Hey folks! This week we’re tackling architectural photography. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure the difference between architectural photography and real estate photography. For our purposes here, there really isn’t much of one. The difference between the two mostly has to do with its purpose and marketability. While real estate photography is meant to be temporary (it is only intended to sell real estate and must be up-to-date,) architectural photography can be timeless. It is meant to capture the essence and aesthetic sensibilities of a structure and show them in it’s best light (often literally.) You can see one of Tony’s videos on shooting architecture here, which I watched before going out shooting.
I certainly didn’t have any light set-up while I walked around my neighborhood, and I didn’t have any fancy gear like tilt-shift lenses. But I had the late-day sun and bracketing, so I worked with that. I use an Olympus E-M10 with a Lumix 14-42mm 3.5-5.6 lens, not the ideal set up for architecture, but it’s what I’ve got. I shot with a high f/stop and bracketed my shots. I then merged them in Lightroom (you’ll for sure see some chromatic aberrations in the trees from the process. I’m not that advanced yet!) Tony suggests using Photomatix if you can, it makes the HDR process pretty seamless.
Alright, enough talk, here’s what I wound up with:
Look! HDR doesn’t have to be gaudy!
I used a graduated filter to bring up the exposure on the house but leave the sky untouched
There seems to be a lot of chromatic aberration in this one, unfortunately.
Black and white was the way to go for the beautiful light and shape of these posts
Ah, this one I want to like, but I can’t seem to get the crop right. What would you do?
I’m in love with my neighborhood and had been meaning to photograph it for a while, so I have a feeling I’ll try more architectural photography over time. I want to capture the beauty that I see here every day.
So those are just a few of literal dozens I took this week. What do you think? Where was I successful and where did they fall flat?Â
A reminder that this week our show is on Wednesday at 1pm EST! See you there.
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Great blog, Siobhan.
I agree the auditorium chairs shot seems a bit whack. For me, the two rows are fighting for my attention. If you could recompose to shoot just one row might be stronger? Also, perhaps have all the chairs either up or down. Or…. just have a single chair a third through the frame in a different position making it the subject?
Thanks for continuing these blogs. I love following your journey.
Another good call, Jim! This one was definitely a snapshot as I waited for my daughter, but that’s a good idea for if I go back to shoot intentionally. There are some great architectural elements in the auditorium there.
I also enjoy following you on your journey! These turned out great – very nice work, Siobhan. I especially like the bracketed/HDR shot – that’s exactly how I would have processed them. Carefully pulling additional dynamic range from the combined exposures, without achieving the over-the-top, comic book feel that you often see in HDR photography.
Just two comments regarding your photos, and minor ones at that. I love the church shot (#3), but if you had room to back up (and you may not have had the option, if there was a busy street behind you or something), it would have been nice not to crop off the very top of the structure. How am I supposed to know what religion this building belongs to?!
The second comment was regarding the chromatic aberration you’ll come across with these sort of photographs. In many instances, it’s an extremely easy fix in Lightroom. In the Develop module, scroll down till you see the “Lens Corrections” panel. Check the “remove chromatic aberration” box, and most of the time, it will take care of your chromatic aberration! Furthermore, you can check the “enable profile corrections” checkbox, and if you’re using RAW photos, Lightroom should be able to figure out what camera/lens combo you were using. This will help with your lens distortion, too!
I look forward to seeing your next blog! Once again, great work!
Thanks Justin! Yeah I realized I’d cut off the cross at the top which bummed me out, I want to shoot it again and I’ll see if i have space to back up. That shot was HDR’d too! I did use the Lens Correction panel, but it didn’t seem to eliminate it entirely, I think it was from the HDR process.
Thanks for your feedback, Justin!
Another great blog, Siobhan. It’s been great to read them all and follow your photography journey.
I agree with Jim and the chairs shot. Just one row would make it a far better shot and keep it in B&W too, the light and contrast on them is stunning!
You use pretty much the same set up as it do. I have the E-M10 mrk II and use the very same lens as you. It’s a great camera and really handy for using out and about. Far better than my 7D, 70-200mm.
I also shoot film (actually, i shoot mostly film these days) ((yes that was my question about film photography today, thank you for reading it out)) and it has taught me a lot in terms of setting up the shot to get it right first time.
If you have the chance, i would highly recommend it.
Looking forward to the next one.
To be honest I saw no chromatic aberations. HDR picture is great. That’s the shot!