Architecture and Urban Landscapes Fine Art Photography Chapter

Architecture and Urban Landscapes Fine Art Photography Chapter 8

Where It Began • First Photos were of architecture because… it didn’t move and was always there • Charles Negre – 1840 – artist and painter – Paris, used photos for reference for art, but loved so much, became a photographer • Frederick Evans – British – 1890’s to 1920’s, English and French Cathedrals • Eugene Atget, french sailor, 1890’s – 10, 000 images around Paris – started in 40’s - genius

Charles Negre

Frederick Evans

Eugene Atget

Patterns • Look for patterns everywhere • Repetition of elements of art • Line, shape, texture, value, color, space, form • Pattern in brick, design in carpet, window arrangements, • Patterns enrich and strengthens photography by adding visual complexity

Three methods of photographing architecture and urban landscapes 1. The big view 2. The interior view 3. The detail shot

The Big View • Wide angle overall view • Photographer has to be far away or have a wide angle lens. • Wide angle lens gives perspective distortion • Farther away…let distortion • Photographer decision to shoot from straight on or from slightly to the side of the building. • View can see two sides if not from front

The Big View

• Overall shots of whole rooms or focus on smaller details • Create portrait of people who live there or work there or go there • Create indirect portraits of people • Use wide angle lens • Limited in places to put camera • Most look better if all of interior is in focus • May need tripod if low light situation • Different lighting can create different moods Interior Views

The Interior View

The Detail Shot • Ignore the bigger view • Features individual architectural elements of interior and exteriors • A door, steps, columns, carvings, brickwork become subjects • Many interesting details above eye level – may need telephoto

The Detail Shot Exterior

The Detail Shot Interior

Shadows and Reflections • Shadows make interesting subjects • They create lines, shapes and values of an object’s shadow • Early morning and evening create more dramatic shadows • Using reflections from windows is a good way to see skies, trees, and other buildings

Shadows

Reflections

Berenice Abbott (US 1898 -1991)

Career Profile – Dan Forer http: //www. forer. com/danforer. html

Create Your Indirect Portrait