建筑摄影是一种特别的活计，它既需要摄影眼也需要特别的知识储备。建筑设计师花费数年时间将设计转换成物理形态，摄影师必须帮助建筑设计师讲述建筑的故事。
Photographing architecture is a specialty business, one that requires a trained eye and a unique knowledge base. Architects spend years bringing design to physical form, and the architectural photographer must help tell that story.
当然，挑战在于创造性地使用光和透视来表现空间或结构的特征和个性。在这个过程中高端设备不是必须的，但是入门确实需要对基础知识有基本的了解。下面收集了一些专业人员每天工作的一些考虑因素。
The challenge, of course, is to creatively use light and perspective to represent the character and personality of a space or structure. High-end equipment isn’t a must, but getting started does require a basic understanding of the fundamentals. Collected here are some of the on-the-job considerations that the pros work with everyday.
1.全都在于透视It’s All About Perspective
建筑有各种形状和大小，但他们都与线条有关。拍摄精彩的照片就在于如何组织这些线条，并使用透视来吸引注意力并使建筑变得生动。
Architecture comes in all the shapes and sizes, but it’s really about the lines. Taking great photos is about working with those lines, and using perspective to draw attention to detail and bring your subject to life.
虽然不是绝对的规则，但一般规则是保持垂线垂直于地平线。相机镜头会使透视扭曲。当你在建筑前面构图和拍摄的时候，垂直线会倾向于向内倾斜，汇聚于框架外的一点。透视线的汇聚可以用于强调和戏剧效果，但是为了创建精确的展现，干净的几何效果和直接的镜头是优先选择的。
While not absolute, the general rule is to keep vertical lines vertical, and perpendicular to the horizon. Camera lenses distort perspective. When you point and shoot in front of a building, the vertical lines tend to slant inwards, converging at a point beyond the frame. Converging lines can be used for emphasis and dramatic effect, but to create an accurate representation a clean geometric, or straightforward, shot is preferred.
2. 向后走两步Take A Few Steps Back
摄影师花很多时间四处寻找完美的相机位置。
Photographers spend a lot of time walking around in search of the perfect camera position.
大多数人会避免直接的、目光级别的镜头，这种角度会使图像变得扁平、无聊。另一方面当镜头角度太低、太高、太左、太右的时候照片又会变得奇怪。讲述空间的故事需要在创造性和实际的决定之间取得平衡。Most will avoid straight-on, eye-level shots. This angle tends to flatten images and produces boring uninteresting shots. On the other hand, things get weird and unpleasant when working angles that are too low or too high, or pointing too far right or left. Telling the story of space is always a balance between creative and practical decision-making.
在你自己和你的主题之间留出更多的距离可以增加视角来理顺那些融合的线条。 从更高的有利位置拍摄附近的建筑物，也有助于建立更逼真的主体高度视角。
Putting more distance between yourself and your subject adds perspective to straighten those converging lines. Shooting from a higher vantage point, such as a nearby building, also helps build a more realistic perspective of the subject’s elevation.
3. 稳定和水平Steady and Level
一个合适的三脚架可以使照相机与地平线平行，焦平面垂直于垂直线，这有助于控制透视。 三脚架可以稳定相机并减少噪点和模糊，这对提供清晰图像是必不可少的。
A proper tripod allows you to level the camera parallel to the horizon and with the focal plane perpendicular to vertical lines, which helps to control perspective. A tripod is also essential for stabilizing the camera to reduce noise or blurriness and give sharp images.
4.长而宽
对于建筑照片，目标是尽可能多地将背景细节放入框架中。这意味着使用可提供大景深和广焦距的广角镜头。摄影师通常依赖移轴镜头，可以在镜头内控制透视和会聚线。这些镜头价格非常昂贵，除非你是一名职业建筑摄影师，否则绝对没有必要。一个覆盖16mm至70mm范围内的标准变焦镜头可满足大多数需求和预算。
For architectural photos, the goal is to fit as much background detail into the frame as possible. This means using wide-angle lenses that give a large depth of field and a long focal length. Photographers commonly rely on tilt-shift lenses that can control perspective and converging lines right within the lens. These lenses are expensive and absolutely not necessary unless you’re a working pro. A standard zoom lens that covers anywhere in the range of 16mm to 70mm will satisfy most needs and budgets.
5.完美的光线
光是建筑摄影师必须理解和控制的一个挑战。大多数建筑摄影师都喜欢尽可能用自然光拍摄。幸好自然光很容易获得，它有助于展示结构在其环境中的真实存在感。使用自然光的关键是确定拍摄日期的正确时间。Light is a challenge that must be understood and controlled. Most architectural photographers prefer to shoot with as much natural light as possible. Thankfully, natural light is readily available, and it helps show how structures truly exist within their environments. The key to working with natural light is determining the right time of day to shoot at.
正面光和背光是最不想要的光线，因为这些光的角度减少了细节并使对象看起来平坦。侧前光是理想的选择。在建筑物上有斜上45度角的光线时拍摄可以使表面细节生动，投射阴影并给出规模感。
Front lighting and backlighting are least preferred because these angles reduce detail and make subjects look flat. Side-front lighting is ideal. Capturing light at a 45-degree angle across the elevation of the building brings surface details alive, casting shadows and giving a sense of dimension.
高动态范围（HDR）被专业建筑摄影师广泛使用。摄影师可以对相同的固定位置进行多次不同的曝光，然后使用编辑软件将它们一起渲染，从而在一个图像中实现更大范围的动态范围。
High dynamic range (HDR) is widely used by professional architectural photographers. Photographers can take several different exposures of the same fixed setup, and then render them together with editing software, making for a far greater range of light levels within one image.
专业人士可以敏锐地意识到天气以及它将如何影响光线。明亮的阳光灿烂的日子产生对比强烈的光线，而阴天则产生更柔和的边缘。太阳总是在移动的，根据一天中的不同时间和一年中的某一天，它可能对图像产生截然不同的影响。像Sun Seeker这样的应用程序可用于确定太阳与拍摄主体的相对方向。
Professionals are keenly aware of the weather and how it will affect lighting. Bright sunny days makes for hard contrasting light, while overcast clouds create softer edges. The sun is always on the move and depending on the time of day, and day of year, it can have drastically different effects on an image. Apps like Sun Seeker are useful for figuring out the sun’s position in relation to your subject.
日落前或日出前的1小时是拍摄的黄金时段。一小时的金色阳光和长长的阴影可以为主体增添温暖，深度和质感。根据可用的光源和头顶天空，夜间可也以是拍摄的绝佳时间，但它确实需要一些特别的镜头和实验。舞台灯光也是一种选择，但也需要另一层技术知识，并了解灯光如何影响镜头的颜色和温度。
The hour right before sunset or before sunrise is the “golden hour” — a prime time to shoot. This is an hour of golden sunlight and long shadows that add warmth, depth, and texture to a subject. Nighttime can be a fantastic time to shoot depending on the available light sources and overhead sky, but it does takesome lens work and experimentation. Staged lighting is also an option, but also requires another level of technical knowledge and understanding of how the lights will affect the color and temperature of the shot.
6.颜色Color
在考虑颜色时，目标是保持建筑物真实特征。许多专业人士使用偏振滤镜或color collaborators（我不知道这是啥，也许是校色用的色板）来获得正确的颜色。人造灯可以扭曲颜色，因此在夜间或室内拍摄时要小心。（小知识：日光灯是绿色的）
When considering color, the goal is to remain true to the building and its character. Many pros use polarizing filters or color collaborators to get the right color. Artificial lights can skew color perceptions, so there is caution to be had when shooting at night or indoors.
7.简单的构图Simple composition
线条和图案是建筑的美学基础。摄影师使用引导线引导观众在场景或主体上的注意力。为了良好的构图需要保持简单专注于线条; 尽可能将它们指向角落。使会聚线保持垂直。水平上的构图可以考虑三分法则。其实有无限的角度可供使用，在建筑的四周转转将有助于创作更具创意和冲击力。
Lines and patterns are the aesthetic basis of architecture. Photographers use leading lines to guide the viewers’ attention across the scene or subject matter. For good composition, keep things simple and focus on the lines; direct them towards the corners when you can. Vertically, think about those converging lines. Horizontally, think about the Rule of Thirds. There are infinite angles to work with, and walking around to explore will help compose more creative and impactful images.
规模也很重要，如果您需要给出一定的规模感，请考虑前景和背景，以及如何使用人或树等对象制作参考物。
Scale is also important to consider. If you need to give a sense of size, think about the foreground and background and how you can make reference points out of objects like people or trees.
8.清理舞台Clear the Stage
分散注意力的东西越少越好，有助于保持场景清洁。汽车和人会阻碍我们的工作环境。尽可能尝试移动或寻求创造性的方式来裁剪或合并。垃圾或树叶等较小的物品很容易整理，没有这些杂物会使最终产品更好。
The less distraction the better, so it helps to keep the scene clean and clear of debris. Cars and people are frustrating environmental obstacles to work with. Try to move if you can, or seek creative ways to crop or incorporate. Smaller items like trash or leaves tidy easily, and their absence will make a difference in the final product.
9.注意反射Reflections Kill
花一点时间环顾四周，看看有什么可能会反射你。镜子和光亮的表面可能会产生不必要的反射破坏画面，而且直到你回到家后才会看到它们。
Take a moment to look around and see what might be looking back at you. Mirrors and shiny surfaces can ruin shots with unwanted reflections, and often these aren’t viewed until back at home.
10.拍摄后Post-Shoot
编辑软件可以帮助纠正和增强光线、颜色甚至透视。但并非所有错误都是可以修复的，只有尽可能多地在现场和相机中完善作品才能成为更好的摄影师。
Editing software is there to help correct and enhance light, color, and even perspective. But not all errors are fixable, and doing as much as possible onsite and in camera creates better photographers.
最后，请记住，耐心是一种美德。特别是对于建筑来说训练摄影眼需要时间。像任何熟练的艺术和手艺一样，它是关于实验，探索的，而且必须耐心通过经验来学习。
And finally, keep in mind that patience is a virtue. It takes time to train the photographic eye, especially for architecture. Like any skilled art and craft, it’s about experimenting, exploring, and having the patience to learn through experience.