The Purpose And Tenets Of Architectural Photography

By Betty Hughes


A photographer who still doesnt have the full measure of his metier more often than not goes on to experiment with various styles and methods. It is only through this that one may be able to solidly establish what hes definitely good at. One of the highest fields in which this shutterbug can aim to be accomplished in is architectural photography Minnesota.

This genre is one of the oldest in the field. It predates portraiture by a considerable degree. That is because the first cameras required long moments of exposure, and humans werent patient enough to pose for long sittings. So, what else is there to do except take pictures of fixtures like landscapes and buildings. Anyway, thats what architectural photography is all about, photographing buildings, edifices, monuments, and some such structures.

You dont want to make the mistake of confusing real estate photography with the architectural, though. The first is mainly concerned in showcasing a particular property, with the end goal of selling it. A specific point of departure is that it aims to capture all the spaces as much as possible so that an appraiser may be able to appreciate the size and amenities. The latter totally focuses on beauty and design. Its also largely interpretative, very much like traditional photography and art.

There are all the reasons in the world to delve into this department. It can be a very noble calling in itself. The very first architecture photographers worked with the respectable aim of capturing the feels and vibes of certain places before they transmute into irreversible modernity, change, and oblivion. This is why we still have nostalgic pictures of early twentieth century Paris or London, for starters.

Among the elements the photographer should take into account is perspective control. To anthropomorphize yet again, a building has a strong point that is great to capture on camera. It is really tricky to highlight certain aspects of a photograph and downplay others, but that is the drift here. Youd want to manipulate the perceived depth of the field to create a sharp focus of both foreground and background.

Many tenets are adhered to in architectural photography. Theres perspective control, in which one aims to sway and contain the perceive depth of field of a composition. This is necessary because in most cases, one would want to bring both foreground and background in sharp focus.

Architectural photography is on the higher echelons in this field. Therefore, it naturally isnt easy and breezy. It is easier to get away with certain subject matters who have dynamism and movement, as with people, since they can present a story all by themselves. In the architectural genre, however, all the elbow grease is wholly left to the photographer.

Landscaping is also imperative in this field. The surroundings and environment of a particular building contributes greatly to the overall composition of a particular photograph, and also aims to deliver a sense of harmony and an idea of scale. This is why trees, statues, or fountains are often included in some compositions, so as to juxtapose the relative grandness of a particular structure. One may also play with lines, lights, and shadows, so as to veer away from the standard aesthetic and graphic, and bring dynamism and movement into the picture. Or else add extra dimensions through the use or reflections, that which can be provided by placid lakes and similar water features.

Architectural photography is extremely important in that it aims to communicate a particular story. Most importantly, it effectively documents the history and culture of a place at one point in time. No other reason is needed to justify it.




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