Using people in architectural photography

[Darren Bradley]

Here are a few examples of using people to make a project come alive, from a series I did for the developer who built this house:







Note, it's especially useful when trying to show scale:

 

[Pete Askew]

Nice to see you back again and really useful feedback and information / examples. Even though I'm very definitely a European, I fall more into the contextual camp than the abstract, unless it really is an abstract / detail shot. I have a similar feeling about wildlife photography and prefer to see the pond around the duck than just the duck!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Cheers, Pete! Good to see you, as well! Thanks for the note!

 

[John Holland]

Excellent example, Darren. Are you using a tilt-shift lens for these images?

 

[Brian Moore]

Brilliant idea to get on the roof of that house, Darren.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Excellent example, Darren. Are you using a tilt-shift lens for these images?

Yes, all of those photos were taken using tilt-shift lenses - either a 24 or a 17, most likely. Thanks.

 

[Darren Bradley]

What I typically do is frame a shot and then sit and wait for people to come into the frame...

 

[Darren Bradley]

They don't always arrive on foot...

 

[Brian Moore]

Haha. Excellent!

 

[Darren Bradley]

And you never know what's going to pass through your frame...

 

[Pete Askew]

That Daniel Craig gets everywhere!

Interesting that you seem to be using more square framing than I recall. Still shooting with Canon though?

 

[Brian Moore]

That could be an advertising picture!

 

[Darren Bradley]

People are so important for scale...

 

[Darren Bradley]

Interesting that you seem to be using more square framing than I recall. Still shooting with Canon though?

The square framing is generally the result of stitching two horizontals together on a TS lens. It's also the standard format for Instagram, where I post most of my work... ;-)

 

[Darren Bradley]

same rules apply to interiors, as well... at least for me.

 

[Darren Bradley]

This shot would be a lot less interesting without the person in it.

 

[Brian Moore]

How did you manage to be on the escalator AND shelving books?

 

[Darren Bradley]

How did you manage to be on the escalator AND shelving books?

 

[Paul Lange]

Really liked looking at these and some really nice ideas. Got my brain ticking anyhow.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Really liked looking at these and some really nice ideas. Got my brain ticking anyhow.

Thanks, Paul !