An architectural photographer can create dramatic images of buildings that may not appear so photographic at first glance. Understanding the architectural design and then selecting the angles that best portray the building, combined with critical lighting, which is determined by the time of day, are essential components in fine architectural photography. Many buildings can appear much more dramatic when photographed at dusk or dawn. Exterior lighting on the structure, landscape lighting, and even the atmosphere of city lights can separate the building from its surroundings and create a more visually exciting image than daytime photography could. Another added feature when shooting during this time is that the sky turns a very deep cobalt blue. Twilight photography is also a good way for the architectural photographer to take control of an undesirable weather condition. If the light during the day is not optimal due to clouds, or if the building faces north and needs to be photographed at the time of year when there is no north light, photographing at sunset (dusk or sunrise) can save the day. day. . It is also a useful technique when you need to make a mundane building look more dramatic or to clean up the environment; for example, if the building has undesirable elements around it, or if the landscaping is not yet done.
A hotel or resort photographer will find this technique especially valuable in conveying the atmosphere of the property, especially in heavily touristed areas where there is a “night life” with exotic landscapes, fire pits, illuminated pools, and hot tubs. These areas attract thousands of tourists every week and the hotels and resorts in these areas are very competitive. Photographing these properties at twilight will add an element of life and excitement that can give your hospitality client maximum visual impact for their marketing and advertising.
For the architectural photographer whose client is the architect, this technique of shooting at sunset is especially important when the building has a glass curtain wall, which allows the interior to be seen from the outside. In this scenario, the interior becomes a major compositional element of the exterior view and can be a much more dramatic way of displaying the architect’s entire design. Sometimes the building may have its own exterior lighting, however I usually add my own lights to creatively illuminate the exterior of the building in an interesting way while also accentuating its design.
Twilight architectural photography needs to be well planned, because the optimal exposure time (when indoor exposure and outdoor exposure are within an acceptable range) is only 10-15 minutes. Depending on the circumstances, this may need to be done at dawn rather than dusk; for example, in a situation where there is heavy traffic or when shooting in a busy city. Shooting at sunrise is a bit more inconvenient, because it will require a very early setup, at least an hour before sunrise. It is also imperative that special arrangements be made with the building engineer to ensure that all lights in the building, both inside and out, are on and remain on. New buildings are designed to be energy efficient and I find that I often need someone to enter the building, go in and out of the offices, to activate motion detectors and keep the lights on.
Photography at dusk requires long exposures, so a sturdy tripod is an absolute essential for the architectural photographer. If there are people or traffic in view, one could use the longer exposures in a creative way by intentionally letting moving cars or people blur. Be careful though, as the client may find the blur effect distracting. Also, if you choose, or if the setting dictates, that there will be blurred vehicle or pedestrian traffic, you must ensure that the blur adds to the composition in a complementary way and does not overwhelm the visual impact of the building or interior. space.
Architectural photography is a highly specialized field and twilight photography can be an effective and useful tool for the architectural photographer and hotel/resort photographer to make any building more dramatic; especially if it’s pretty mundane to begin with.
