Cities are not only home to many people’s residences, businesses and offices – they are also full of energy, power and vitality. While you would think that shooting buildings of concrete and steel is not glamorous or interesting, cityscape photography holds exciting and adventurous possibilities.
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Choosing an Interesting Subject
Make sure you have an interesting subject for the photo, either in the middle section of the photo or in the foreground.
In Between the Twins If you’ve never tried shooting Nightscapes and would like to learn how, then read my article 5 Reasons to Start Shooting Night Photography | Nightscapes.
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Have a Mix of Foreground & Background
Ensure that you have a good mix of interesting foreground and background areas in the entire photo. Using a puddle or other surface to reflect your subject will add drama to your image. For more on reflections check out my post Photographing Reflections.
Dawn Reflections I share 10 helpful tips on how to make beautiful and impressive photos of architecture in my article 10 Helpful Tips for Striking Architectural Photography.
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Use a Tripod
Before taking the photo make sure that you use a level tripod so that the horizon is straight. Even though you can fix this later in photoshop it is easier to do it right in the first place to save yourself the hassle.
Urban Tree Lines -
Choose the Right Time of Day
Try to take photos as early or as late as possible in the day, as these times generally give the best light and produce more shadows and detail on your photos.
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Use the Correct Exposure
When setting the exposure for a photo make sure the reading is taken on the brightest part of the photo so that there is no overexposure.
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Use a Timer or Remote
Always use a timer or remote control to take the photo so that there is not any camera shake caused by you when you depress the shutter button.
Welcome to Cincinnati -
Use a Wide-Angle Lens
In order to get crisp results from your SLR camera invest in or rent a good quality lens. They may be expensive but it will be well worth the money in the cityscape arena.
For tips on shooting with a wide-angle lens, go to my post Wide Angle Photography Tips.
The Aftermath
By using all of the above tips you are sure to see a noticeable improvement in any photo that you take of city buildings or skylines. Not only will your cityscapes be clearer and well defined, but they will also have a wide spectrum of color and light, which is the sign of a great photo.
