Summary of "Top Ten Things To Look For In An Architectural Image"

Well, I?m late but finally I got the summary of the Top Ten Things To Look For In An Architectural Image completed and they are as follows:

1. Preparation

a) Check out the opening times of the building/structure and if any permits for a shooting are needed.
b) Have a look to the weather forecast, make sure that you have enough light, if you want to make pictures of a certain part of the building/structure.
c) Plan your trip for early in the morning or late in the afternoon, if possible.

2. Gear

a) A wide angle or ultra-wide angle lens helps to get dramatic compositions and is probably the most important lens type for architectural shots.
b) A slight tele lens is also always good for isolating particular elements of a building/structure.
c) A tripod for long exposure or night shots is a must, also UV and Polarizing filters are often helpful.

3. Time

a) Take your time to explore the building/structure, stroll around, study the subject and the lighting conditions, find the best, the unusual POV.

4. Composition

a) Keep the composition as clean as possible, avoid distracting elements, less elements are often a guarantee for more impact.
b) Include repetitive elements, like lines, pattern or forms.
c) Direct lines into the corners.
d) Try to find an eyecatching point of view, a diagonal or tilted composition often adds a dynamic to the picture.
e) If you are going for a strong symmetrical composition with dominating horizontal and vertical lines make sure that all lines are well balanced, eliminate all tilted lines.

Example for a clean and simple composition :
http://1x.com/photo/16831/

Example for repetitive elements :
http://1x.com/photo/25381/

Example for lines directed into the corners :
http://1x.com/photo/19797/

Example for an eyecatching POV :
http://1x.com/photo/24225/

5. Light

a) Light plays a huge role ? it?s interacting with the building/structure, creating plasticity, giving the building/structure depth. Shadows can provide contrast and can highlight the repeating elements of the building/structure.
b) Check out the different lighting conditions ? the morning sun will be different to the evening sun ? also rainy and cloudy days will provide a certain mood with architectural pictures.

Example for light playing a major role :
http://1x.com/photo/25277/

Example for a poor lighting :
http://1x.com/mview.php?p=r100857

6. Contrasts

a) Clearly defined contrasts often boost an architectural picture. This can be a curved element in a generally angular shot, a contrasting color, anything that breaks a symmetry, etc. Sometimes also the sky supplies a good counterpoint.

Examples of pictures showing contrasts :
http://1x.com/photo/25535/
http://1x.com/photo/25816/
http://1x.com/photo/24648/

7. The human touch

a) A person or a group of people may often point out the dimension or perspective of a building/structure or can illustrate the relationship between the building and the people which are living or working there.
People can often strengthen the impact of an architectural photo, but it?s not a must ? sometimes the clean shot is more meaningful.
b) Try simply both options during a shooting.

Example of a picture with a human element :
http://1x.com/mview.php?p=r140607

8. Colour or BW ?

a) It?s up to the taste of the photographer, but colour is often an important architectural element of a building/structure and can often add a lot to the picture.
b) On the other hand strong graphical shots can work very well in black and white ? the contrast often comes out much stronger.

An example where colour rocks :
http://1x.com/photos/member/2238/5080/

Example of a strong B/W picture :
http://1x.com/photo/17656/

9. Post processing

a) Beside the ?normal? post processing such as increasing contrast, colour correction or sharpness, also remember to consider lens distortion, which can be eliminated with a suitable software like DXO or PTLens.

10. The unique shot

a) In our area respective locales there are always those building/structures that are the typical postcard landmark structures that everyone has photographed. Well....go there, consider items 1 through 9 ? and make the unique shot, the breathtaking one, the one with the WOW factor !