Architectural photography with medium format
Pentax 67, 300mm f-4.5 lens, Fuji Provia 100, Bogen tripod and pan/tilt head. Spot metering with Minolta Auto Meter IIIF and 5 degree spot attachment, 1/125 at f-11.
Architectural photography is about
making a broad view or details of the buildings. Your aim is to show a building's
character. You may want to photograph an old church to show its history or older design.
Modern buildings photographed together show a city's character and how it is different
from others. The main concern in architectural photography is to keep the vertical lines
parallel. Architectural photography is the subject that calls for tilt and shift lenses.
When working with a wide angle lens pointed upward the building appears to converge. This
can sometimes be to your advantage if you want to show a more dramatic image such as a
very tall modern building. But most of the time keeping the lines straight produces much
better results. Since most of the time you photograph at ground level with a normal or
wide angle lens, your only alternatives are tilt and shift lenses or using a view camera
with roll film back for maximum lens movements. Almost all medium format systems include
tilt and shift lenses, and if you do a lot of architectural photography, you should
seriously consider purchasing one. A tilt/shift lens or a bellows camera with vertical
shift can keep the lines parallel if you shoot from a low viewpoint.
Certain times of the day are best for photographing buildings. Clear early morning light
creates high contrast between a building and the blue sky, but the same scene at high noon
can turn into a dull photograph. Direction of light is very important as it can change the
mood, and either bring out or wash out interesting details. You should always use a spot
or incident meter reading from the lightest and the darkest parts of the building, and
decide the best exposure setting. High contrast scenes require careful metering. You can
easily underexpose or overexpose your shots. Learn about your film's exposure tolerance
(usually -/+2 stops with slides), and work within this range. Best thing about
photographing architectural using slower medium format cameras is that you can take your
time and evaluate the whole scene. Unlike wildlife or sports photography where faster
lenses and motor drives are required and are much easier with 35mm cameras, architectural
photography where main concern is detail can be photographed easily with the slower 21/4 format. A beautiful building whether old or new took
time and careful design to build. Take your time and with your 21/4 camera you can show every detail and produce more impressive architectural
photographs than with smaller formats. See also Architectural.
Architectural photography is more than simply choosing a subject and pressing the shutter-release button; it's more than just documenting a project. An architectural photograph shows the form and appeal of a building far better than any other medium. With the advent of the digital photographic workflow, architects are discovering exciting new opportunities to present and market their work.
But what are the ingredients for a successful architectural photograph? What equipment do you need? How can you improve your images in your digital darkroom? Why does a building look different in reality than in a photographic image? In this book you will find the answers to these questions and much more.
Author Adrian Schulz-both an architect and a photographer by training-uses real-world projects to teach you how to:
- Capture outstanding images of buildings, inside and out
- Choose the right equipment and use it effectively
- Compose architectural shots
- Work with ambient and artificial light
- Process images in an efficient workflow based on Adobe Photoshop
This second edition has been extensively revised and includes 80 new images and illustrations, as well as an expanded chapter on shooting interior spaces. Also included is an updated discussion of post-processing techniques and the latest technical developments in the world of photography. With this book, you will learn a variety of creative tips, tricks, and guidelines for making the perfect architectural image.