Architectural photography: how to choose the right shooting angle?

In architectural photography, the choice of shooting point or shooting angle plays a decisive role in achieving the most vivid and expressive picture in architectural photography.

There are two ways to photograph various architectural objects. Although different from each other, they complement each other at the same time. The first way is to simply record the reality, that is, take photos of buildings, make clear the preservation ratio and refer to the actual situation. In fact, these are documentary photos, which are often needed by construction units to prepare report documents or prepare passports for building structures.

The next choice of architectural photography is when the photographer is faced with the task of showing architecture from the most attractive or interesting side. Here, the photographer must deal with many aspects that will affect the finished photo image-perspective distortion, the position of the building in the picture, the color temperature of the picture, proper lighting, and the lack of small details that will distract the viewer. This kind of architectural photography that stands out in artistic expression is the most common. According to this or that option, choose the most suitable shooting angle. In the final analysis, it is the angle that determines the success or failure of the photographer.

The shooting point is the distance to the subject, the position of the camera on the plane and the ratio of its position to height. The choice of distance determines the required image scale-the smaller the distance from the camera to the building or building, the larger it looks in the picture. As for the position of the shooting point relative to the vertical line, the normal angle and the upper and lower angles are usually highlighted. The normal shooting point is when shooting from the height of people. This angle enables us to capture the buildings in the photos as accurately as in the ordinary environment.

By using a lower shooting point, the building in the photo can be more memorable, giving people the impression of a large building and leaving a deep impression on the audience with its magnificent architecture. The sharp feeling of hanging a huge structure can be produced by shooting from a low point relatively small from the subject.

It is best to shoot high-rise buildings from the lowest point, and always try to fit the whole structure into the frame-this can ensure that the dynamics of the building are shown in the photos. However, sometimes the whole structure cannot be completely placed in the landscape framework, so it is necessary to focus on any single element of the building.

In this case, the background of the building is the sky, so it is recommended to take pictures from a lower angle at sunrise or sunset, because the sunlight will paint cirrus clouds in incredible colors. To make the photos of the play have a shadow effect, you can move the building from a low point before the storm comes, which will make the audience feel uneasy. However, the gray sky, which is usually covered by storm clouds, is far from the best time to use a lower angle, because in this case, the artistic expression of the picture is affected. Please note that shooting from a low angle and shooting from a short distance to a wide angle will distort the viewing angle. Slight distortion is completely acceptable, but the effect is strong and the image becomes unattractive.

In order to show the scale and grandeur of the structure or architectural space, and at the same time make the photo image full of spacious space, it is suggested to use the highest point of shooting.

The top view also creates a romantic atmosphere. Use the highest or lowest point of measurement and pay close attention to the horizon. It should be located at the golden section, which is 35% of the border edge. Whether the line of sight appears above or below depends on the observer's attention.

By using optical elements with different focal lengths, you can get interesting angles and convey the structure of the building in different ways. In particular, long-distance shooting with telephoto optical elements enables you to convey the structure-photos are closest to documentary and reality in the usual form. After the objects near the building are captured in the picture, the general meaning of the structure can be emphasized. At the same time, the close-up lens can make the image more dynamic when shooting at close range. Similar views provide obvious views. This technology involves, for example, its use in photographing industrial buildings.

When shooting an overview of the building structure, it is suggested to choose a point that can be photographed and emphasize the characteristics of the object in the best way. Simply removing the facade like a novice photographer, even if it looks elegant, is not worth it. There are many such pictures on the internet, which can't be said to be particularly expressive. It's best to try to shoot the same building from the corner, so that the second wall can be shown in the photo and the mass can be transferred to the structure. When shooting from a corner, the photographer will open two flat walls to the audience, emphasizing the architectural features of the building.

Sometimes, the frontal angle is still useful, although in most cases, the frontal angle has lost its expressiveness. However, when it is necessary to emphasize the symmetry of the building, or to show the rhythm of repeating architectural elements in the photo and capture columns or arches, it is best to turn to the usual front corner. Indeed, looking at photos from this angle may be boring. Therefore, in order to make the photos more vivid, people, trees or any small buildings can be put in the foreground. Unusual and interesting appearance photos taken from the arch. When shooting at this angle, you can use HDR mode.

When choosing the most interesting shooting spot, don't forget to analyze the building itself and the surrounding background. Architectural photos with blurred background are more expressive and interesting than ordinary photos. The blurred background only needs to choose the correct position (for the building to be photographed, it must keep a certain distance from the back position) and set the best aperture value.

Conversely, the prospect should not distract the audience with too many details. Ideally, the foreground should be suitable for the overall composition, which is different from the color or tone of the rented building. As a foreground, professional architectural photographers like to use plants, railings with hollow grids or various benches. Finally, avoid falling into the frame of objects with poor prospects such as telephone poles and wires.