How To Shoot Architecture Like a Pro
Adding pictures of buildings and their interesting elements to your travel portfolio brings another dimension to your presentations. Point-and-shoot cameras aren’t ideal for architectural shooting, but if you follow these suggestions, you’ll be surprised by the results you can achieve.
You may have noticed a phenomenon called converging lines when taking pictures of large buildings. Instead of the structure standing straight and tall, the lines of the building slant inward so it looks like it’s falling backward. This effect becomes more pronounced the more you angle your camera upward to compose the shot. To some degree this is a natural effect that viewers accept. Even in real life, looking upward at a tall building creates converging lines. We don’t think about it much, but it can detract from your photos.
If you want to lessen this effect, there are a few things you can do. If you can get some distance from the building, you’ll find that you don’t have to hold your camera at such a severe angle, which will minimize the convergence of lines. You can zoom in with your lens if necessary to tighten the composition. You can also elevate your position, such as shooting from an upper floor of a building across the way, as in Figure below. This allows you to hold your camera relatively parallel to the structure, which again lessens the effect. Digital SLR shooters who are serious about architectural photography might consider renting a “tilt shift” lens that is specially designed for this type of shooting. The Nikon 28mm f-3.5 PC Nikkor AI-S and the Canon TS-E 24mm f-3.5L are two examples of lenses that allow for shift movements, enabling you to minimize the effect of converging lines.
Tall buildings standing straight, thanks in part to the plane of the camera being relatively parallel to the plane of the structures. In this case, the picture was taken from an upper floor of a hotel.
But don’t limit yourself to shooting only the big picture: architectural elements are often just as interesting (if not more so) than the complete structure. Look for interesting designs around windows, over doors, and along the roofline. Zoom in on specific areas that interest you, as in Figure below, or elements that you might have missed during casual observation. To enhance textures and depth, look for “side lighting,” which often provides more interesting images than flat front lighting. And don’t forget to grab a couple of snaps of signs and placards to help you tell the story once you return home.
A church shot in morning side lighting.
Pro Tip
Side lighting is good for buildings because it enhances texture, but not so good for people, for the same reason.
