My shot at Archittecture :/

[Dan Cattermole]

To be honest guys.
I'm right out of my element when it comes to architecture, for Mr Bradley this may be a bit of a giggle. lol.
Those from Worcestershire may recognise this building.....MAZAK.
Thought I'd give it an extra twisit with some selective colouring but not sure if it works
Anyway guys, I'm most certainly up for some critism on these shots. I haven't got the right lens for these type of shots though.
What are your thoughts on these guys?

Thanks for looking

 

[Brian Moore]

I like 3 and 4 a lot, Dan. The abstract nature of 3 and the composition of 4. Very nice.

 

[Dave Moss]

I like 1 and 3 very nice

 

[Chris Dodkin]

#3 - very nice abstract - good tines especially with that highlight pop

#4 - got to love a pano crop of anything! Gold tones are very nice, especially with that cross illumination - looks very metallic

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Thanks guys
I went out there this morning. the only thing I was disappointed with (which was well beyond my control) was the condensation on the building but I wouldn't of expected any different in November. lol

 

[Hamish Gill]

It's all about no.3 for me! Great shot, perfect angle I think!

 

[Darren Bradley]

It's a fine attempt and I especially like the abstract (#3). I also really like the tones of the sunlight reflecting off the building on the first and last ones.

If you're looking for suggestions, I can give you a few pointers of how I'd do this:
- Perspective - It's certainly not necessary to show with corrected perspectives. But if you don't, then I recommend that you deliberately exaggerate the keystone effect (that look where the walls look like they're falling away from you). The way to do that would be to get up next to the building and close to the ground, angled upward. If you do want to keep the verticals straight and don't have a tilt-shift lens (or PP software like lightroom), the way to do that is to just make sure you're holding your camera completely level at 90 degrees (i.e. don't tilt it upwards). Your lines will be straight but if you're too close to the building, you'll cut off the top of it and get too much of the ground. So you'll have to back up a bit and then crop later.

- Straight vs. Crooked: shooting a building at an angle can be a great way to showcase it - especially if you're taking a detail of it. Your shot #3 is a great example of how to do that successfully. But your first and second shots are slightly crooked, leaning to the left (the second one more than the first). I'd rotate the images to make them straight.

- Context: I like to see a little context for the building, to see what's around it and how it interacts with other buildings, sky, landscape, etc. So for example, in shot #1, I'd have backed up a bit and also angled the camera slightly more to the right to perhaps get the sunrise/sunset in the shot. Use the sky to add drama to your shots, because the color variations and clouds provide interest and compliment the building. It's also good to use cars and people to show scale whenever possible. Shooting at a slow shutter speed so they're slightly blurred helps to avoid them becoming the focus of the shot.

Anyway, hope that helps. Don't be discouraged, Dan! I look forward to seeing what you do next. Applying your creativity and style to architectural photography would really be something to see, indeed!

 

[Brian Moore]

Darren,...That's a great little primer on architectural photography! It's a genre I find very interesting but haven't done much of. And I'd like to! Thanks.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Thanks, Brian. Architectural photography is probably a bit more technical and has more "rules" to follow than most kinds, by nature of who the clients are and what its used for. But it's not really more difficult and shouldn't be intimidating.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Darren, I knew I couldn't get any advice better than what you have suggested.
Come to think about it now, if I read your 'article' then went to take the shots, I'm sure things would of looked alot different.
This advice certainly doesn't discourage me at all, in fact it opens another door of ideas and techniques to help me better myself in another aspect of photography. And this is why this forum and the people amongst it are/is truely what I call a 'forum', and not a kindergarten. Lol
I'll bare all that in mind the next time I shoot a building. Many thanks for the help and advice Darren.

 

[Paul Lange]

Really like No 3 Dan as it tells a bit of a story with the condensation, the sun reflection in the window and the water marks from what I guess and overfills dotted about the wall. The angle is nice as well and doesn't give the feel that the photo is wonky.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Darren, would you concider to a reasonably comprehensive architectural photography guide?
Maybe in bits?
No worries if not... I'd just quite like to read it really

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Now that, is an Excellent idea!
I couldn't think of anyone better to do it

 

[Darren Bradley]

Sure guys. Happy to. I'm on business travel on the east coast (of the US) this week and next, though, so not sure when I'll be able to get to it. Soon, I hope!