As a photographer, there will be particular subjects that you will be interested in. For some, it is babies, for other weddings, and still for others landscapes. There are also photographers whose area of interest is architecture. Buildings are a work of art and if you are able to capture their uniqueness, you can take some stunning photographs. As a beginner architectural photographer, you may find yourself struggling with how to identify and capture the details that make a building stand out. The following pointers will help you to get it right:
Look Out For Vertical Lines
The most common challenge for beginner architectural photographers is vertical. When the camera is tilted up or down, the result is that vertical lines converge. This is what pictures of buildings look like they are “falling backward”. An untrained eye would easily believe that the building was designed and constructed by an unqualified or incapable architect.
One way to address this problem is to change the field of view of the camera. This must be done while ensuring that vertical lines remain vertical. Another option is to work on the vertical lines in Photoshop. The problem with this option is that a part of the photo will typically be cut off, which may compromise its quality. Despite this shortcoming, it is worth it to use Photoshop to correct vertical lines. This is because even the slightest misalignment will stand out to a professional. The easiest way to handle vertical lines in Photoshop is by using the Free Transform and Skew tools.
Stage Your Photo
It is important to take the time to look at the stage or area surrounding the building you wish to photograph. It is easy to miss details like trash or other items when one is just walking by. However, such items will stand out glaringly in a photo, where a building is the main focus. If you are taking photos from inside, straighten things out, plump up pillows and cushions, and remove cups or ashes from the ashtray. You do not want the eye to be distracted from the lines and arches of the building you are photographing.
Getting The Light Just Right
Lighting is everything in photography and this includes architectural photography. Ideally, you should be able to wait and take a photo when the light outside is just right. However, this is not always possible. However, sometimes this is is not possible; photographs may be needed right away or the weather may be dull and grey.
In such cases, it is necessary to create the light and it needs to be just right. One advantage of this is that the light can be set up to capture particular details, create contrast, and achieve other effects. Being able to control this means being able to take photos with much greater impact.
Using HDR is really easy and it may get the job done. However, it limits you to so many possibilities. Also, using HDR may result in encountering technical limitations with HDR as the only way of shooting a building or space. HDR and Exposure Fusion are both compromised in high-contrast situations. The result could be images that are soft and muddy such as of dark wood interiors with the glare of a bright sun outside. Learning to use lighting equipment and adjust it to be as soft as bold as desired could make a big difference in the quality of architectural photos.
Get It Right
ISA AYDIN Architectural Photography Studio will give you stunning photos of buildings and spaces. Years of experience and practice have put the studio ahead when it comes to this kind of photography. Whether they are for a publication, web pages, or real estate marketing, count on the studio to give you exactly the kind of photos you want!
