In viewing architecture as a prototype of collective art, architectural photography emerges as the artistic endeavour of capturing the essence of buildings or structures. It involves accurately portraying a building’s design and ensuring that the images are visually appealing to the viewer. An architectural photographer crafts images rather than simply capturing them. It is a sub-genre of the photography discipline where the emphasis is made on capturing photographs of buildings and similar architectural structures that accurately represent their subjects.
Brief History
Architectural photography dates back to 1827, when Nicéphore Niépce captured a still-life view from his window using an exposure of several hours on an asphalt-coated plate. Since lengthy shutter speeds made it impossible to capture moving objects in the early days of photography, architectural subjects became popular due to their static nature. Architectural photography emerged as a respected visual medium by the 1860s, contributing significantly to cultural construction and documentation. As technology upgraded in the early 1900s, photographs became an important element of architectural books and magazines, allowing architects to document their designs and make foreign countries and cultures accessible to the public. The post-war construction world of the ’50s and ’60s saw architectural photographers work with new equipment, film, and techniques to bring back static conventions of picturing architecture. The 1970s saw a change in architectural photographers’ philosophy, focusing more on the activities inside or around the structure and experimentation with other techniques. This boom continued until the end of the 20th century, with digital technology enabling correcting image perspective and distortion, giving architectural photography a twin role as an artistic and documentary medium.
Diverse Approaches in the Field
Exterior Architecture Photograhy
As the name suggests, this type of architectural photography mainly focuses on the outside or exterior of a building. They often convey the project’s story from a macro level of view. It may also emphasise on specifics of a building’s exterior. An effective exterior architectural photograph depicts the layout and surroundings of the building. In the image, it is optional to showcase the entire building but to focus on an important element. Building exteriors receive lots of natural light, making them relatively simple to photograph.
Interior Architecture Photography
Interior photography aims to highlight whatever one wants to convey to their audience through the interior. This might include the furniture, lighting, layout, decorative elements, signage, etc. Styling and lighting are two of the most difficult aspects of this kind of photography. To capture the ideal mood and tell a story, interior architecture photography requires adjusting the lighting and placement of the objects in the space. Every space has a distinct mood and personality, conveying that essence in every shot.
Aerial Photography
One of the most exciting and dynamic ways to document a building’s development is through aerial, architectural photography. Raising awareness through aerial photography is possible for project features that are often challenging to photograph using conventional techniques. Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have created technological opportunities for architecture photographers to capture projects in novel ways that reveal design choices like placement, interaction with the environment, or relationships with neighbouring structures. This kind of photography is also useful for capturing the urban environment, which is made up of a lot of buildings and skylines. It displays the pattern in which the bridges, skyscrapers, and buildings are placed. Skyscrapers can be captured, and their grandeur is brought to light.
Relevance of it today
Architectural photography has become essential in expressing architecture to the masses, showcasing work, studying architecture, and studying how built spaces evolve from construction to use. The increasing use of technology and social media has further aided this growth, allowing people to see extraordinary aspects of buildings and revolutionising the way architecture is perceived today.
Architects today recognise the potential of architectural photography to showcase their buildings as more than just lifeless structures. The medium has become a global platform for showcasing ideas and designs, allowing for comparisons and understanding of building styles worldwide. It also captures time, allowing for a deeper understanding of the building’s lifespan and the influences of culture and environment on its design. Photographing structures during construction also holds significance, telling the story of their origins, design evolution, and the materials and people involved in the process. This documentation aspect has been the main reason for the boom of architectural photography, and it continues to be a crucial aspect of the practice.
The use of photography has remained relatively unchanged throughout history, with techniques and tools evolving to make it more affordable, flexible, and allowing for experimentation. This has not only accentuated the beauty of structures but also connected them to their function beyond their build form. The future of architectural photography is promising, as the use of modern gadgets and software will lead to a new branch of photography with unlimited scope for professionals to explore new building forms, materials, and techniques. Therefore it is crucial to research different facets of architectural photography and their impact on the perception of architecture. Also, it will enable a deeper understanding of how people perceive architectural works while also keeping ahead of emerging trends and innovations within the discipline.
References:
- Wilkinson, T. (2015). The polemical snapshot: architectural photography in the age of social media. [online] Architectural Review. Available at: https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/photography/the-polemical-snapshot-architectural-photography-in-the-age-of-social-media.
- Scholarworks@uark, S. and Kimberlin, A. (2014). Photography as a Tool for Discovery and Analysis In the Photography as a Tool for Discovery and Analysis In the Architectural Design Process Architectural Design Process. [online] Available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=archuht [Accessed 23 Jun. 2023].
- Team, N.F.I. (2021). Architecture Photography – Everything You Need to Know. [online] NFI. Available at: https://www.nfi.edu/architecture-photography/.
- www.archdaily.com. (2023). Aerial Photography | Tag | ArchDaily. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/tag/aerial-photography [Accessed 24 Jun. 2023]
- Bumb, S. (n.d.). Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Has Architectural Photography Changed the Way Architecture is Perceived Today? International Journal of Science and Research. [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.21275/SR201221000957.
Harvard Citation Style Guidelines
To generate citation, please use: https://www.citethisforme.com/cite/website/autocite.
Harvard citation style is a parenthetical referencing system consisting two main components:
- In-text citations are an author-date system that includes the author’s surname and the year of publication—both should be shown in brackets wherever another source has contributed to your work/ idea. And, if necessary, the page numbers are included in the parenthetical citations.
For example: (Joyce, 2008).
- A reference list outlining all of the sources directly cited in your work.
For adding the references in Harvard Style at the end of your article, paste the URL in any of the following sites:
https://www.citethisforme.com/citation-generator/harvard;
https://www.mybib.com/tools/harvard-referencing-generator;
And then you can copy-paste the citation generated here in your REFERENCES LIST at the end of your article.
For better understanding, follow through with the points mentioned below:
- Books
Citations for books with one author:
Last name, first initial. (Year). Title. Edition (if not the first edition of the book). City of publication: Publisher.
For example:
Davis, B. (2013). A History of Chocolate. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.
Davis, B. (2013). A History of Chocolate. 3rd ed. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.
Citations for books with two or three authors:
Last name, first initial., Last name, first initial., and Last name, first initial. (Year). Title. City of publication: Publisher.
For example:
Jones, F. and Hughes, S. (2006). Eating Out: A Definitive Restaurant Handbook. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.
Citations for books with four or more authors:
Last name, first initial., Last name, first initial., Last name, first initial., and Last name, first initial. (Year). Title. City of publication: Publisher.
For example:
James, P., Croft, D., Levin, S. and Doe, A. (1998). How to Succeed in the Restaurant Industry. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.
- Articles
Citations for Print Journals:
Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Journal name, Volume (Issue), Page/s.
For example:
Jenkins, O. (1996). Unusual Recipes and Cantonese Cuisine. Culinary Research, Volume 5 (8), pp. 47-59.
Citations for Journal Articles accessed on a website or database:
Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Journal name, Volume (Issue), Page/s. Available from: URL. [Accessed: date].
For example:
Jenkins, O. (1996). Unusual Recipes and Cantonese Cuisine. Culinary Research, Volume 5 (8), pp. 47-59. Available at: www.culinaryresearchjournal.com/jenkinsocanteonese [Accessed: 5 June 2016].
Citations for Newspaper Articles – Print or Online:
Last name, First initial. (Year). Article title. Newspaper name, Page/s.
Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Newspaper name, Page/s. Retrieved from: Journal name/ URL if freely available.
For example:
Bell, Y. (2016). Man with unusual tastes eats chalk for breakfast. The Weekly Herald, p. 4.
Lees, P. (2015). Freaky eaters. The Weekly Herald, p.21. Available at: www.theweeklyheraldonline.com/freakyeaters2015 [Accessed 21 June 2016].
Citations for Magazine Articles – Print or Online:
Last name, First initial. (Year). Article title. Magazine name, volume number, Page/s.
Last name, First initial. (Year, Month Day). Article Title. Magazine name, [online] Page/s. Retrieved from: URL
For example:
Ilkes, J. (2006). Five Ways to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables. Healthy Lifestyles, (12), pp. 34-36.
Ilkes, J. (2009, September 20). Why Dried Fruit is a Diet Staple. Healthy Lifestyles. Retrieved from: www.healthylifestylesmag.com/driedfruitilkes2009
- Online sources
Citations for websites:
Author/Source if no specific author (Year). Title of web document/page. [online]. (Last updated: if this information is available). Available at: URL [Accessed date: Day/Month/Year].
For example:
HealthTips (2015). Superfoods and where to find them. [online]. (Last updated 20 May 2015). Available at: www.healthtipsarticles.com/superfoodsandwheretofindthem [Accessed 20 June 2016].
Citations for emails:
Sender’s last name, First initial. (Year). Subject Line of Email. [email].
For example:
James, D. (2016). New business plan for McDowells. [email].
Citations for Social Media:
Last name of author, First initial. (Year). Title of page [Social media format]. Day/month/year written. Available from: URL. [Accessed: Day/Month/Year].
For example:
Proud, F. (2014). Food lovers group [Facebook]. Written 5 June 2014. Available from: www.facebook.com/foodloversgroupproudf2014 [Accessed 25 September 2016].
- Images/visual mediums
Citations for films/videos/DVDs:
Full Title of Film/Video/DVD. Year of release. [Type of medium]. Director. Country of Origin: Film studio or maker. (Any other relevant details).
For example:
The World’s Best Curries. (2011). [Film]. Directed by J. Hertz. U.K: Foodie Studios.
Citations for YouTube videos:
Username of contributor. (Year). Video Title, Series Title (if relevant). [type of medium]. Available at: URL. [Accessed: Day/ Month/ Year].
For example:
Yummydishes. (2012). Egg custard – simple recipe!, Baking 101. [YouTube video]. Available at: www.youtube.com/yummydisheseggcustard [Accessed 13 June 2016].
Citations for broadcasts:
Series title and episode name/number. (Year). [Year of broadcast]. Broadcasting organisation and channel, date and time of transmission.
For example:
World Kitchen: Nigeria, episode 5. (2011). [Broadcast 2011]. BBC 1, first transmitted 30 July 2011, 20:00.
Citations for images/photographs – Print or Online:
Last name of artist/photographer, first initial (if known). (Year of production). Title of image. [type of medium] (Collection Details if available – Document number, Geographical place: Name of library/archive/repository).
For example:
Hewer, D. (1995). Women enjoying a cup of tea. [Photograph]. (Document number 345, London: Food Photography Library).
Citations for maps:
Map maker’s name. (Year of issue). Title of map. Map series, sheet number, scale. Place of publication: publisher.
For example:
SpeedyQuest maps. (2003). Map of Biddiford. Local Maps, sheet 5, scale 1:50000. Nottingham: Local Publications.
Citations for podcasts:
Broadcaster/author’s name. (Year). Programme title, series title (if relevant). [type of medium] date of transmission. Available at: URL [Accessed date: Day/Month/Year].
For example:
Yummydishes. (2015). Innovative Baking, Innovative Food. [Podcast]. Transmitted 16 October 2015. Available at: www.foodiepodcasts.com/yummydishesinnovativebaking [Accessed: 17 April 2016].
- Other source types
Citations for reports:
Organisation/author. (Year). Full title of report. Place of publication: Publisher.
For example:
Marks and Spencers. (2014). A report on the sales of ‘2 Dine for £10’. London: M&S Publications.
Citations for dissertations:
Last name of author, first initial. (Year). Title of dissertation. Level. Official name of university.
For example:
Neath, G. (1998). An examination of Mexican food in popular culture. Masters level. Oxford Brookes University.
Citations for interviews:
Last name of interviewer, first initial, and last name of interviewee, first initial. (Year). Title/description of interview.
For example:
Ferman, H. and Bill, O. (2004). Discussing cooking.
Citations for presentations/lectures:
Last name of author, first initial. (Year). Presentation/lecture title.
For example:
Yates, R. (2008). The benefits of herbs.
Citations for music:
Performer/writer’s last name, first initial. (Year). Recording title. [Medium]. City published: music label.
For example:
Luce, F. (1996). Delicious. [CD Recording]. Nottingham: Delectable Music.
Citations for computer programs/software:
Name of software/program. (Year). Place/city where software was written: Company/publisher.
For example:
RecipeGen. (2008). Nottingham: Delectable Software.
