This chapter discusses the question of how architecture should be photographed. It includes all aspects to be taken into account for a shot. A wide range of factors determines the way a building appears in a picture. Some of them concern the way a photographer acts on location, and keeping an eye on these points leads to decidedly better pictures. Others factors, such as the light or the weather, cannot be freely chosen or are beyond the photographer’s control.
This chapter also points out that different approaches can produce entirely different results. One method may present a building directly and authentically, while another might depart from the building’s original expression to create a new and autonomous visual impression.
A good architectural picture rests on a well-composed frame and direct, compelling visual language. If a picture’s central theme is architecture, other components must not be allowed to play a dominant role. If, on the other hand, the picture illustrates the relationship between two buildings, then their connection must be clearly represented. A violation of “the rules” can certainly be done on purpose for creative effect, but in that case the deliberateness must be obvious. Otherwise, the viewer will be inclined to interpret it as incompetence.
Well-executed documentary architectural photography compels the viewer with clear, tidy visual language and produces a feeling of familiarity with the building, even if the viewer is unfamiliar with it. In addition, this type of shot serves to enhance the building’s design qualities (Figure 3-1).
At the same time, modern documentation of architectural features also allows for the viewer’s personal interpretation of a building, within certain limits. A skilled photographer can go beyond the purely exacting and sterile representation of a building and give the entire setting a more authentic and natural look by using aesthetic means (Figure 3-2).
In contrast, a more artistically inclined approach to architectural photography must be evaluated by its visual message. The quality of the architecture in such pictures is usually unimportant. Rather, the picture propounds its own effect independent of the subject. Successful creative architectural photography captivates the viewer by telling a story, by pointing out contradictions, or by causing the viewer to notice architectural traits that otherwise would be veiled in subconscious perception (Figure 3-3).
In any case, the way an architectural picture is perceived depends to a certain extent on the viewer. For instance, an architect may appreciate the clear lines of a façade without drastic shadows or extreme angles, while a photographer may be attracted by the play of light and shadow. A viewer inexperienced in both fields may be impressed by an extraordinary effect on an ordinary façade, or may find pleasure in recognizing a familiar building.
