This is the maiden voyage of one of my New Years Resolutions, To get off of my duff and blog once in a while. I am going to try and periodically post on my blog about some of the interesting things I have been working on, with a little insight on how each project was completed. To start things off I wanted to post an image that didn't quite make it into my architectural photography portfolio. There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with the image, In fact I am quite happy with it, this was more of an editorial decision since there are plenty of kitchens in my portfolio right now.

When composing this shot, I ended up moving the camera as far back as I could, and using a longer (more telephoto style lens) to keep the proportions accurate. Kitchens tend to be smaller spaces, but it is important to avoid going straight for the widest lens available. In design or architectural photography it is really important to go to great lengths to get rid of any distortion. People often think that the best way to shoot architecture is to use a really wide lens, but really the opposite is true. It is better not to get all four walls into the shot, because the proportions get all out of whack. So it is not uncommon to shoot through doorways, or have the camera all the way into the corner. I even keep a tiny tripod with me because I so commonly need to get the camera on a shelf or countertop. The tiny tripod is just one of many items that I keep with me to get the job done.

For this image I moved the kitchen table so that the camera could be all the way in the back of the room. If I moved any further back I started to see a closet and desk to the right. I ended up having to push the chandelier to the side to get it out of the shot. In the end I mixed the ambient room light and some flash to bring out the colors and texture, and voila. I went for a punchy well lit look that I thought would appeal to the kitchen designer. It is amazing how many options you have in post processing to change the look of the space. Certain uses dictate what style to use. Also the designer will often have a look they are after. In architectural photography it is common to have the practical lights on and for the room to look well lit, after all lighting design is part of the whole package. Interior design for magazines, usually has the interior practical lights off and shows no signs of lighting though it is often used.

Well, for my first blog of the season, that wasn't terribly difficult, so hopefully there will be more content in the near future. If you happen to be reading this and have any questions or suggestions, let me know I would be glad to answer. And if you are an architect or designer in Delaware, Pennsylvania or the Mid-Atlantic and need an architectural photographer I would be glad to provide a quote for your next project