How to Take Great Photos of Unique Architecture
Whether you’re shooting period buildings or modern skyscrapers, all architecture has unique lines, colors, and patterns. It’s up to you to find the perfect way to capture these details in your photography. The first step is understanding the building’s relationship with its environment, space and time. This can help you create a series of images that paint a more comprehensive picture of the building’s story. How to Take Great Photos of Unique Architecture.
Take Time to Get to Know Your Subject
Architecture photography can be a great way to showcase the unique beauty of buildings. From skyscrapers to gothic gargoyles, there are countless opportunities for creative photography of these interesting structures.
Before you go out on your next architectural shoot, take some time to get to know your subject and how it relates to its environment. Learn its history and what makes it special, then aim to capture these aspects of the building.
It’s also worth considering the lighting, as different times of day and weather conditions can add a whole new dimension to your photographs. For example, long shadows at sunset create a more atmospheric image than a bright sunlit shot during the day.
Including people in your shots is also a good idea, as this can help convey the relationship between buildings and humans. It’s not a rule, but it can effectively breathe life into an otherwise sterile scene.
Capture It as a Whole
When taking great photos of unique architecture, you need to make sure you take the time to capture it as a whole. This doesn’t mean filling up the frame with a huge building. It means finding the best way to identify visually what makes this structure so special.
One way to do this is by experimenting with different angles. For example, if you’re trying to get close up to a bridge, you can try shooting it from an angle that showcases the cables and posts that go into making it look so awesome.
Another way to capture the architecture is by looking out from a high point in the city. This will allow you to see the buildings as a group and help you catch some interesting elements that might not be seen otherwise.
While this may seem like a very basic tip, it’s one of the most important in architectural photography. By following this simple rule, you can produce some stunning results.
Move in Close
One of the best parts of an architecturally inspired photo shoot is the opportunity to take it all in. An open mind and an unrestricted lens stance are the magic formulae for a successful photo shoot. Keeping your wits about you will result in some of the most compelling and memorable pictures you have ever seen. Whether you are lucky enough to have access to a historic landmark or a modern marvel, be sure to capture its majesty with a camera lens that matches your style.
Don’t Forget About Lens Distortion
Lens distortion is a real concern for any photographer, no matter what lens you use. It can ruin your photos, creating unnatural warping that puts things out of proportion or makes the straight lines of a building seem to curve.
The good news is that most software programs, such as Lightroom and Photoshop, include lens profiles to correct distortion with a single click automatically. This is especially helpful when you’re editing RAW files.
Optical distortion, which happens when the lines of an image appear to curve outwards, is easily spotted on wide-angle lenses or the telephoto end of zooms. The wider the lens is angled, the more pronounced this distortion will be.
Compression distortion, on the other hand, is a much more subtle optical aberration that happens when objects close to the camera appear unnaturally large (or close together). If you want to avoid this distortion, try minimizing your camera tilt. You can also switch to different perspectives, such as a low or high vantage point.