Making photographs in an urban or even semi-urban environment can be utterly rewarding. There are so many opportunities to explore that it can initially seem overwhelming. Over the following pages, we’ll look at ways to explore cities, towns, suburbia and everything in between. You only need a camera, an inquisitive eye, and an open mind. From contemplating composition and appreciating light to thinking philosophically, artistically and creatively, you will discover skills that’ll help you get the best out of your urban photography.
Sometimes, getting started can be the hardest thing. The Norwegians have a saying about “the doorstep mile”: the first mile, the mile from your front door, can be the hardest part of any journey. Getting out of the door and taking those first steps is a crucial part of the creative process, too. So use these tips and discussion points as inspiration and a creative springboard – then get out and explore!
1 STRAIGHTEN UP
Use software or a specialist lens to avoid converging vertical lines
If you’ve ever stood underneath a building and pointed your camera up, you’ll notice that the vertical lines converge within the frame. It’s as if the building is leaning backwards. Architectural photographers, generally speaking, don’t like this effect.
The solution sounds simple: position your camera so its sensor is perpendicular to the subject, and then all the vertical lines appear straight. To do that, ideally you would use a long lens; go a long way from the building; find an elevated position, make sure everything’s level, straight and perpendicular; and take the shot. Easy, right? Of course not, and it’s rarely possible.
This is why most photographers who specialise in photographing buildings use a tilt-shift lens. Its distinctive
