Architectural photography mentors, anyone?

[aiest]

Hello! I'm kinda-new to clubsnap and I'm also new to manual photography. I'm very keen on doing architectural photography but instead of doing it alone, I would really want to have a senior or at least someone who has been doing architectural photography for some time and doesn't mind mentoring me (and be my friend, if you will be so nice!). Learning from books and websites just doesn't get through to my head, I need practice and practical tutorials. Is there anyone keen? Or maybe if there's already an existing architectural photography group that I don't know about that I could join? :angel:

 

[foxtwo]

Every once in a while Kit will organise a architectural outing. Wait for one and pick his brain then or go bug him now anyway =) He has an architect background so I reckon to be the best person to ask. Personally, composition requirements is similar to any other genre of photography: vanishing point, 1/3 rule, horizon line, lines, shapes, patterns, etc. Then it's down to attention to detail, hard work and patience, and post processing technique.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/gath...architectural-cityscapes-photography-9-a.html

You need a sturdy tripod most of all, a wide lense will be preferable secondly. Then just head out and shoot. Study your subject (building) carefully with a keen eye. Have fun, though the weather is horrible these months.

 

[edutilos-]

Architecture photography is a bit more than just getting the lines straight. Finding the structure, the beauty in the metal and glass, that takes some amount of thinking. Getting the shot in the right light - that takes some amount of time as well.

It's about finding the way to present the subject in the best possible way; in that, architectural photography is no different from any other type of photography.

1x.com - In Pursuit of the Sublime

The above is a good curated stream of architecturals which you can look at to get an idea of what good architectural photography is about. Well, it's curated, so you don't get the mess of so-so architecture photographs that you'll get on Flickr.

500px / Editors' Choice

500px Editors' Choice is also very decent.

 

[aiest]

Every once in a while Kit will organise a architectural outing. Wait for one and pick his brain then or go bug him now anyway =) He has an architect background so I reckon to be the best person to ask. Personally, composition requirements is similar to any other genre of photography: vanishing point, 1/3 rule, horizon line, lines, shapes, patterns, etc. Then it's down to attention to detail, hard work and patience, and post processing technique.

You need a sturdy tripod most of all, a wide lense will be preferable secondly. Then just head out and shoot. Study your subject (building) carefully with a keen eye. Have fun, though the weather is horrible these months.

Good things come to those who wait, so, okay, I'll wait ^^
Those archi stuff I learnt back in school when doing manual perspective rendering, I wasn't really good at it even back then so I need a lot of sharpening on composition

Tripod - check;
Wide lens - does my 16mm f2.8 kit lens count as a wide lens?

And yes, horrible weather. I also do astronomy so this whole bad skies thing the past many weeks is hitting me really hard on my hobbies (thank god singing is not affected by weather, or I would be a completely-"hobby-less" zombie come rainy seasons!) Attempting to compensate by still trying to learn from books about architectural photography (forcing the brain to take in despite reluctance) until the harsh part of the monsoon tides over~

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[aiest]

Architecture photography is a bit more than just getting the lines straight. Finding the structure, the beauty in the metal and glass, that takes some amount of thinking. Getting the shot in the right light - that takes some amount of time as well.

It's about finding the way to present the subject in the best possible way; in that, architectural photography is no different from any other type of photography.

The above is a good curated stream of architecturals which you can look at to get an idea of what good architectural photography is about. Well, it's curated, so you don't get the mess of so-so architecture photographs that you'll get on Flickr.

500px Editors' Choice is also very decent.

I'm horrible with understanding lighting so thanks for reminding me, I'll read up on that as well. Thanks for the links!

 

[foxtwo]

Good things come to those who wait, so, okay, I'll wait ^^
Those archi stuff I learnt back in school when doing manual perspective rendering, I wasn't really good at it even back then so I need a lot of sharpening on composition

Tripod - check;
Wide lens - does my 16mm f2.8 kit lens count as a wide lens?

And yes, horrible weather. I also do astronomy so this whole bad skies thing the past many weeks is hitting me really hard on my hobbies (thank god singing is not affected by weather, or I would be a completely-"hobby-less" zombie come rainy seasons!) Attempting to compensate by still trying to learn from books about architectural photography (forcing the brain to take in despite reluctance) until the harsh part of the monsoon tides over~

Thanks for the encouragement!

16mm is fine. You can make your own assignment to challenge yourself. Suggest you look through the landscapes gallery for any building or scene you'll like to explore on your own.

Post your photographs on critique corner, Kit drops by there sometimes too.

 

[aiest]

16mm is fine. You can make your own assignment to challenge yourself. Suggest you look through the landscapes gallery for any building or scene you'll like to explore on your own.

Post your photographs on critique corner, Kit drops by there sometimes too.

I happen to have just come back from my first photography day out Attempted pictures of shophouses in Katong. Should I be posting my unedited images or the refined edited versions in the crit category?

 

[oracle0711]

This guy is my favorite when it comes to architecture photography: Tim Griffith. He also has a blog that he maintained periodically (guessed when he has the time to write while not shooting): Level.

Going some of his works will give you inspiration on what, when and how to shoot architecture stuff in fuse with a taste for fine arts.

 

[edutilos-]

500px / Nick Frank
500px / Helder Domingos
500px / Ralf Wendrich
500px / Alisdair Miller
500px / Giles McGarry

 

[allenleonhart]

I happen to have just come back from my first photography day out Attempted pictures of shophouses in Katong. Should I be posting my unedited images or the refined edited versions in the crit category?

post it here also can i think:think:

the crit corner is a bit more quiet compared to this thread. u might get better luck here.

 

[coolthought]

Hello! I'm kinda-new to clubsnap and I'm also new to manual photography. I'm very keen on doing architectural photography but instead of doing it alone, I would really want to have a senior or at least someone who has been doing architectural photography for some time and doesn't mind mentoring me (and be my friend, if you will be so nice!). Learning from books and websites just doesn't get through to my head, I need practice and practical tutorials. Is there anyone keen? Or maybe if there's already an existing architectural photography group that I don't know about that I could join? :angel:

to start off. Any dslr, a basic zoom lens and a sturdy tripod will do. Lenses like the 18-55, 18-105, 18-135, 18-200. Later on, a 10-20, 10-22, 10-24, 11-16, etc....lens.

you are probably a more visual and interactive person than someone who can read and translate those into practice.

you can look at architectural drawings, paintings for inspiration and see how they compose their drawings. There are many area of similarities between a photo and a painting. ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING - Google Search

photos in flickr might be a mixed bag, however, it is a good practice to be able to pick up what work and what doesn't. Since, it is also place whereby there are lots of Singaporean who upload their photos online, it is also a good place for research into places and buildings (might have to sift through quite a bit though) for a good location and for a start try to see if you can get a similar shot and later on a better one.
Flickr: Search for a group

There at least a couple of speakers of photo seminar and talks I have attended who mentioned that they don't really bothered about the "rules of photography". Looking at their photos during the talk, I can picked up quite a number of photos with some sort of rules... they probably have already acquired a sense of what is beautiful, what can work, etc.... through their own practice and hard work (I supposed)

some idea for you to start off with.
Architectural Photography: examples and tips from Photo.net

 

[sfoto100]

Hello! I'm kinda-new to clubsnap and I'm also new to manual photography. I'm very keen on doing architectural photography but instead of doing it alone, I would really want to have a senior or at least someone who has been doing architectural photography for some time and doesn't mind mentoring me (and be my friend, if you will be so nice!). Learning from books and websites just doesn't get through to my head, I need practice and practical tutorials. Is there anyone keen? Or maybe if there's already an existing architectural photography group that I don't know about that I could join? :angel:

hi

Kit is having a sharing session on 1 Jan 2012 6AM.. u can go sign up..
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/gath...ral-cityscapes-photography-10-a-new-post.html

 

[sfoto100]

500px / Nick Frank
500px / Helder Domingos
500px / Ralf Wendrich
500px / Alisdair Miller
500px / Giles McGarry

Thank you very much!

always appreciate your sharing the works of other great photographers...

 

[aiest]

500px / Nick Frank
500px / Helder Domingos
500px / Ralf Wendrich
500px / Alisdair Miller
500px / Giles McGarry

I've looked through.. Common things I see are super-crisp lines, shadows and midtones. Thanks for sharing

 

[daredevil123]

Kit is organizing another architecture and lanscape shoot for newbies.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/gatherings-outings/1023191-architectural-cityscapes-photography-10-a.html

Better sign up quick as it gets filled quite fast usually.

 

[edutilos-]

I've looked through.. Common things I see are super-crisp lines, shadows and midtones. Thanks for sharing

The common thing I saw was the composition, which well, incorporates whatever you mention. That and a much more creative way of looking at things.

I would like to stress that it isn't always about fitting a set of buildings, or a building into a frame, and then making sure that everything is level. Beyond a certain point, doing that will just lead you to a plateau where all of your pictures are just going to be you know... One dimensional.

Glad to be of service. Cheers!

 

[hihipopo]

How about local professional architectural photographer? Any of them with works showcase on their websites? Most of the local photographers are multidisciplinary, specializing in architectural photography seems to be niche field.

 

[coolthought]

How about local professional architectural photographer? Any of them with works showcase on their websites? Most of the local photographers are multidisciplinary, specializing in architectural photography seems to be niche field.

not that I know of
afaik, making a living out of this specialised field in sg seems impossible.

 

[Kit]

Only a few. Albert Lim comes to mind. Tim Griffith used to base here but had moved on. He still does work here though.

 

[foxtwo]

Architecture/Interiors

Edward Hendricks from CI&A Photography. You always see his credit in publications/magazines. Google by company.
He's been in business so long he doesn't even need a website, apparently. But majority of what's shot is by him.

Peter Mealin
Flickr: Peter Mealin Photography's Photostream
http://petermealin.tumblr.com/

A lot of hotel interiors are shot by him. Take a close look next time you're in a hotel lobby, very distinctive.


Between them have the residential & commercial to hospitality market cornered. Comparisons between the 2 styles of photography couldn't be bigger. For interiors, Hendricks relies mostly on ambient lighting while Mealin is all about attaining perfect lighting.