Architectural Photography - Learn & Share
Sep 18, 2016 19:01:18 #
(Mallen1330 and MinnieV co-authored the intro. I'm just along for the ride 
)
We invite you to join in this thread featuring the art of photographing all types of man-made structures, exteriors and interiors, from urban skyscrapers and cathedrals to simple log cabins and decaying industrial sites, bridges, towers, monuments, barns. and all in between.
Please share your own architectural photographs, your techniques and strategies for shooting and/or editing, and your questions and comments about what is generated through the thread.
Notes about architectural photography:
- The first permanent photograph was an architectural photograph! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View_from_the_Window_at_Le_Gras
- Architectural photographers typically control or correct perspective and lens distortion, and keep all elements in sharp focus.
- Architectural photography sub-genres include: urban-country street, urban landscapes, patterns and abstract designs, real estate and interior design.
- Architectural photographers express their art in black & white and color -- using natural or sometimes high dynamic range techniques.
- As opposed to "Street" photography, the architecture itself is the subject, rather than the interaction between people to their surroundings or social context.
A link to the intro for the Architecture section of UHH with more info:http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-366149-1.html
Jump in, share your best shots of any kinds of human-built structures, tell us how you did it, ask questions and offer any comments as we go. Welcome!
)We invite you to join in this thread featuring the art of photographing all types of man-made structures, exteriors and interiors, from urban skyscrapers and cathedrals to simple log cabins and decaying industrial sites, bridges, towers, monuments, barns. and all in between.
Please share your own architectural photographs, your techniques and strategies for shooting and/or editing, and your questions and comments about what is generated through the thread.
Notes about architectural photography:
- The first permanent photograph was an architectural photograph! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View_from_the_Window_at_Le_Gras
- Architectural photographers typically control or correct perspective and lens distortion, and keep all elements in sharp focus.
- Architectural photography sub-genres include: urban-country street, urban landscapes, patterns and abstract designs, real estate and interior design.
- Architectural photographers express their art in black & white and color -- using natural or sometimes high dynamic range techniques.
- As opposed to "Street" photography, the architecture itself is the subject, rather than the interaction between people to their surroundings or social context.
A link to the intro for the Architecture section of UHH with more info:http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-366149-1.html
Jump in, share your best shots of any kinds of human-built structures, tell us how you did it, ask questions and offer any comments as we go. Welcome!
Sep 18, 2016 19:29:49 #
I'm no architectural specialist but I love shooting structures of all kinds. You'll see mine may not be "pure" in terms of genre, as my landscape and street photography creep into my architectural stuff. I put some details by each of the three photos below. My offerings are humble and I'll share what I can, but the real expert will be along soon...
I am looking forward to seeing what all our folks have stored up for us! (Note: the Iceland building photo was actually inspired by one Billy once posted of a building about as far away from Iceland as you can get, I hope he'll remember/ recognize and share his too)
I am looking forward to seeing what all our folks have stored up for us! (Note: the Iceland building photo was actually inspired by one Billy once posted of a building about as far away from Iceland as you can get, I hope he'll remember/ recognize and share his too)
Manresa is an old monastery in Louisiana, now a retreat center. My goal here was to stress symmetry and line. This one looks pretty good in monochrome too. I used a very boxy composition to let me work with the repeating verticals better.
(Download)
This building in Reykjavik might have been less interesting without the clouds and reflection, but for me they gave me ideas about slightly HDR'ish processing the single shot capture.
(Download)
This shot of the mission at Carmel was more about texture and shape, some of my favorite compositional elements. Of course I have full views, too, but liked the partial view for monochrome since it was harsh mid-day light.
(Download)
Sep 18, 2016 19:34:06 #
I'm excited to get new ideas and learn from this thread!
Below is a barn I'm familiar with and have photographed before. I shot this one on Friday and pp'd for the thread, i.e. not "stylized" for this first shot - lol.
I'm very drawn to the contrasts between the barely standing old barn and the sleek wind turbines in the distance.
Below is a barn I'm familiar with and have photographed before. I shot this one on Friday and pp'd for the thread, i.e. not "stylized" for this first shot - lol.
I'm very drawn to the contrasts between the barely standing old barn and the sleek wind turbines in the distance.
Sep 18, 2016 20:28:46 #
I hope museums count.
This is one of my favorite shots, from the Greenfield Village living museum in Dearborn MI. The two buildings in the foreground were slave quarters, moved from a plantation in Georgia. The building in the background was the home of a middle class African-American family in Georgia; apparently Mr. Ford met this family, was mesmerized by the house, and insisted on buying and moving it to his village. When I discovered this angle, which allowed me to get both structures in the same frame, I just had to take it.
This is one of my favorite shots, from the Greenfield Village living museum in Dearborn MI. The two buildings in the foreground were slave quarters, moved from a plantation in Georgia. The building in the background was the home of a middle class African-American family in Georgia; apparently Mr. Ford met this family, was mesmerized by the house, and insisted on buying and moving it to his village. When I discovered this angle, which allowed me to get both structures in the same frame, I just had to take it.
Sep 18, 2016 20:37:00 #
rehess wrote:
I hope museums count. br br This is one of my fav... (show quote)
Thanks so much for posting, rehess! I find a lot of interest in the architecture of the twin buildings - the roof shapes, and those small windows with shutters. There is a nice depth as you look towards the distant one, and beautiful framing with the bright green leaves. Thank you for sharing the history also; it adds another level of appreciation.
Sep 18, 2016 20:53:24 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Very nice! I especially appreciate the overlap of architecture, landscape, old and new, the past and future...I'm excited to get new ideas and learn from this thread!
Below is a barn I'm familiar with and have photographed before. I shot this one on Friday and pp'd for the thread, i.e. not "stylized" for this first shot - lol.
I'm very drawn to the contrasts between the barely standing old barn and the sleek wind turbines in the distance.
Below is a barn I'm familiar with and have photographed before. I shot this one on Friday and pp'd for the thread, i.e. not "stylized" for this first shot - lol.
I'm very drawn to the contrasts between the barely standing old barn and the sleek wind turbines in the distance.
Sep 18, 2016 21:03:22 #
minniev wrote:
I'm no architectural specialist but I love shootin... (show quote)
I especially like pics #1 and #2.
Sep 18, 2016 21:03:31 #
In honor of rehess historic building and Linda's barn... Here some of my old and charming....
The Von KleinSmid Mansion in Sandwich, Illinois, Built 1865...
(Download)
A ghost town: Richmond Oregon - from 45 year old Ektachrome
(Download)
Richmond Oregon - 1971
(Download)
Another old slide scan from 1971 - Eastern Oregon
(Download)
Sep 18, 2016 21:03:48 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Unfortunately parts of the second building have blown highlights, and just wasn't very good at dealing with both that and the shaded areas in the background - but I like it anyway because of the juxtaposition.Thanks so much for posting, rehess! I find a lot of interest in the architecture of the twin buildings - the roof shapes, and those small windows with shutters. There is a nice depth as you look towards the distant one, and beautiful framing with the bright green leaves. Thank you for sharing the history also; it adds another level of appreciation.
Incidentally, I used to have concerns about this place. They also have the Wright Brothers home and shop, for example, from Dayton OH, and I used to be concerned that Ford's money had been used to buy what was the birthright of these other places. Then, on one visit the docent told us the back story of the Noah Webster house - it had been owned by Yale University and was used as a frat house, but the university was preparing to demolish it for something else when Ford's man arrived with his bag of money.
Sep 18, 2016 21:07:18 #
mallen1330 wrote:
In honor of rehess historic building and Linda's barn... Here some of my old and charming....
How wonderful that you have these old images!
#1 - did that require a lot of perspective adjustment? It's an amazing building!
Sep 18, 2016 21:10:51 #
minniev wrote:
I'm no architectural specialist but I love shootin... (show quote)
Pretty spectacular reflections in Reykjavik, Minnie!
I'm curious about your choices with the wall (?) on the right. The color and size have a lot of visual weight. Can you talk about the circumstances and your decisions in the composition?
Sep 18, 2016 21:11:39 #
mallen1330 wrote:
In honor of rehess historic building and Linda's barn... Here some of my old and charming....
Love pic #1 - what great architecture.
Sep 18, 2016 21:13:57 #
Architectural photography encompasses several sub-genres. We've seen some historical and rural landscape examples here so far. Here's some urban abstract or urban patterns. Google "urban abstract photography" for many greats....
Fire escape with shadows in Chicago
(Download)
More Ektachromes from the 70s
(Download)
This one overlaps somewhat with "Street" as it shows the interaction between people and their environment
(Download)
Sep 18, 2016 21:16:00 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Pretty spectacular reflections in Reykjavik, Minnie!
I'm curious about your choices with the wall (?) on the right. The color and size have a lot of visual weight. Can you talk about the circumstances and your decisions in the composition?
I'm curious about your choices with the wall (?) on the right. The color and size have a lot of visual weight. Can you talk about the circumstances and your decisions in the composition?
I liked that it gave me three overlapping structures, but unless I brought out the shadows a bit you couldn't see the plants. The plants seem so "Iceland", where the architecture really could be anywhere. That's about the best I can do
Sep 18, 2016 21:16:59 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
... #1 - did that require a lot of perspective adjustment? It's an amazing building!
Perspective adjustment YES!. This was the result of three brackets fused with Photomatix plus some PP with PaintShop Pro.
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