Architecture photography - need advice

[aam1234]

My sis & brother-in-law asked me to photo their new house, both inside and outside but mostly outside. Unfortunately I have no clue on how to go about doing that. So would appreciate any hints or suggestions.

I presume one needs a WA lens for that kind of photography (is that correct?), but the widest I have is the 18-55 kit lens.

Again, any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

[photofinish]

Well, I guess that depends on what their goal is. Are they keeping the pics as insurance evidence, examples of decor, or examples of design?

[aam1234]

Thanks photofinish.

They just want to see and enjoy their new house in photos, no other purpose.

[chris.bailey]

18mm on a 1.6 crop is not a bad start, I use a 17-40 for most of mine. Some thoughts.

1) shots from a ladder reduce the converging verticals compared to shots taken at a lower level and present an interesting viewpoint.

2) If 18mm isnt enough, photomerge 6 shots.

3) go for mid morning or mid afternoon sun i.e. not overhead. I often take pics of one side of building mid morning, have a long lunch :lol: and then go back after to take shots of the other side i.e to keep the sun from the back. Strangely the shots I take in the afternoon normally are not as straight as those in the morning. :D

4) Use a CPL to minimise reflections off windows and maximise saturation.

5) some shots at dusk with the lights on inside can be nice.

6) Dress the curtains nicely.

Have fun!

[aam1234]

Thanks Chris. Those were very helpful suggestions.

[steven]

You will only need a wide angle lens if you can not back up enough to capture what you need with some other lens.

The longer the lens the less distortion you will get.

But if you have to use a wide lens there is the option of correcting the distortion in PS.

[aam1234]

Thanks steven.

[aam1234]

The reason for the original question is for composition ideas/suggestions not the technical side (which lens to use...etc).

[Jon]

The reason for the original question is for composition ideas/suggestions not the technical side (which lens to use...etc).

That sorta depends on the setting, doesn't it? Are there shrubs/trees close in? At a distance? Neighborhood eyesores (anything from power lines to cell towers, to the neighbor who's having their house renovated) to work around? Interesting features? The basic compositional ideas are to shoot around the minuses and maximize the plusses. Framing the place with one or more trees (in season) or shrubs will often look nice. Showing that vast array of brown where the lawn hasn't come in won't, which is where the wide angle comes in. Zero in on any interesting features (gargoyles, mouldings, and the like). If there are large window areas, look closely at what they're reflecting before shooting. You obviously want to avoid the smoke from the near-by power plant, but a fire in the fireplace may add a nice touch.

[aam1234]

Now that's help! this is the kind of suggestions I was hoping to get.

Jon, many thanks to you Sir.

[Jon]

Hey, it's easy to answer if you know the question! We tend to focus on the technical around here, so it helps to warn us if that's not what you want!

:{)#

[aam1234]

Will keep that in mind. And apologies for the ambiguous question.

[Jon]

:{)#

Rotate 90 deg. right.

[aam1234]

You need to shave Jon!

[Jon]

. . . not as long as my wife doesn't mind. She hasn't complained in the last 18 or so years . . .