One of the curious facts in architectural photography is that one of its greatest benefits – the “models” do not move – can also be one of the biggest negatives. But do not be afraid. We have made a list of tips to help you think more abstractly and creatively when photographing buildings and other architectural elements. If you crave to become an Interior Design Photographer, reading this article can be useful for you.
Tip 1: Think differently in architectural photographs
Look for intriguing and unusual points of view, or try to record surprising and interesting details to get away from the ordinary “chocolate box” aspect that several architecture photographs have.
Tip 2: After dark
Some buildings come to life after night falls, especially when they are illuminated by dramatic spotlight lights or colorful advertising panels. While some find that illuminated billboards cause visual pollution, photographers can capture their beauty in architectural photographs.
Tip 3: Set a small aperture
When you take architectural photographs, it is best to use a smaller aperture to make sure that everything will look sharp in the picture. Architects love lines and details and their work must be shown clearly in their photographs.
A f / 13 aperture, or f / 16 promotes the perfect match between depth of field and image quality. An ISO of 200 or smaller is also essential to ensure architectural photographs without the grainy appearance.
Tip 4: Look for shapes and details
Use the viewfinder of your digital camera to frame – and shoot – different posture options; however, it is sometimes difficult to tell if a composition will work just by looking at the display. So the trick is to always look for repeated forms and details to focus on them and isolate them from elements without forms. Diagonal strengths can help make your architectural photography more dynamic. For more abstract photographs, try to bend your camera, being careful to eliminate any element that can say much about the context, because they can reduce the abstract aspect of your photograph.
Tip 5: Hold in hand, or use a tripod?
Photographs of architecture are usually made with a tripod, but if you are making abstract images, photographing holding the camera in your hand may be easier to move around and try different angles. If your photo lens has an image stabilization system, make sure it is turned on.
When you shoot your Dslr camera, stand in a straight posture, “attach” your waist-high arms to support the photographic equipment and hold your breath to prevent movement and ensure clear photographs. If you are using a tripod, opt for those with movable heads that give you more freedom of movement than normal tripods.
Tip 6: Please wait …
The best thing about architecture is that your model will not move, which means you’ll have time to shoot whatever you want. If the light is changing, or if your framing is picking up some bad clouds, it pays to be patient: you can wait until the clouds take on sensational positions for a photograph, for example. This causes you to reach a different compositional element.
Tip 7: Stay away
Shooting close-up buildings with a wide-angle lens causes them to become distorted in the image. Move away from the main object to achieve a nice focal distance.
Tip 8: Golden Hour
Always photograph moments before sunset, or sunrise. When the sun is low in the sky, it gives a magical illumination that enhances any photograph, being of architecture, or not. In addition, the long shadows of the golden hour look great for architectural images.
