Tips for Architecture Photography

1. Time of day

The best time to photograph is often around sunrise and sunset. The light is at its most beautiful then, due to a soft glow. The sun is also much lower, allowing you to capture the colors of the sun reflecting off buildings. This is especially true for modern architecture, where a lot of glass is often used.

2. Composition

In short: composition is the arrangement of visual elements in your photo. Of course, a photo of the front of a building can make for a beautiful image, but it lacks depth. It is more interesting to look at different angles and heights and create unique compositions with them.

3. Perspective

The perspective from which you view a building is, of course, related to the composition. Nevertheless, we will discuss it separately here. Consider the Utrecht Cathedral. Stand directly underneath it and look up. The Cathedral suddenly seems to reach to the heavens and is extra imposing. Viewed from above, you still suggest height, but with the reverse effect. Everything appears smaller. Perspective can therefore be a conscious choice and determine the atmosphere of your image.

4. Show the surroundings

For all types of architecture, but especially for buildings in older styles, it can be beneficial to include the surrounding landscape in the image. Old buildings are often designed with a sense of context. Furthermore, the contrast between old and new can create an interesting image. Therefore, do not focus solely on the building, but also on its location and the surroundings.

5. Use of the correct lens

The lens best suited for architectural photography is the wide-angle lens . Buildings are tall and large, and you often need to capture the entire picture in a confined space. A wide-angle lens is suitable for this. In the 35mm definition, a wide-angle lens is a lens that is 24mm or shorter.

Of course, the entire building does not always have to be in the photo. It can be interesting to capture just a small part of the architecture. You use a telephoto lens for this . This allows you to compress the perspective, creating patterns and lines. This makes the photo extra interesting and ensures that the viewer keeps looking longer.

6. Image distortion

Because you are using a lens and buildings are naturally large, there is a risk of image distortion. The best thing you can do is set a narrower angle on the lens or move further back and zoom out. If these options do not work, you can always choose to adjust the image using photo editing software such as Photoshop.

A slightly more expensive method is to use a tilt-shift lens. This lens has rotating wheels that allow the individual lens elements to be positioned to correct the perspective. This ensures a beautiful image with good proportions.

7. Photography techniques

For architectural photography, it is important to properly set the depth of field , ISO values, and aperture . Taking a good architectural photo is a technical challenge. There are elements both far away and close up that you want to have in focus. This is best achieved by setting a small aperture (large number). If you want to photograph at a sunrise or sunset, it is important to purchase a good tripod. Furthermore, check that the horizon is straight in your image. Especially in the case of architectural photography, you will immediately see any tilt of the image.

8. Use HDR

A common problem is capturing the dynamic range. Imagine you are capturing a passageway or the corridor of a magnificent building. The sun is shining through the windows, or the streetlights are already on at dusk. In that case, it is quite difficult to capture all the contrasts accurately in a single image. You can then choose to take multiple shots. Depending on the subject, you might choose, for example, three shots with a two-stop difference. Afterwards, you can combine these images into an HDR image , a high dynamic range image. If you are in doubt and want to be absolutely certain of the result, simply take more. Better safe than sorry.

9. Experiment with filters

Try using a polarizing filter. A polarizing filter is ideal for removing reflections from windows or adjusting a color. This is a major advantage for glass that has a special coating or has been discolored by sunlight. A polarizing filter then produces a beautiful effect.

10. Always be prepared

The most important tip: always be ready! Architecture is a big part of our daily lives. Therefore, always take a camera with you. That way, you are always well prepared for unexpectedly beautiful light and a stunning piece of architecture.