Architectural Photography, 3rd Edition, 3rd Edition

Architectural Photography, 3rd Edition, 3rd Edition

by Adrian Schulz
Released July 2015
Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781681980010

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

Architectural photography is more than simply choosing a subject and pressing the shutter-release button; it’s more than just documenting a project. An architectural photograph shows the form and appeal of a building far better than any other medium. With the advent of the digital photographic workflow, architects, real estate firms, and interior designers are discovering exciting new opportunities to present and market their work.

But what are the ingredients for a successful architectural photograph? What equipment do you need? How can you improve your images in the digital darkroom? Why does a building look different in reality than it does in a photograph? In this book you will find the answers to these questions and much more.

Author Adrian Schulz—an architect and photographer by training—uses real-world projects to teach you how to:

  • Capture outstanding images of buildings, inside and out
  • Choose the right equipment and use it effectively
  • Compose architectural shots
  • Work with ambient and artificial light
  • Process images in an efficient workflow based on Adobe Photoshop

This book is a step-by-step guide to architectural photography for both the aspiring amateur photographer interested in architectural photography and the professional photographer who wants to expand his skills in this domain. Moreover, architects themselves will find this book motivating and inspiring. This third edition has been extensively revised and includes 90 new images and illustrations. Updates include information on topics such as:

  • Photographic technology, including digital cameras, lens quality and construction, and large format cameras
  • Shooting techniques
  • The real life of a professional architectural photographer
  • Traveling
  • Analog to digital shooting
  • Stadium photography
  • Image Processing, including screenshots from the latest image-processing software such as Adobe Photoshop CC

With this book, you’ll learn a variety of creative tips, tricks, and guidelines for making the perfect architectural image.

Publisher resources

View/Submit Errata

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Table of Contents
  6. 1 Introduction
    1. 1.1 What Is Architectural Photography?
    2. 1.2 The History of Architectural Photography
      1. 1.2.1 Early History
      2. 1.2.2 The Invention of Photography
      3. 1.2.3 The Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
    3. 1.3 Authenticity in Architectural Photos
    4. 1.4 Forms of Architectural Photography
  7. 2 Camera Technology
    1. 2.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Cameras
      1. 2.1.1 The Number and Availability of Images
      2. 2.1.2 Resolution and Tonal Range
      3. 2.1.3 Image Noise and the “Look” of an Image
      4. 2.1.4 Image Artifacts
      5. 2.1.5 Lens Quality
      6. 2.1.6 Digital Image Processing
      7. 2.1.7 Image Authenticity
      8. 2.1.8 Archiving Images
    2. 2.2 The Camera
      1. 2.2.1 Types of Digital Cameras
        1. Digital Compacts and Bridge Cameras
        2. Four Thirds, APS-C, and DX DSLRs
        3. Analog and Digital Full-Frame Cameras
        4. Mirrorless Cameras
        5. Analog and Digital Medium Format Cameras
        6. Large Format Cameras
      2. 2.2.2 Conclusions Regarding Cameras
    3. 2.3 Lenses
      1. 2.3.1 Reproduction Characteristics
      2. 2.3.2 Focal Length
      3. 2.3.3 Tilt/Shift Lenses
    4. 2.4 The Perfect Camera/Lens Combination for Every Budget
    5. 2.5 Accessories
      1. 2.5.1 Tripod
      2. 2.5.2 Tripod Head
      3. 2.5.3 L-Bracket and Panorama Head
      4. 2.5.4 Remote Release
      5. 2.5.5 Lens Hoods
      6. 2.5.6 Filters
      7. 2.5.7 Lens Adapters
      8. 2.5.8 Grid Focusing Screens
      9. 2.5.9 Memory Cards
      10. 2.5.10 Batteries
      11. 2.5.11 Flash
      12. 2.5.12 Other Accessories
    6. 2.6 Creative Tips and Tricks
      1. 2.6.1 Lensbaby Lenses
      2. 2.6.2 Black-and-White Film
      3. 2.6.3 Fixed Focal Length Lenses
  8. 3 Shooting Techniques
    1. 3.1 What Makes a Great Architectural Photo?
    2. 3.2 The Role of Architecture as a Photographic Subject
      1. 3.2.1 What Types of Architecture Make Suitable Subjects?
      2. 3.2.2 Learning to See
    3. 3.3 Perspective
      1. 3.3.1 The Importance of Vanishing Points
    4. 3.4 Converging Verticals
      1. 3.4.1 How to Avoid Converging Verticals in Your Photos
      2. 3.4.2 How Do Tilt/Shift Lenses Work?
    5. 3.5 Camera Standpoint
      1. 3.5.1 The Ideal Subject Distance
      2. 3.5.2 The Effects of Viewpoint on Perspective
      3. 3.5.3 Standpoint and Surroundings
      4. 3.5.4 Standpoint and Symmetry
      5. 3.5.5 Spatial Depth
    6. 3.6 The Effects of Focal Length
      1. 3.6.1 Long Focal Length Lenses
      2. 3.6.2 Short Focal Length Lenses
      3. 3.6.3 Increasing the Angle of View Using Panorama Techniques
    7. 3.7 Image Formats
      1. 3.7.1 Extreme Formats and Panorama Images
      2. 3.7.2 Image Orientation
    8. 3.8 Composition and Framing
      1. 3.8.1 Composition
      2. 3.8.2 Composition and a Subject’s Surroundings
        1. Stationary Image Elements
        2. People and Other Moving Objects
      3. 3.8.3 Selective Framing
    9. 3.9 Camera Settings
      1. 3.9.1 Shutter Speed
      2. 3.9.2 Aperture
      3. 3.9.3 ISO Sensitivity
      4. 3.9.4 Exposure
      5. 3.9.5 Using Bracketing Sequences to Create HDR or DRI Images
    10. 3.10 Using Filters
    11. 3.11 Interior Architectural Photography
      1. 3.11.1 Interior Subjects
      2. 3.11.2 Perspective and Standpoint
      3. 3.11.3 Focal Length
      4. 3.11.4 Image Formats
      5. 3.11.5 Framing and Composition
      6. 3.11.6 Camera Settings and Lighting
    12. 3.12 External Factors That Influence a Shoot
      1. 3.12.1 The Perfect Moment
      2. 3.12.2 Shadows and Reflections
      3. 3.12.3 The Effects of Weather
      4. 3.12.4 The Sky and Clouds
      5. 3.12.5 Choosing the Right Time of Day
      6. 3.12.6 The Effects of the Seasons
    13. 3.13 Creative Tips and Tricks
      1. 3.13.1 Extreme Framing
      2. 3.13.2 Shooting Upwards
      3. 3.13.3 Image Sequences
      4. 3.13.4 Extreme Use of Reflections
      5. 3.13.5 Selective Over- and Underexposure
      6. 3.13.6 “Before and After” Views
      7. 3.13.7 Fake Miniatures
    14. 3.14 Solutions to Common Problems
  9. Comments by Marcus Bredt
  10. 4 Image Processing
    1. 4.1 Digital Image Formats
      1. 4.1.1 What Is RAW?
      2. 4.1.2 The Differences Between JPEG and RAW
      3. 4.1.3 The Advantages of Shooting in RAW Format
      4. 4.1.4 Disadvantages of Shooting in RAW Format
      5. 4.1.5 Conclusions
    2. 4.2 RAW Conversion
      1. 4.2.1 A Typical RAW Processing Workflow
    3. 4.3 Post-processing
      1. 4.3.1 Image Adjustments
        1. Workflow: Image Adjustments
      2. 4.3.2 In-depth Processing: Selective Adjustments to Contrast & Brightness
        1. Workflow: Selective Contrast and Brightness Correction
    4. 4.4 Panoramas
      1. 4.4.1 Creating a Planar Panorama
        1. Workflow: Creating a Planar Panorama Using Hugin
        2. Workflow: Creating a Planar Panorama Using Photoshop
      2. 4.4.2 Shift Panoramas
        1. Workflow: Creating a Shift Panorama Using Photoshop
    5. 4.5 HDR and DRI Images
      1. 4.5.1 Workflow: Creating an HDR Image Using Photomatix Pro
      2. 4.5.2 Workflow: DRI Processing in Photomatix Pro
      3. 4.5.3 Workflow: Creating an HDR Image Using Photoshop
      4. 4.5.4 Workflow: DRI Processing in Photoshop
    6. 4.6 Creative Tips and Tricks
      1. 4.6.1 Digital Graduated Filters
      2. 4.6.2 Creating HDR Effects Using a Single RAW Source Image
      3. 4.6.3 Converting Images to Black-and-White Using Photoshop
      4. 4.6.4 Creating Fake Miniatures Using Photoshop
  11. Acknowledgements

Product information

  • Title: Architectural Photography, 3rd Edition, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Adrian Schulz
  • Release date: July 2015
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781681980010