This entry was posted on Monday, August 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm and is filed under How to Take Extraordinary Photos, The Basics of Photography. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
If you have an interest in architecture, chances are you want to photograph it. Here are some tips to making your photos interesting while capturing the building’s uniqueness.
Look at the Details
Interesting buildings are composed of many different details that you want to focus on in your photographs. Take note of any arches, towers, doorways, or windows with unusual shapes and make sure that your photo highlights these areas.
How? Remember the Rule of Thirds. Use your viewfinder to visualize the end result and make your most interesting objects go in the “thirds” area. Or, put more simply, your focal point should be in the upper or lower right or left of the finished picture for the most impact.
Keep the Angle Right
Large buildings, such as skyscrapers, can pose problems. Certain angles can make the building look as if it is leaning.
To avoid this, try not to take photos of buildings by standing at the bottom and looking up. This will make the photo look like it is leaning away from you. Instead, get as far away from the building as possible and take the picture. Not only will this keep the building from leaning, it will also give the building a frame of reference because the viewer will be able to see how tall the building is compared to other buildings.
If you have to stand at the bottom of the building to photograph it, stand to the side and aim up. This will give you a more interesting angle.
Zoom In
Don’t be afraid to use your zoom as much as possible. Zoom in and capture details that the average viewer wouldn’t be able to see. For example, this gargoyle was at the top of a very tall building. Normally, no one would know it was there. Using a zoom, he finally gets the attention he deserves and he makes a great subject.
Don’t forget to zoom in on large architectural elements, too. Domes can be fascinating and abstract when zoomed in on.
Night Scenes
Don’t forget to take photos at night! Some of the best architectural photographs are taken at night. Set your tripod up and set your camera on a low ISO. Use your timer to reduce camera shake and start snapping. Look for bright lights and lots of color for the best images.
The best way to get good at photographing buildings is practice and taking tons of photos. So get shooting!