Noob Needing Advice For Shooting Buildings

Hi everybody! First post! I've been lurking around for a bit and cant seem to find the answer I'm looking for. I recently purchased a T1i for a trip to NYC/DC and pretty much got hooked on photography, I've been asked by my boss to take pictures of the buildings that we have completed and the future buildings that we are in the process of completing to build a portfolio for our General Construction company. My camera came with the 18-55mm kit, and the 55-250mm kit. I love taking pictures of architecture/landscape and if I have the opportunity to have the "company" expense me for a lens what would you guys/gals recommend? Wide angle ? Fish Eye? do I need a tripod? So many questions... sorry this "hobby" can be overwhelming. Thank you in advance for your advice!

An UWA (ultra wide angle) would be useful for architecture/buildings​, for sure...
when I visited DC and NYC I only had my 17-70mm lens for wide angles and it just wasn't wide enough when shooting large buildings (outside, mainly...though, the UWA is good inside as well).

I've since acquired a Tokina UWA, 11-16mm and it is plenty wide, now...the only problem is, my wife won't let me go back to NYC, again! heheh...but we'll probably visit DC again next Spring.

We also shot Chicago all up (a couple years ago) and that was with the 17-70 since I didn't have the 11-16 then...but Chi-town is only a few hours away, so a guy could visit there pretty much whenever he wanted

A tripod is pretty much a 'must have' if you're doing any indoor shots...outside, as long as it's daytime you can get away with out one...and, in NYC they don't like seeing any tripods on the streets--way too much foot traffic in the Big Apple!

One thing to keep in mind, also, when using wide/UWA lenses, if you point the camera up or down you will have a lot of distortion on your buildings...at times, it can't be helped (especially, in NYC) since the buildings are so tall and you can't back up far enough to shoot with the camera being level...heheh

If you leave enough 'room' on the edges/sides of your frame/composition you can then 'straighten' up the buildings in post-processing (with PS/CS, etc.)...and if you don't leave that extra room at the sides/edges, when you do straighten up your building/s you will end up cutting them off at the sides/edges!

My 'shootin' partner, Bob, shoots wide angle shots with his Canon 10-22mm (I think it goes to 22mm)...I shoot Nikon, so I'm not as familiar with Canon lenses.
He likes his 10-22mm...we've gone downtown in Detroit and shot lots of architecture in the Motor City (but it aint nothin like shootin NYC and DC or Chicago--Detroit is dinky/crappy compared to those towns!)

Good luck and have fun in your new photographic adventures, and we'll be looking for those pics to be posted here, when ya get back with the 'goods'

Jim K.

i'd echo the UWA, i went last month and brought the Sigma 10-20, which done a great job, sharp images and relatively cheap compared to some others. a 50mm 1.8 could also be a great walk about lens and can easily be got for under around £80, and is a great addition to any kit imo. A Tripod could be handy but not overly necessary.

Depending how much time you have, i'd recommend going across the river to New Jersey, if you visit either the Waterfront in Newport/Pavonia (a 2 minute walk from the Path Station), or Jersey State Park (about 20 minute walk down Marin Blvd) you can get some lovely cityscape/skyline shots. Perhaps not strictly what your boss wants, but would be nice shots for your own collection

I've had experience with both the 10-22mm Canon and the Tokina 11-16. Both are good. I shoot mostly architecture, and I prefer the 10-22. The extra focal range is great. The key is to try to get the building as straight as possible. Buildings look best right before dusk. What is your boss going to do with these photos when you are done? Are you strictly documenting, or trying to produce art?