Architectural photography is an endlessly interesting discipline. From ancient monuments, through the structures of the Industrial Revolution to the ultra-modern skyscrapers of today, the sheer variety of subject matter is astounding.
Many of us, when we think of architectural photography, see high-end commercial images of modern contemporary buildings. Very often these are shot by high-end photographers using higher-end equipment, often with artificial lighting. These sorts of images are shot to sell a property, the development company, or the brand that owns or rents the building.
But there is another branch of architectural photography. One that is much more accessible to the likes of you and me. That branch is abstract architectural, in particular capturing the geometry and symmetry of modern architecture. Today we are going to take a look at it.
Observing Geometry Through the Photographer's Eye
Modern architecture is all around us. A lot of it, let’s be honest, can be quite bland and uninspiring. However, even the smallest of towns will often have a standout building, a structure that really draws the eye.
You will note that I am talking more about modern architecture in the context of geometry. The fact is that older, more ornate buildings, whilst often beautiful in their own right, generally do not contain the sharp, defined angles and curves of their more contemporary cousins. They are often brick or stone-built and restricted by the limitations of architectural design and construction of the time.
In the last, perhaps 30 years, modern architecture has become a geometric nirvana. Modern CAD techniques and advanced materials have allowed architects to produce ever more stunning buildings, curves and angles, glass and steel, all fine elements for those of us seeking geometrical shots.
Our aim in shooting the geometry of architecture is to capture these complex three-dimensional designs in a two-dimensional medium.
Harnessing Strong Composition in Geometry
There are two powerful compositions that work really well in geometric architecture: leading lines and converging parallels.
Skyscrapers often have sharp, well-defined outlines that draw the eye to the top. Often there might be some architectural feature on the facade that can be positioned to hold the eye from exiting the top of the image.
In city centres, there may well be several modern skyscrapers in close proximity. Pointing the camera straight up here will allow you to create a juxtaposition between the man-made and the sky.
A good wide or even ultra-wide lens is the key in these types of shots. You can exaggerate the distance between your position and the tops of the buildings, making them “tower” over the camera position. A smaller aperture will help, f/8 or f/11, allowing the building(s) to be in focus from bottom to the very top.
Using Shapes And Depth In Modern Architectural Photography
One thing that often contrasts modern architecture with older buildings is the depth and variety of shapes.
Older buildings tend to be flat, almost two-dimensional. A facade, windows, and doors. Modern architecture, on the other hand, often has multiple facades, set back from each other.
These are often combined with complex geometrical shapes, for example the pyramidal roof of an atrium or a long sweeping curved facade. These details are a smorgasbord of visual creativity for architectural photographers.
The sheer variety of building materials in modern buildings also gives us many geometrical references. The obvious one being glass and steel, the lattice-like shell of steel covered in huge sheets of glass in multiple directions is a feature of many modern buildings. But we also have the use of traditional stones like granite, perhaps contrasted with local woods, along with other materials that give interesting juxtaposition to our geometry.
Shoot The Detail!
The key to getting great geometrical shots in modern architecture is to look for the detail. Walk up close to the building, look for the angles in the structure, look at the way the building’s material works together. Look for colour and light contrasts, or even the juxtaposition of straight lines with curves.
As well as the aforementioned wide lens, a moderate telephoto would be a great addition when shooting this style of architecture. By their very nature, modern buildings are often clustered together, and you will need to get close to the edifice. This negates the use of longer telephotos, so something like an 85mm will be ideal. It will allow you to maintain the look of the building’s geometry without overly exaggerating it.
Light And Colour In Architectural Geometry
The bedrock of good photography is the use of light, shade and colour to add definition and depth to our images. As mentioned, much modern architecture has various levels of depth; however, without good light, any images will still look flat. To capture the geometry of modern architecture well, we are going to need light and shade. This can be the natural light of the sun, or perhaps the artificial light of night when the building is lit up.
Low sun pre and post-golden hours is a good time to shoot. Long, softer shadows and more golden light lend themselves to bringing out the depth and textures of buildings. The middle of the day can work in bright sunshine, but you will get much harsher and more defined shadows. This is actually a good time for black and white.
The best time to shoot architectural geometry in artificial light is the evening blue hour. The lights of the building will be on, yet there will still be some natural light left in the sky, should you choose to use it in your composition. The architects of modern buildings often put a lot of thought into how a building is lit at night, and this can pay dividends for photographers. You will often get different styles, types and colours of lighting, allowing you to integrate them into your compositions. Shooting raw will help with the inevitable white balance nightmares of multiple light sources.
Modern architecture is all around us. A lot of it is dull, but every town has something that stands out. Whilst the temptation is often to shoot the building whole, getting in close, picking angles, geometry and symmetry will open even more creative possibilities. What’s more, it doesn’t require specialist lenses or cameras; it often doesn’t require tripods (sometimes a thorny issue in and near modern buildings). In short, it provides a plethora of photographic opportunities without the need for extensive planning.
