| Buildings present the photographer with an | | | | for general composition. Position the camera so |
| inexhaustible supply of imagery. The most | | | | that there are no unwanted objects within the |
| important part of photographing any building is the | | | | frame. This may mean simply moving a short |
| general composition. The weather can be perfect, | | | | distance or using a different lens. If the camera is |
| the exposure correct and the time of day just | | | | fitted with a zoom lens all that may be needed is |
| right, but a badly-framed picture will ruin | | | | a small adjustment in its focal length. |
| everything. Here, equipment can be a great help: | | | | Different lenses can completely alter the |
| - a telephoto lens will not only bring closer a | | | | perspective of a building. Pointing the camera |
| distant building but also, depending on the power | | | | upwards, at a skyscraper for instance, will make |
| of the lens, compress the overall view and so | | | | the verticals converge. This can add greatly to |
| reduce the illusion of space between the main | | | | the dynamic qualities of the image. On the other |
| building in the shot and those that may be behind | | | | hand, another building could be shown with |
| or in front of it. | | | | converging verticals and might look distorted, |
| - a wide angle lens allows a close-up shot with an | | | | seeming to be in danger of toppling over. Every |
| exaggerated perspective. A tall building such as a | | | | building composition should be assessed individually. |
| skyscraper can appear even taller if the camera | | | | A telephoto lens can be used to photograph a |
| is pointed upwards because the verticals will | | | | building from a distance. The building can be |
| converge. | | | | brought closer and the foreground compressed. |
| - a shift lens allows the photographer to avoid | | | | This will give the impression of increased grandeur |
| converging verticals in situations where these are | | | | to the main building in the shot. For more specialist |
| not wanted as part of the shot. A shift lens alters | | | | photography of very tall buildings a shift lens can |
| the axis of view without the need to move the | | | | be used. This allows a building to be photographed |
| camera, yet allows movement of the lens in | | | | so that its vertical lines remain upright without |
| relationship to the film plane. | | | | needing to tilt the camera upwards. This would |
| Choosing the correct viewpoint is a vital ingredient | | | | create converging verticals. |