Architecture photography captures the essence of a structure.
Whether you are a budding photographer or just someone who appreciates the aesthetics and skillfulness of composition and technique, these images always tickle the imagination.
Architectural photography allows you to present or view a skyscraper, a bridge, an old industrial factory — or that brick house just across the street — from different perspectives. These photos showcase the beauty of the structure itself and create a stunning visual impact.
What Equipment Do You Need for Architecture Photography?
When taking pictures of buildings, structures, or cityscapes, you need the right equipment and a good eye to snap interesting images.
Exterior shots benefit from good natural light, while shooting the interiors of buildings can be a bit more challenging and require supplemental lighting.
If you want to capture spectacular shots, having the right equipment is key:
- Best Camera for Architecture Photography: One thing is for sure in architecture photography —your subjects remain still. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about getting the fastest camera. Stick to a decent DSLR that comes with a full-frame sensor. But, of course, even smartphones today can snap decent images if you know how to make most of their capabilities.
- Camera Lenses: You can start with the basic prime or zoom lens that will allow you to capture structures with great detail. As you get more comfortable, you can experiment with tilt shift lenses and wide angle lenses.
- Tripod: If you want crisper and sharper images, a simple tripod will help you steady your camera.
- Post-Processing: Once done shooting, you’ll need photo editing tools to retouch or adjust the images.
Tips For Amazing Architecture Photography
Stunning architecture is all around us. You just need to develop the eye to do justice to how these structures were designed and built. Here are some tips to help you capture beautiful images:
1. Put the Camera Down
Every structure has the potential to be beautiful. This is why it is important to put down your camera first and appreciate the architectural creation before you. Check out the shapes, patterns, shadows, details and other elements that you can play with. You can also do some research in advance to find out a bit more about the structure. Once you’re ready, start snapping photos!
2. Control the Perspective and Lighting
It is important to walk around the building and view it from different elevations so you can explore different angles to shoot it from. Doing this will allow you to snap unique images and present your subject in ways that might not have been seen before. Experiment with your flash, and view your subject at various times of the day.
3. Experiment with your Camera
Play with the settings of your camera to create a balanced image. You can capture one that’s dark, one that’s bright, and something in between, and play with them during post-processing. You can also experiment with your shutter speed and exposure.
4. Capture the Whole, but Don’t Forget the Details
You can take an image of the entire structure and juxtapose it with the surrounding environment or the other structures around it. Likewise, you can go in close and appreciate the details that make that structure fascinating, such as window patterns, curves, columns, or rivets. Showing these aspects of the structure adds intimacy to the image that others will surely appreciate when they see the photos.
5. A Dose of Human Element
Another thing to try is to add a person to the photo. The human element will provide a sense of scale. It might also give people an idea about the purpose of the structure.
More About Architectural Photography
If you want to learn more about architectural photography or want to see samples of excellent architecture images, check out Casey Skeen Photography. Contact us today if you have questions or want to order printed photos.