Photographing the Environment

Architecture and Monuments

Just because a building is a static subject that you can shoot endlessly doesn’t mean there aren’t a few rules to follow when taking photos.

Light

The first thing to consider is the light in the location, which will clearly affect the result, as will the weather conditions. On overcast or cloudy days, details generally stand out better. In good weather, the subject is directly lit by the sun, along with its shadows, which can help create certain compositions or effects. However, around midday, the light is often too harsh, with short shadows that flatten volumes. That’s why it’s best to prioritize other times—early morning or late afternoon—whenever possible.

Framing

Another important factor is framing, where you can choose between a "dynamic and moving" approach or a more "static and conventional" one. The latter is by far the simplest and most classic, aiming to give the photographed building a massive and imposing feel by playing on architectural symmetries and front-on shots. A tripod can be useful here.

As for dynamic framing, it works best for buildings that can be integrated into their natural or urban surroundings. In other words, a small monument or site where you have enough distance allows you to choose an angle. It’s a good idea to test several approaches, including original ones (let yourself experiment), with different foreground elements. Similarly, high-angle and low-angle shots can be interesting techniques for creating visual effects. But in the end, it’s all about intuition... and lots of trial and error.

Horizon Line

When framing, it’s also important to consider the horizon line and how it appears in the photo. If this line isn’t horizontal, the walls of the monument won’t be either, which can create a strange effect. To avoid this, try to keep the horizon line parallel to the edge of the photo. That said, with digital photography, it’s possible to correct this later using certain software to straighten parts that don’t respect perspectives. Note that this also applies to wide-angle shots, which can distort the "reality" of things.

Details or the Whole?

This is a question that sometimes comes up when photographing a building: should you try to capture the entire structure or just certain details? Given the flexibility digital photography offers, it’s a good idea to do both to vary the results for the same subject. It’s also always interesting to "test originality" in your shot choices.

Landscapes

Like monuments, landscapes often seem like easy subjects. But here too, a few rules and tips apply if you want to achieve a certain result.

As with buildings, and for the same reasons, mornings and late afternoons are best for lighting—a low-angle light helps bring out relief. Choosing the right equipment is also important. Beyond a tripod (recommended for the long exposure times landscapes often require), you might add a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake, and optionally a lens hood and polarizing filter to reduce reflections. For lenses, wide-angles are ideal for their ability to increase depth of field (and thus image sharpness) and cover large visual areas.

The framing will often make the difference, including in how people perceive the photo afterward. Here, it’s up to you to decide what you want to convey by emphasizing certain elements of the landscape (the sky, the ground, etc.). A foreground adds depth to the image and "balance," especially if the photo is taken at ground level, which enhances the sense of space. And if you want to bring some life to your landscapes, include an animal or people to give a sense of scale to the photo.

Beach Photos

Before getting into the technical details, it’s worth remembering that the beach isn’t a great environment for equipment—sun, sand, and water are all present. So, it’s best to take precautions by keeping your camera protected from heat and dust as much as possible, only taking it out when you’re ready to shoot.

If you want to capture the lively atmosphere of the beach, you’ll need to be discreet in your shots so that people appear as natural as possible in their activities. Similarly, if people are lying down, get down to their level or nearly so, avoiding high-angle shots that tend to flatten perspective. In short, act as you would when capturing action with living subjects.

For those more interested in the scenery than the beach activity, the same landscape photography principles apply. Keep the horizon straight and place it in the upper third of the photo if you want to highlight the water and sand, or in the lower third if you want to emphasize the sky. The same goes for choosing early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting.