Architecture Photography Architecture Photography: Building Beauty in Pictures Blog
From breathtaking interiors to stunning exteriors, there's much art and beauty you can find in buildings and structures--which is the reason why photography of architecture has been an ever-popular avenue for hobbyists and pros alike to investigate.
What is Architectural Photography?
In simple terms, it's the photographing of buildings constructed by humans including spaces like homes or offices, museums or even places of worship.
It's usually divided into two main sub-categories: exterior and interior architecture photography. Whether you choose to focus on the inside or outside of an building is completely your choice, based on your goals and vision. Both types of photography are often used for creating artwork as well as articles for magazines along with images for marketing and advertising real estate, travel as well as interior design.
A few of the most intriguing architectural photos aren't always recognizable as actual buildings. These are often referred to as abstract architecture photography in which the emphasis is placed on the lines, shapes, and angles that make up the structure. Experimenting with different angles is a great way to start building and learning how to use shape to benefit you.
As an architectural photographer, your job is to highlight the efforts of an engineer, architect or designer while creating the images. However, there's no one right way to depict a building on camera.
The median salary of the profession of architectural photographer is $57,000 a year, so investing in professional equipment and knowing how to approach architectural photography in the best way can ultimately turn into a lucrative career.
One aspect to keep in mind if you're looking to commercially market your work is knowing how to determine fees for licensing architecture photography. Licensing terms are typically agreed in the contract before the photography begins, detailing the usage rights for any image. If a company wants to utilize the photographs in violation of the agreements, an additional licensing fee is usually paid to the photographer to compensate for the continued usage of their works. In particular, the majority of licensing allow for use on a company's website or social media, but excludes print or digital advertising (unless the image was taken to be used for a specific reason). An additional licensing fee will be charged to cover the use of images for marketing. Whether you choose to build this cost into your original cost or add an additional fee in the future is entirely up to you.
What is the best Architecture Photo?
Once you've figured out what architectural photography is, and some of its most commonly used applications in the field of commercial design and arts It's time to begin planning your shots.
If you're used to snapping photographs of landscapes or people changing to a different subject can be a challenge. Perhaps you're thinking how to approach photographs of architecture and what constitutes the perfect photograph. As with photographs of landscapes, it's better to let your subjects speak for themselves and make your photo based on what are presented to you.
The lighting will be both your most difficult obstacle and your best friend. If your focus is on the exterior, making usage of natural light could make the most difference in taking the building to its finest.
Additionally, you can take advantage of the weather to create diverse results. However, this can be tricky even when you're sure what you're looking for however the weather isn't working! While interior architecture photography can also be affected by various lighting conditions, it can be easier to control using your own camera equipment when there's limited natural light sources or if conditions aren't optimal.
You'll need to look for distinct patterns or lines, such as symmetrical features or a unique structure which catches the eye and creates interest. These types of visuals are that make architecture photography abstract exciting and new; the same building could be photographed numerous times, but every photographer will highlight the uniqueness of them and their artistic style.
Equipment used for architectural Photography
The right tools are crucial when it comes to creating a fantastic picture. Although you don't need to purchase everything in one go, arming yourself with some essentials can help you get in the right place to make different types of photographs, take various angles and allow you to play with tone and depth.
Camera
Today, you can make use of any kind of camera for amazing photographs. In fact, even smartphones will give you unexpected results! Do not be deceived with the notion that you require the best and most expensive DSLR camera available before you start working on your architectural photography. One advantage of using the digital camera over a smartphone is the ability to change lenses easily and alter the settings for the exposure level, ISO as well as shutter speed.
Lenses
Your lens transforms into your eyes when you connect it to your camera's body and this is the primary impact on how you intend to take your picture.
Zoom lenses let you to get closer to the structure without physically moving while the fixed focal length prime lens usually gives you a sharper and less distorted result. A tilt shift (t/s) lens is one of the most effective options for altering perspective and knowing how to utilize an t/s camera for architectural photography will help you create unique images to showcase your portfolio.
A traditional lens is equipped with the fixed image circle with respect to the position of the sensor however, a t/s lens lets you to change what the central point of that circle is. It helps level and straighten lines that become crooked with a traditional lens that doesn't require you to move a substantial distance away from the place you're photographing.
Tripods
Although it isn't always necessary it is an essential piece of equipment to carry with you. It can help keep the camera in place (perfect for people having hands that shake and longer exposures) and can also be used to capture from angles that could be challenging to get into.
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5 Tips for Taking Architecture Photographs
The camera is in place with a few lenses and you're set to head out for your first shots. Below are some of our most popular techniques for photography of architecture to keep in mind while you're creating!
Do your research prior to visiting
Each building tells an interesting story to tell, regardless of whether it's stood for centuries, or for just a few weeks. Before you set out for a walk to begin taking photos make sure you do some background research about the building. Why was it designed and built that way? Do you think it would fit or distinguish itself from other buildings built during the same period? What was the background of the architect?
Shoot in a Range of Weather Conditions, Seasons and times
The different times of day or year can create an entirely different atmosphere for your photographs. The lighting conditions, especially in outdoor photos, will differ based on the location of the sun's position in the sky or if the sun is obscured in clouds.
Select the Composition you want to write.
When you are taking a picture, think about how you compose your photo from both the lighting and the framing perspectives. This is especially important if you're working in a primarily indoor environment, when you have the ability to move furniture or décor to fit exactly where you want them.
Don't be bound by your exteriors. An immovable structure is the perfect way to push your self to determine what's the most appealing, and what is likely to grab the viewer's attention, and also what's going to be remembered.
Incorporate People
Just because your photography focus is a building doesn't mean you have to remove all of the persons. The best architectural images feature blurred individuals with the structure itself in focus, typically created with long exposure and minimizing distractions from the building while adding depth and intrigue to the final result.
Adding people into the shot also helps to create a feeling of scale . It can also alter the final look of the photo you're making, creating an additional dimension that is fun to play around with.
Do not be afraid to edit
As with any photography endeavor, taking the time to correct your images is an important final process when it comes to creating images of top quality. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are the most commonly used software to edit photos and take your photo from good to excellent with functions such as lens correction, color adjustments.
Be careful not to edit too much. When applying filters to your work may seem appealing, think about what you were trying to capture with this building first. It's very easy to erase any authenticity during editing. So keep your changes minimal to enhance the final product rather than dramatically alter how it appears.
Buildings can be some of the most intriguing and gorgeous structures to photograph, so after you've learned the best way to capture a stunning architectural photograph, you can grab your camera, and begin taking pictures!
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