Architecture | Architectural Photography Almanac

‘The Sound of Ink’ – Creative Directors, Beauty and the Bit, Share Their Cinematic Approach to 3D Animation

Justin SzeremetaOctober 18, 2021October 6, 2021 0

Visualizers and renderers get such bad rap within our industry. Whether that stems from a concern of photographers becoming obsolete or simply ignorance on how much talent and skill some of these creatives possess – I really don’t know. For me personally, I continue to be inspired by how the best visualizers in the game keep pushing the envelope, exploring new ways to showcase their clients’ yet-to-be-built projects.

The Story of an Image – Foxconn Shanghai Headquarters by KRIS YAO | ARTECH

Justin SzeremetaOctober 11, 2021October 5, 2021 0

This latest edition of Story of an Image brings us back to Shanghai as we take a look at an image from a commissioned shoot of Foxconn’s Headquarters building designed by KRIS YAO | ARTECH. The spotlighted image ended up being the final piece of a puzzle to placing the building in its context for the viewer.

5 Basics of Architecture Photography

Matthew AndersonSeptember 13, 2021September 7, 2021 0

There a several famous sports-related quotes related to basics and fundamentals, but to paraphrase many of them…to become a highly skilled master of your craft, you have to master the basics. Several years ago when I photographed my first architecture-related job (it was a modest property for a real estate listing), I honestly had no idea what I was doing.

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

Justin SzeremetaSeptember 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.

The Inextricable Bond Between the Olympics and its Architecture

Justin SzeremetaAugust 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 economic and environmental impacts of the games aside, the Olympic Games have given rise to some of the most iconic architecture this planet has ever seen.

The Story of an Image – GMP’s Bund SOHO

Justin SzeremetaJuly 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

Justin SzeremetaJuly 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

Justin SzeremetaJune 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

Justin SzeremetaJune 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.

Attend The 17th Annual Venice Biennale This Summer

Lexi TaciakJune 9, 2021June 9, 2021 0

It’s time for the 17th annual Venice Biennale! May 22nd through November 21st 2021, the Biennale Architettura explores the theme “How Will We Live Together?” can be attended in Venice, Giardini, and Arsenale. The Biennale features international architecture and is curated by Lebanese architect Hashim Sarkisand.

See The Power Structures Exhibition In Person This June

Lexi TaciakJune 1, 2021June 1, 2021 1

Power Structures is a new photographic exhibition co-curated by architectural photographer Luke O’Donovan and architect/urban planner and photographer Francisco Ibáñez Hantke. The exhibition focuses on how socioeconomic and political structures shape the built environment and the far-reaching footprint of urban expansion.

The Benefits of Including People in Architectural Photography

Rob van EschMay 3, 2021April 20, 2021 0

Almost every client of mine asks for the same thing; “let your images show how my spaces are used!”

Architectural photographs must be brought to life. It is something that we photographers have to do subtly because people have to add a ‘usage dimension’ to the image and should not become the main subject.

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

Justin SzeremetaApril 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.

‘You Who Look’ – A James Turrell short Documentary on Light and Perception

Dane AlonsoApril 21, 2021April 20, 2021 2

James Turrell is an American artist recognized for his work with light and space. This LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) produced documentary shares his personal background and experiments with light as a medium that creates spaces and alters perception. It also gives a short virtual tour of his works, from small rooms called Skyspaces to the ongoing project of a naked-eye observatory within an extinct volcano; Roden Crater.

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

Justin SzeremetaApril 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.

Nikola Olic Travels the Globe Crafting Abstract Architectural Images

Lexi TaciakApril 2, 2021March 1, 2021 0

We’re shaking things up this Project of the Week with a very cool series put together by photographer Nikola Olic. Nikola is a Serbian photographer living in Dallas, Texas, and has compiled a project in which architectural photography is combined with “abstract structural quotes that reimagine their subjects in playful, dimensionless and disorienting ways.”

Take A Look Into the Life and Work of Legendary German Designer Dieter Rams

Veeral PatelMarch 22, 2021March 23, 2021 2

Many of my introductions to world-famous designers happened through conversations with friends who are very heavily entrenched in the design sphere. The introduction to Dieter Rams came by way of a friend, John Bastiras, who is perhaps the only person I know who possesses a vast knowledge of Australian architecture in the world of cycling (my other love).

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

Justin SzeremetaMarch 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

Justin SzeremetaMarch 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.

Making A Mountain – A Bjarke Ingels Documentary

Veeral PatelFebruary 26, 2021February 23, 2021 8

I have found Bjarke Ingels to be one of the most fascinating architects who is constantly pushing the envelope in terms of maximizing site potential and what is possible architecturally. Last year, a documentary was released about the design and construction of the world’s cleanest waste-to-energy plant, CopenHill.