Instead of having tangible, spatial experiences, our contemporary, image-obsessed culture has us ingesting a lot of architecture through images. The benefits of architectural photography are numerous; it provides a wonderful resource that enables us to broaden our awareness of architecture by enabling people to have a visual picture of structures they might never have the chance to visit in person.

“The image enables us to forget what has happened before (the agony of prolonged labor to deliver the fully formed structure) and what is to come after” (the affront of time as dirt, users, change, and weather move in). It slows down or, more accurately, stops time. In this way, architectural photography “lifts the building out of time, out of breath,” giving architects the opportunity to briefly imagine that their work is a steady force that exists above the ebbs of time.

Shoot in a variety of weather conditions and times of day

When photographing architectural marvels, people frequently go for the most dramatic lighting, such as just before sunset when the shadows are lengthy and the colors are vibrant. Although technique frequently yields incredibly evocative photographs, it only really captures the ambiance of the structure at one particular moment in time. A more complete picture of the building’s interaction with its surroundings can be created by taking a series of photos at various times of the day or even in varied weather conditions.

Prioritize good lighting

No of the situation, having adequate lighting should always be a top consideration while taking pictures. Excellent architectural lighting plays a significant role in defining one’s idea of what is significant in that particular architectural project by helping to accentuate a space, a particular structure, or an ambiance.

Look for a unique angle

Playing with perspective may be incredibly rewarding in addition to being amusing. Finding a different perspective might reveal an underappreciated form or abstraction of a building’s detail, which may lead to a newfound level of beauty and appreciation for its form.

Don’t be afraid to include people (architecture doesn’t exist without them)

In his chapter “Out of Time,” Till gives a lighthearted sample where the picture editor of “The Everyday and Architecture” rejects a cover image with a human in it but is happy when the person is substituted by a bicycle. People have traditionally been excluded from architectural photography, as if our presence somehow taints the structures’ pristine, intended beauty. Thank goodness, a few prominent architectural photographers are starting to buck this trend. Don’t be afraid to chronicle our presence since without us, architecture cannot and would not exist.