For an architectural photographer, shooting buildings or any structure for that matter, can be a challenging task. Architecture includes almost every concrete structure that we come across on a regular basis.
Over the years, architectural photography as a subject has picked up tremendously. Today more and more students have started enrolling in photography training institutes to learn about it.
When it comes to shooting architectural structures, there are many techniques that have to be considered. Once you get a thorough understanding on how to apply these techniques, you can actually master the art.
Read on to know more:
Shooting Old Architectural Structures
Shooting old structures can be quite interesting. For most old structures, a direct and simple composition does the trick. Speaking about the technical aspects, most rooms of old structures are dingy with poor light. If you want to add a warm touch to a vintage setup, try using wide apertures and long shutter times. Use a touch of flash to adjust the colour and highlight areas.
If you want to increase your technical knowledge, join a photography course. Considering there are many photography institutes in Hyderabad, seeking admission in institutes like Hamstech can give you a platform. Hyderabad, being one of the oldest city has many interesting monuments and buildings such as the Charminar, Chowmahalla palace, Falaknuma palace, etc. It is here that you can capture best architectural shots.
Shooting Modern Architectural Structures
With modern architectural structures, you can literally play around with many abstract styles. In an enclosed area, you can use wide angle lenses (preferably a 12mm lens) to come up with an extreme perspective. This would clearly define a large space.
Using a wide angle lens can give wonderful shots even with a low lit room. You could also shoot a building from a different angle.
Architectural Surroundings
Some structures may have beautiful surroundings while others may not. It would entirely depend on what and how you need to capture. If a structure has a good surrounding, then you can use a wide photo to capture in one frame. But in case the surroundings don’t compliment the structure, you can crop it.
You can take the Charminar for example. The small stalls and shops around this massive monument actually compliment it. Even more when these stalls a completely lit in the night. Everything blends beautifully!
The Concept of Light
Light plays a significant role in architectural photography. The final outlook greatly depends on the position of the structure.
Mostly, side-front lighting gives good results. By using this angle, you can brighten an entire structure and also get an interesting shadow effect. This gives a distinct appearance and a three-dimensional look.
In Hamstech’s photography classes, students get to learn different light angles. Once the concept is clear, you can use light to create an interesting effect even on a dull structure.
When it comes to back lighting, it may not work well on architectural photography as it creates uniform dark patches. Situation like this can be challenging, do what you can do is use a long exposure to retain few details and crop the sky.
Night Shots
Many architectural structures are lit with numerous lights in the night. These lights have the potential to bring out the best even with boring structures. When shooting an architectural building, always use a tripod and adjust your camera to its lowest ISO mode to bring down the digital noise.
Using a Longer Lens
When do you use a long lens? A long lens is used when you have to capture buildings from a distance. The long lens delivers a straight alignment to your perspective with a surreal feel. It also prevents a distorted look.
In photography courses, students get trained on the different types of lenses and their uses. With so many new options in photography, it’s time you broaden your horizon in this creative field. Give your architectural photography a dynamic and a unique style.