Architectural Photography Almanac

An Overview of Architectural Photography Awards Contests – Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Work Recognized

Justin SzeremetaFebruary 21, 2022February 21, 2022 3

As architectural photographers, we are not wanting for options to get our work recognized. Awards for architectural photography are abundant, with new contests seemingly popping up each year.

Last year was the first year that I decided to submit some of my work to these competitions. I found the process of looking for and reviewing all the information and criteria for the various contests a bit onerous and time-consuming.

It’s Mezcal Time: Onnis Luque Shares His Experience Photographing a Palenque Mezcalero in Xaagá

Lexi TaciakFebruary 18, 2022February 18, 2022 0

Welcome to Casa Silencio, a boutique hotel and Palenque mezcalero for El Silencio mezcal in Xaagá Mexico. This retreat honors the ancient art and ceremonial process of making mezcal. It lies about 50 minutes outside of Oaxaca, inhabiting a former mezcal production facility that has since been overhauled by Mexico-based architect Alejandro D´Acosta.

Lights On or Off? The Dilemma Continues

Matthew AndersonFebruary 16, 2022February 14, 2022 11

Hatfields VS McCoys. Jets VS Sharks. Scorpion VS Sub-Zero. Lights on VS Light off in your architectural photos. Will these differences ever be resolved?!

In this video, I do a quick breakdown of how different lighting setups affect the editing process and the final image. Lights off, lights on, flash, ceiling bounce – I go over some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

A Behind-The-Scenes Glimpse Into How Design Within Reach Creates Images for Its Products

Justin SzeremetaFebruary 14, 2022February 10, 2022 2

Behind-the-scenes content is some of the most enjoyable and informative to consume in my opinion. I love seeing how other photographers go about their business and find this is a great way to quickly pick up new ways of working that I may be able to incorporate into my own work.

Along those lines, everyone’s favorite modern furniture distributor, Design Within Reach, created a short time-lapse film showcasing how they go about creating their product imagery from the ground up.

Check Out This Peaceful Modern Lake Retreat Photographed By Maxime Brouillet

Lexi TaciakFebruary 11, 2022February 7, 2022 0

Today we are heading to a modern family home on Lake Brome by Atelier Pierre Thibault. Wonderful Project of the Week veteran Maxime Brouillet, whose beautiful style you may remember from his photographs of an angular cabin on the St. Laurence river, has masterfully documeneted this tranquil retreat.

Hall, Merrick, and McCaugherty on the Craft and Business of Architectural Photography

Mike KelleyFebruary 9, 2022February 8, 2022 1

Nick Merrick and Steve Hall have been photographing architecture longer than most readers of this blog have been alive (myself included). When you think of some of the most important architectural projects of the last 100 years, Merrick and Hall have probably been there, creating photographs to share the stories of these projects with the world.

The Road to Success With Photographer Joel Grimes

Rob van EschFebruary 7, 2022February 7, 2022 1

While he isn’t specifically in the architectural or interiors niche, Joel Grimes is an impressive photographer.

His portraits, landscapes, and composite images are of the highest quality. You could think of him as a performer in the Champions League of Photographers (sorry, I am European, so translated for my American friends: the Superbowl).

Laurent Kronental’s Souvenir d’un Futur Project

Lexi TaciakFebruary 4, 2022January 27, 2022 0

This week’s featured project is a truly brilliant series by Parisian photographer Laurent Kronental. Laurent’s series Souvenir d’un Futur documents the lives of senior citizens who live in “Grands Ensembles” (large housing projects) around Paris.

Shot on 4×5 film, Laurent’s photographs are described as “tinted with melancholic, yet brave disenchantment.

Meet Austria Based CGI Artist and Architectural Photographer Christian Pichlkastner

Kyrre SundalFebruary 2, 2022February 2, 2022 3

Meet Vienna’s Christian Pichlkastner – a man who wears many hats. Christian studied as an industrial designer and interior designer. He became a talented CGI artist and is now also an architectural photographer. His expansive knowledge of all of these fields makes him such an interesting person to talk with.

Working While My Wife Tanned in the Sun – The Celebrity Edge

Matthew AndersonJanuary 31, 2022January 30, 2022 1

I absolutely love cruise vacations! For me, it’s the type of trip where I can mentally check out and worry about little to nothing at all. You have the ability to do as much or as little as you’d like, and on most cruise lines, the guests are treated like royalty. As for the design of the ships themselves, for most of the industry’s existence, it was hard to tell them apart.

Step Inside BlackCliff House With Award-Winning Architectural Photographer Ema Peter

Lexi TaciakJanuary 28, 2022January 17, 2022 3

In 2021, Architizer voted Ema Peter one of the top 5 architectural photography studios in the world. It is easy to see why. She makes stunning image after image and portrays projects in a way that shows the cleverness of the architecture, as well as its use and relation to humanity. One such project that I particularly love is BlackCliff house by Mcleod Bovell.

Meet Architectural Photographer Leonit Ibrahimi from @Creativefields

Kyrre SundalJanuary 26, 2022January 20, 2022 0

Leonit Ibrahimi is an architectural photographer based in Pristina, Kosovo. In this interview, we get into his background and how his path to photography was shaped by creating a massively popular Instagram account @creativefields. Now, Leonit is a professional architectural photographer.

An Unconventional but Fast Method for Color Correction

Rob van EschJanuary 24, 2022January 20, 2022 2

I don’t know how you balance the colors in your images, but here is one thing that I can guess – You are correcting colors differently than I am, and you are doing it differently than you were five years ago in your own workflow.

There are so many tools in Photoshop that keep changing and evolving to help you achieve the right color balance in your images.

Check Out This Contemporary Polish Home as Photographed by Piotr Krajewski

Lexi TaciakJanuary 21, 2022January 10, 2022 1

Today’s featured project takes us to Konin, Poland where we’ll be checking out a contemporary residence by STOPROCENT Architekci called “K House.”

K House was built over a long span of time. It was started in 2012, and after many unforeseen circumstances and changes, it was finally wrapped up in 2021!

You Should Be Charging Licensing Fees for Publication Use of Your Images

Lexi TaciakJanuary 17, 2022January 17, 2022 29

You just wrapped up an amazing shoot and delivered the images to your client, who loves them as always. A week or two later, you’re contacted by a publication asking to use the images in a story they are running.

This is awesome! You’re over the moon and swelling with pride. But wait – what should you charge for publication usage of your photos?

Tuomas Uusheimo is Back on Project of the Week With Stunning Photographs of Helsinki Airport’s Terminal 2 Expansion

Lexi TaciakJanuary 14, 2022January 10, 2022 0

We’re going back to Helsinki with past Project of the Week photographer Tuomas Uusheimo. Last time around, Tuomas showed us the Oodi Library, and today’s featured project shares a very similar shape and style. Like Oodi, the Terminal 2 building expansion of the Helsinki Airport is by ALA Architects.

Meet Adrien Guitard, an Up and Coming French Architectural Photographer

Kyrre SundalJanuary 12, 2022January 12, 2022 6

Adrien Guitard is one of the up-and-coming architectural photographers that has caught my attention. Over the past few years, he has shared some really good projects. Adrien was a trained architect but has switched his career path over to photography.

Kyrre: Hi Adrien! How are you?

Check Out This NFT Primer – Courtesy of Architectural Photographer Peter Molick

Justin SzeremetaJanuary 10, 2022January 10, 2022 0

One of my goals for the new year is to endeavor to figure out what the heck an NFT is, and how, if at all, it could affect or benefit my work as a photographer. As luck may have it, a serendipitous scroll through my Instagram feed led me to a recent article on the subject by one of our favorite photographers here at APAlmanac, our good friend Peter Molick.

Lara Swimmer Makes Gorgeous Photographs of a High Prairie Retreat in Washington

Lexi TaciakJanuary 7, 2022January 7, 2022 0

“This project was all about the landscape and creating a retreat home for an Olympia, WA couple to get lost in the land with their dogs and with birding, which is one of their passions” recounts architectural photographer Lara Swimmer as she shares the story behind her time photographing High Prairie House by EB Architects.

Back Up! One of the Simplest Techniques for Improving Your Work

Justin SzeremetaJanuary 5, 2022January 4, 2022 4

Like all of you, I am constantly trying to push myself to improve as a photographer. Honing our craft is paramount to our continued success and part of the fun of our profession. With that in mind, this year I am looking forward to sharing ideas and techniques that have aided me in my ongoing pursuit of perfection.