With all the traveling I’ve been enjoying this summer (and in my lifetime), I’m sharing some of my go-to tips for photographing architecture and examples of each from my own portfolio. And, for me, travel is lifelong education for my soul and spirit so if you want to see all the places I visit or my daily life, follow me on Instagram or check out the #evinoktravels tag.
1. Embrace light and shadow
Adequate light is essential for capturing your desired structure. Without out, you have a vague blob of steel and glass. If you are shooting at dusk or dawn, try to work the angle of the sun (or moon) for maximum impact. But also pay attention to the direction of the sun to make it work for you and have some fun with shadows.
2. Relish cloudy days
I much prefer photographing on a cloudy or overcast – or even stormy day. The harsh direct sunlight of a sunny day offers glare and a host of other issues, but clouds bring moodiness and diffused light. And if the weather takes a turn for the worse, duck inside for amazing interior shots.
3. Go early and late for fewer crowds
You may marvel at the Instagram pros always managing to find an unspoiled part of the beach, but more often than not if they are in a populated part of the globe, they just know the trick is to get up before sunrise and be on-site when light first arrives. Little to no people in your shot so you can focus on the architecture.
4. Work the angles
Photographing a building straight-on can feel very much like a real estate brochure, but try looking up or diagonally or in the reflection of an adjacent building for a unique shot that is yours alone.
5. Don’t be afraid of vibrant color or a touch of life
Though it is nice to have a photo of just a structure, sometimes a splash of unexpected color (like the Irish doorways of Dublin) or life can lend a bit of spirit to an otherwise sterile shot. Sometimes a person (or statue) lends a context that is telling and rich.
What is your top tip for photographing architecture? Or top travel photo tip?