Want to make your travel photo albums and slide shows more fun and interesting? The quickest way to spice up your collection is with some choice architecture photos.
On almost any trip, one of the key highlights will be the unique buildings, monuments and statues you encounter. Whether you are traveling to the other side of the world, or just to the next state or province, every local culture takes pride in their buildings and tries to make them interesting to visitors and residents alike. And, because the typical vacation photo album is comprised mostly of "here we are…" photos, a few buildings or monuments will keep things interesting. Also, since your architectural subjects don't move or get impatient while you fiddle with camera settings, you can exercise the ultimate artistic control.
Here are some key things to think about and try when taking architectural photos:
1. Close or Far: Choose One
While you may not be able to choose exactly the angle or distance you want due to surrounding buildings or traffic, it will be beneficial to consciously decide if you want to get in close and highlight particular details or get back further and try to incorporate more of the building for a contextual shot. Often, just standing in the middle distance and snapping away when you first come across a neat building will not result in the photos you want.
Why? Because while our eyes might be able to take in the grandeur and the context, as well as the details and highlights from the middle distance, our cameras have a more limited field of view. So, help your camera and your photos out by choosing to either get close and go for highlights or get back and expand your view. Click any photo to see a larger version.
Photo by ACD Newsletters subscriber Lizzy Koster of Aegina, Greece.
2. Pick Expansive Angles
To convey depth and context in your architecture photos, it's best to choose an oblique angle from your subject. Not only will this usually give you a picture of more than one side of the building or monument, and thus provide more detail, it will also add depth by giving a better perspective of the building's surroundings and background.
3. Remember Your Lines
Using the prominent lines that are part of any building or monument, especially those that lead at an upward angle, will help draw your audience's eyes into and through the photo. This way, they will be forced to examine the details and artistic impact of the entire composition, which usually leads to a fuller appreciation of your efforts.
4. Shoot at Dusk
Many of the best architecture shots are made at dusk. The long shadows, soft light and illumination of lights within the building can create dramatic results. You may need a tripod to hold the camera steady so you can use a slow shutter speed to capture enough light for photographs at this time of day.
Photo by ACD Newsletters subscriber Torben Brix of Kalundborg, Denmark.
5. Try Black and White
Usually, it is the overall shape, design and details of a building, monument or statue that make it interesting, rather than the colors. For this reason, using black and white won't necessarily take anything away from your photo. On the contrary, it can enhance the dramatic effect and appearance by focusing the viewer's attention on the details or intensifying the effects of light and shadow. It can also hide other less attractive details, like bird droppings on the head of a statue. Happy snapping!
Kris Butler is ACD Newsletters Editor. This article reprinted with
author's permission.
Copyright © ACD Systems.
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