Professional Architectural Photography, Third Edition (Professional Photography Series)

By Michael G. Harris and Michael Harris

Book Overview

As a perfectionist art form, architectural photography is a methodical process demanding patience and clinical precision from its practitioners, combined with an experienced understanding of the potential and effects of natural light. Packed with detailed information plus firsthand tips and advice - this is a complete introduction for any aspiring architectural photographer, or a practicing professional needing to brush up on skill and knowledge. Michael Harris works in London as a freelance photographer specializing in architectural and interior photography. His work covers a wide spectrum from industrial and commercial, to residential photography, with clients ranging from architects and property agents to magazine publishers. He is author of Professional Interior Photography also published by Focal Press.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0240515323
• ISBN13: 9780240515328
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Focal Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.5" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

A Good Technical Primer

If you're interested in architectural photography as a profession, you will probably gain some valuable insights from this book. While few of the photographic examples used are what I would call "stunning", the author provides a very methodical and thorough approach to learning the craft. And while certainly not a how-to book for inexperienced photographers, Harris has done a good job of defining the issues and explaining the technical solutions that are inherent to architectural photography. Everything of importance is explained, from film selection and filtering, to complex exposure formulas and specialized equipment.A warning though: if you don't have a basic understanding of Geometry, you might have trouble applying some of the concepts in this book (and thus trouble producing attractive architectural photographs). More than any other genre of photography, architectural photography is a thinking man (and woman's) game. You don't "seek out" or "sense" a beautiful photograph so much as carefully manufacture them.

A "must-read" book for aspiring architectural photographers!

Professional Architectural Photography by Michael Harris is a wonderfully informative and beautifully illustrated "must-read" book for any photographer who desires to shoot the interiors and exteriors of buildings. The book is easy to read, concise and to the point, and offers a wealth of information detailing with the art and science of architectural photography. As a professional photographer and photography instructor, I had always desired to try my hand, so to speak, at capturing on film the architectural beauty of historically significant buildings. After reading this book, I can't wait to go out and shoot my own architectural photographs. In fact, I was so motivated by the way the author presented the information contained in the book that I went out a couple weeks later and bought a 4" x 5" large-format view Camera. Trust me! If you think you'd like to dabble in architectural photography, invest in this book. You'll be glad you did! Even if you're not a photographer, but you like viewing photographic images in home remodeling or architectural magazines, this book will teach you much about (and give you a better appreciation for) architectural photography. Who knows? It may even launch you into a new career.