buildings and interiors.

Thanks to @xpilar and moderator @stef1 for giving me the opportunity to publish these articles.

If you are interested, feel free to ask your questions.

Unless stated otherwise, all the pictures and the words are mine.
Do not use this images without my written permission.
Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Camera: Canon EOS 5 Mk II and MkIII
Lens: Carl Zeiss 21 f:2.8, Canon 16-35 f:2.8 and Canon 24Ts f:3.5
Processed with Capture One