Justin Szeremeta (Page 2) | Architectural Photography Almanac

The Simple Way I Deal with Sun Flare Using Canon’s 17mm Tilt-Shift Lens

by Justin Szeremeta September 15, 2021September 7, 2021 3

There’s a reason Canon’s 17mm TS-E tilt-shift lens has a dedicated spot in so many of our bags. When space is limited, it can be a lifesaver for us architectural photographers. Whether it’s photographing a bathroom in a tight space, or a high-rise building in a dense urban city center, this lens has proven invaluable to me on many occasions.

‘Footprint: Where the Towers Stood’ – A Film by Sara Newens About New York City’s National September 11 Memorial

by Justin Szeremeta September 9, 2021September 7, 2021 0

As we approach the twentieth anniversary of the attacks carried out on September 11th, 2001, I continue to be affected by the ability of architecture to encourage the public’s memory to endure and, in the best examples, help them heal as well. The National September 11 Memorial in New York City is one such example.

Gear Overload: A Glimpse Inside Shanghai’s Legendary Photography Market

by Justin Szeremeta August 9, 2021August 4, 2021 1

One of the many reasons I have enjoyed being an ex-pat in Asia is the abundance of markets you can find throughout the region. Whether it’s the textile markets in India, or the fish markets of Japan, or the floating markets found in Southeast Asia, they make commerce fun, and visiting one is a great way to get a glimpse of the local culture, its people, and the items they cherish.

The Inextricable Bond Between the Olympics and its Architecture

by Justin Szeremeta August 4, 2021August 4, 2021 0

It’s (finally) Olympics time again, and you know what that means – it’s time to talk Olympics venue architecture – a topic fraught with divergent opinions on whether or not it makes sense to hold the games (and thus house said games) in a different city every couple of years.

The Story of an Image – GMP’s Bund SOHO

by Justin Szeremeta July 14, 2021July 6, 2021 2

This edition of Story of an Image is not necessarily a showcase of how you should go about creating a beautiful image, but rather an exercise in being resourceful if you ever find yourself unprepared and without the proper tools. This is the story of a somewhat random outing in Shanghai which led to the creation of one of my favorite images I have ever taken.

Rural Studio: Love Stories – A Documentary by Filmmaker Dave Anderson and Photographer Tim Hursley

by Justin Szeremeta July 7, 2021July 6, 2021 0

With Independence Day in America having just passed, I was feeling nostalgic when considering what I wanted to share with our audience this month. I decided to go back to my academic roots. Being from the South, I recalled how nearby Auburn University’s Rural Studio, and in particular its visionary co-founder, Samuel ‘Sambo’ Mockbee, were so inspirational to me during my architecture studies way back when.

Eames: The Architect and the Painter

by Justin Szeremeta June 23, 2021June 21, 2021 0

Icons of the modernist movement, Charles and Ray Eames, taught us to see the world differently. “Eventually, everything connects – people, ideas, objects…the quality of the connections is the key to quality” Charles Eames famously stated. Over their remarkable career, the Eames cultivated a design process where ‘learning by doing’ was their mantra and who vowed to never to delegate understanding.

Shanghai Undressed – Exposing the Mega-City’s Skyscrapers in Their Natural Habitat

by Justin Szeremeta June 14, 2021June 8, 2021 4

Shanghai is known for its glitz and glamor – a showpiece city exemplifying China’s thriving economy and emergence as a global superpower. Its iconic skyline defines the city internationally and, compared to some of its ancient counterparts, many of which have rich histories dating back thousands of years, Shanghai is a Chinese city that is sometimes thought of as having little history at all.

Partner Up! A Case for Separating Responsibility and Why I Could Not Imagine Building a Photography Business Alone

by Justin Szeremeta May 24, 2021May 18, 2021 2

For those of us who came to photography after already working in another profession, we know how liberating a feeling it is to finally free yourself from your original job to pursue your passion. Why not take that a step further, and truly zero in and direct all your energy into what it is you enjoy most.

DJI’s Latest Drone Release – The DJI Air 2S

by Justin Szeremeta May 12, 2021May 12, 2021 3

In the middle of last month, Chinese tech company DJI made somewhat of a surprise announcement when they unveiled a new drone – the DJI Air 2S. This unexpected upgrade brings with it a larger, 1-inch sensor able to capture 20-megapixel images and record in 5.4k – specs previously reserved only for larger drones.

The Story of an Image – Woods Bagot’s Guohua Financial Center in Chongqing

by Justin Szeremeta April 26, 2021April 20, 2021 0

The second installment of my recently created Story of an Image series takes us to the western Chinese city of Chongqing – a massive, uninhibited metropolis that most people outside China may not have even heard of. While my previous article took you through my thought process for a non-commissioned portfolio capture, this time we’re on the clock working for global design firm, Woods Bagot, tasked with photographing both the exterior as well as the interior public areas of their Guohua International Financial Center project.

Harmonizing Visuals for Kengo Kuma – A Short Animation by Brick Visual

by Justin Szeremeta April 12, 2021April 5, 2021 0

I have always viewed architectural visualization and architectural photography as two sides of the same coin. They bookend the architectural representation process, the former being created at the very outset, while the latter wraps up the project’s design and construction journey.

Elevation – How Drones Will Change Cities – A Documentary by Dezeen

by Justin Szeremeta March 10, 2021March 2, 2021 1

While I continue to wait (now, somewhat impatiently) for DJI to release the latest edition of their Mavic Pro series, I thought I’d share a video Dezeen produced about the impact drones will have (or perhaps already are having) on our lives and the way we relate to each other across space and the cities we live in.

No Clients? No Worries! This is How to Put Together an Architectural Photography Portfolio on Your Own

by Justin Szeremeta March 3, 2021March 2, 2021 13

So you’ve made the decision to pursue your passion for photographing architecture. Fantastic news! Your dreams of hopping from one beautiful building to another, capturing it as only you can, and getting paid for it are about to come true. But you’ve got one major problem – you don’t have any clients.

Sanjog Mhatre Captures Mumbai’s Growing Cityscape, Culminating in His Recent Shoot for The World Towers by Lodha

by Justin Szeremeta February 22, 2021February 23, 2021 0

Sanjog Mhatre is an architecture photographer based in India. Now based in the country’s second-most populous city, Mumbai, Sanjog has at the ripe age of only 23 years, already photographed dozens (132 to be exact!) of the tallest and most significant buildings in this supercity of 20 million people.

Portfolio Tips Through the Eyes of an Architect – Courtesy of BlessedArch

by Justin Szeremeta February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 2

Recently I came across a portfolio review video from Rishabh Wadhwa’s YouTube channel, BlessedArch. Together with Mariana Cabugueira Custodio dos Santos, a Portuguese architect working for Zaha Hadid Architects in London, they review and critique architectural portfolios.

Architecture Versus Photography as a Profession: 5 Takeaways a Year After the Transition

by Justin Szeremeta January 11, 2021January 6, 2021 12

A year after transitioning from architecture to architectural photography full-time, I wanted to share some initial thoughts comparing and contrasting the two professions. Hopefully, this will resonate with others who have, or are considering, making a similar sort of career transition.

2020 is Now (Thankfully) a Thing of the Past – Here Are the World’s Biggest Upcoming Projects to Get you Motivated for 2021

by Justin Szeremeta January 6, 2021January 6, 2021 1

Let’s face it, 2020 was rough. And while the new year will by no means see a complete return to anything resembling normal – there are certainly reasons to be hopeful. Vaccines are already beginning to be distributed in many countries and, more specific to our line of work, the construction industry seems to be picking back up.

Filmmaker Hao Chen Brings Us the Sights and Sounds of the Breathtaking Alila Yangshuo

by Justin Szeremeta December 14, 2020December 7, 2020 0

What do you get when you bring together a hotel brand known for producing design excellence to traditionally less-traveled locales, a gorgeous, geographically-unique location, and an architecture firm known for designing some of the most extraordinary cultural buildings in the world’s most populous country?

The Story of an Image – SOM’s Sinar Mas Plaza in Shanghai

by Justin Szeremeta December 7, 2020December 7, 2020 12

As I continue to mature as a photographer, I am finding that I learn most from fellow peers who share a more in-depth analysis about a single image – taking us through their thought process in how they constructed the image and why they chose a certain composition or a particular way to light the scene.