Tuesday, January 29, 2013

9 Steps Closer To Mastering Architectural Photography

By Sue Carpenter


When you talk about boston architectural photography, there is the misconception that it is all about theorems of proportion. Quite frankly, it does deal with using the right measurements to seamlessly combine patterns and lines in a photo. However, on a greater perspective, you should not take the fun out of it. Here are the 9 ways you can polish your skills.

Photography is only possible with lighting, so position yourself the right way for the shot. Sensitivity towards how light falls on surfaces allows you to manipulate reflections, shadows and textures, among others. Architectural photography benefits from high dynamic range the most, wherein you take at least three shots of the same view but of different exposure levels which you can combine in post processing.

Using the right lens is imperative in every genre that you tackle. For this type, a wide angle lens is needed to cover the entirety of a building given the limits of the space from which you can take the shot. Another technique is to take a panoramic shot that requires the stitching of several photos to make them whole.

Do not neglect the wonderful details you can capture in the interiors of the building. They are just as telling if you take time to do the proper exposure. Considering that you do not have enough natural light to illuminate the scene, learn about other techniques like long exposures to still get a well lit subject.

There is also the method of taking a silhouette shot of the outline of the building. The trick is in shooting the structure against the sun so that no exposure will be found on the foreground. As a result, you can create a dramatic look that is highlighted by the gorgeous reds, oranges and yellows of the darkening sky.

Even when you worry about the weather, use it as a challenge to explore your limits. In fact, you can play with the lighting and experiment on concepts. Bright days call for vibrancy while gloomy ones are all about drama and contrast. Think about the possibilities, let your mind work and translate it into a visual masterpiece.

There is also the possibility of making illusions through reflections. If you notice the puddles on the street after it rains, you can use it for your experimentation and shoot the scenery there instead of the actual thing. May it be distortions or abstract takes, keep the interest level of the audience high.

To give you a firmer grasp of the subject that you are so passionate about, always read reference materials. This can jump start your journey and keep you inspired every time you go out there to capture the world of architecture. Everybody needs a key thought to look back to in order to foster positive feelings to the person, even through creative blocks and burnouts.

Last but not the least, being a boston architectural photography enthusiast entails the ability to compose a subject quite beautifully. When you are already in front of your subject, always determine how you want people to view the work of art. Whether you want it to be strictly technical or artistically moving, it takes a skilful eye to know from where you should press that shutter button.




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