Why Great Architecture (And Photography!) Should Tell a Story – Ole Scheeren’s TED Talk

German architect Ole Scheeren’s TED talk from a few years ago has inspired me both as an architect and a photographer.  Founder and principal of the architecture firm that bears his name, Büro Ole Scheeren, Scheeren’s talk underscores his belief that ‘form follows fiction’ and that buildings must do much more than simply provide form to accommodate functional needs. 

Six Artists to Study for Architectural Photography

Knowing how to accurately represent space as seen by the human eye into a bidimensional media is relatively new. Early art depictions tend to focus on the spiritual and not on a literal representation of the world. Size and proportion of the subjects responded to hierarchy levels.

Architecture and Chill: The Built Space in Films

I must confess that I have never pressed the record button on my camera. Lately, the growing number of video platforms and the demand for architectural video has made me think twice about dabbling in video. Watching or re-watching films paying special attention to the role of architecture is a powerful tool and source of inspiration available to anyone interested in both architectural photography and video.In

Tall Towers and Tilt-Shifts – Which Lens Should You Use?

Do I need a tilt-shift lens to photograph tall buildings?  It’s a question I get a lot.  The quick answer is pretty straightforward.  Do you want to do it professionally?  If so, yes, you need one (actually you need two).  Do you want to do it as a hobby? 

No More Tall Buildings: China Declares an End to the Skyscraper Era

I am absolutely infatuated with tall buildings.  Mike Kelley has his airplanes, I’ve got my skyscrapers.  Or so I thought.  For more than two decades, China (where I am based) has experienced unprecedented growth in the number of constructed high-rise buildings, but alas we may be seeing the end of an era for skyscrapers in the Middle Kingdom. 

Hilla and Bernd Becher: Pioneers of Industrial Landscape Photography

Imagine being on the frontline of the 20th-century transition in the artistic world of photography. From the pristine landscapes captured by Ansel Adams to man-altered landscapes through industry and construction, there was so much changing in the world.

These Videographers Risked Their Lives to Film 1920s New York Skyscrapers

It’s incredible to think about what people in the 1920s went through to put food on the table. The title of this video describes how the men in the film risked their lives to build iconic skyscrapers in New York. The likely truth is that they risked their lives for their families and futures and not for New York itself.

Architecture that Endures: Capturing Shanghai’s Long Museum Six Years On

When it comes to public architecture, photographers are typically tasked with capturing a building prior to it becoming fully operational or occupied.  This makes sense in many ways.  Larger scale architecture can take years of effort to realize, and architecture firms rightfully want to start integrating photos of the building into their marketing efforts as quickly as possible. 

Personal Projects by Two Singaporean Photographers Explore the City-state’s Diverse Heritage and Collective Identity

As the pandemic brought on by COVID-19 rages on, traveling beyond our city limits (or perhaps even our living rooms) remains an unlikely reality, at least in the short term.  Given that many of us are stuck at home, with more free time on our hands than we’re used to, I wanted to share a couple of photographers’ personal projects dedicated to showcasing the role architecture can play in crafting our sense of ‘home.’    

Hey New Photographers, Please Avoid Asking These Questions

When you’re first starting out in the industry, you have a million and two questions racing through your mind. This is great because it shows that you’re interested and looking to learn more! Most teachers will probably tell you that there are no stupid questions.

Beautified China – Kris Provoost Celebrates the Architectural Ambition of a Nation

In his recently published book, Beautified China:  The Architectural Revolution, Belgian photographer Kris Provoost carefully curates dozens of the nation’s most spectacular architectural wonders.  Focused on showcasing iconic projects dating back to the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the book is a photo essay providing an abstracted, stylized glimpse into some of the China’s boldest, most dynamic buildings that collectively make up what Provoost dubs ‘the architectural revolution.’  

Extraordinary Black Architects To Learn About

From the stairs that Rocky Balboa ran in his training montage, to homes of Hollywood celebrities, to some of the most iconic public projects in the world, Black and African American architects have designed many of the architectural icons and integral buildings that we see and use every day.Household

Still Lives: Making Photographs During a Global Pandemic

When you’re obsessed with something, say, architectural photography, you can’t imagine a life without it, so you’re going to find a way to do it no matter what. Even in the midst of a pandemic, even if you have to use an awful camera, even if you just underwent back surgery.In

Gear Advice for Those Just Starting out in Architectural Photography

For those of you that are just starting out in architectural photography, or thinking about joining the industry, you may have a lot of questions. Hopefully, the majority of those questions are about learning how to shoot as opposed to what to shoot with; however, the gear you use does still matter.

Ten Ways to Get the Most out of Your Tripod

Tripods are not the most glamorous bits of gear that many photographers own. In fact, I generally hate using a tripod. Not because it doesn’t produce the results I want, it’s just such a pain to carry around; especially the heavier ones which are also, unfortunately, the more useful ones.
Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!