Difficult Subjects - Architecture

Difficult Subjects - Architecture

Architectural shots are always a challenge, but given the right approach they can be a joy of design, line, form, tone and detail. The implication is low ISO, tripod, maximum quality, which is true most of the time, but, as always, with the caveat that sometimes we can break the rules to make fantastic images. Architecture is a world also of converging verticals and our eyes are not very fond of converging verticals. We tend to prefer them "corrected", but in fact the converging verticals are absolutely correct and it's all about viewpoint and the angle of the camera in relation to the subject. My "rule of thumb" is to keep the camera back parallel to the building if possible, but if not then do a modest correction in Photoshop (Transform). If that isn't possible, then make sure it looks deliberate and not just sloppy photography.

Time then for a look for some images, and as I've started doing just recently we are in this together and seeing what's there to be chosen for the first time.

Cottage at Lower Largo, converging verticals corrected in Photoshop



Very old archive shot, no correction necessary because of high viewpoint



Salvaged slide from early 1970s, viewpoint from a rooftop in central Manchester



Tyldesley Cemetery Chapel, Vintage Colour, uncorrected



Tyldesley Cemetery Chapel, Bold Monochrome, corrected in Photoshop



Astley Hall, Chorley, corrected in Photoshop



Dunham Cottages, Bold Monochrome, slight correction in Photoshop



Recession, no correction needed



St Ann's Church, Bold Monochrome, corrected in Photoshop



Trafford Centre, no correction



The Brewery Inn, no correction necessary because foreground left in and camera not tilted



Worsley Delph, no correction needed because of high viewpoint and camera not tilted



Manchester Museum, wild and wacky approach and the verticals no longer matter



Ancient Tomes, corrected in Photoshop



Knighshayes, no correction made - to increase sense of looking up at the building



Correct Geometry - The Fisheye lens......



Fisheye Royal Exchange, Manchester



It isn't always necessary to make corrections, it depends what we want, and when we do it isn't always necessary to make a 100% complete correction. Sometimes going too far can look quite artificial. Isn't that the wonder of photography though; there are guidelines and rules of thumb, but ultimately we don't need to feel totally bound by them. Even with formal architecture there can be moments where it all goes out of the window (so to speak) and pure inspiration reigns supreme. I hope to produce something like that one day.