Fine Art Architectural Photograhers

This thread on LuLa has some fascinating artist/architectural photographers listed. Do some surfing and have some fun.

Why Wide Angle Lenses?

Many newcomers ask why wide angle lenses are used so often in AP. My thinking is:

Question......for what purpose are the architecture photographs? My opinion is that for commercial architectural photography lenses of 24mm for full frame DSLR (a bit wider than 90MM for 4x5) and wider are the norm. The rule of thumb I have expressed and heard my whole career when we were shooting film in $x5 view cameras is that you will take 90% of your images with a 90mm lens. Why? Four reasons really, for example the 90mm gets you close to a building so you can avoid all the crap like telephone poles that surround buildings. Second your eye doesn't remain fixed when you view a large building or interior. You pan the interior or exterior and the wide lens mimics that panning. Third on interiors there is allot of need for very inclusive space in the images, Fourth the perspective distortion that a wide lens introduces creates dynamic forms in an image considered an aesthetic plus in advertising intended images.

If however your interest is art or documentary, like for my personal b&w work, I prefer less wide angle distortion, which screams "I used a wide angle lens". In that case I prefer a 120 on 4x5 (about a 35mm on FF DSLR). My favorite being the Nikkor 120 SW (on 4x5), which will cover an 8x10 offering significant movement potential and doesn't scream wide angle.
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Thanks,
Kirk

Chicago Medium Format Phase One AP workshop.

Announcement from Christopher Barret:

I'm pleased to announce that I'll be teaming up with Jeffrey Totaro this July to teach a 3-day Architectural Photography PODAS (Phase One) right in my own backyard. The event will take advantage of some great Chicago design to focus on exteriors, interiors as well as the post-production side of what Jeff and I do. I'm so looking forward to this! Details to follow.

I've been doing AP for thirty + years and teaching it for twenty. There is always something to be learned. These guys are top notch. Hell, if I was going to be in Chicago at this time I would jump on this workshop.

Discussion on shooting restaurants.

There is a good discussion on shooting restaurants going on Luminous Landscape.

One of my posts:

Seems like there is allot of confusion here between advertising photography where buildings are a secondary subject and the primary purpose is to sell some use of the building verses traditional architectural photography where the building is the sole subject and the intent is to celebrate the creativity of the building designer. Some photographers do both but few do both well as they are completely different visual languages and mind sets. Few people are that versatile. Historically the former has been much better compensated than the later, but better money doesn't mean one is superior or more meaningful than the other. Nor does how many images you make in a day.

I have always been more comfortable and stimulated by the creative motives of traditional architectural photography, because I have a heartfelt love of light on form. Commercially that led me to a focus on architecture, which is essentially and simply just light on form. I believe I understand architects and what drives them and my better architectural photographs demonstrate a profound symbiotic relationship-creative interpretations of architectural design. For me personally there is no higher purpose and I find it immensely satisfying. Personally, I don't find the same shared purpose and comfort with ad agency creatives, though to pay the bills I have waded in that market off and on. But it is just not me and when I have enough architectural photography, I don't touch it despite the money. For those starting out, I personally think it is more important to find your aesthetic passion and that will lead to success however you choose to define it.

Architecture's Modern Marvels

Who are the contemporary masters and what have they done this century that is significant?
Architecture's Modern Marvels

Some great photography too!

David Dillon, Architecture Critic, RIP

David and I worked on a few projects together many years ago. He was very knowledgeable and a mentor of mine. He will be missed. David Dillon