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Building/architecture

Introduction to building and architecture images

Since time immemorial, shelter has always been a core need of man. Building structures shield us from the harsh elements of nature, such as rain and the heat of the sun. Apart from this core need, however, buildings have come to serve many more purposes for humanity. They serve as schools for our children, meeting places for various political, religious, and social activities, hospitals for the wounded and infirm, etc. Buildings are, no doubt, an integral part of human civilization.

Moreso, buildings are important cultural symbols. Building and architectural styles differ across cultures and are usually indicative of the unique cultures of each locality. For example, while most Western urban areas feature a large number of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers designed to accommodate several units of nuclear families, the architectural landscapes of most rural areas of Africa contain a preponderance of compounds featuring bungalows, huts, and mud houses built to house extended families.

Also, photographs of the interiors of buildings make viewers appreciate the unique beauty of artistic decor from various cultures. For example, it might depict beautiful murals in a Greek Orthodox Church or the richly decorated interior of Buckingham Palace.

The history of building images can be traced back to ancient times. During the renaissance period, painters such as Crivelli and Duccio produced great artworks featuring buildings. With the advent of modern photography, building images retained their popularity. Camera-produced architectural images began to appear in the 1820s with Nicephore Niepce's photograph known as the "View from the Window at Le Gras." Today, building images and architecture images are taken and used for a wide range of reasons ranging from academic research to brand marketing and leisure. Building and architecture images fill us with admiration and wonder at man's creative genius.

Importantly, as the Coronavirus pandemic has forced movement and travel restrictions in many countries, people can travel to their favourite buildings and landmarks all over the world from their couches just by looking at building images and architecture images. This has further boosted the genre's popularity.

Definition

Architecture means the art and skills involved in designing buildings and other structures such as bridges. Buildings are designed to meet the practical purpose for which they were built, as well as make artistic statements and aesthetic impressions upon observers. The terms "building images" and "architecture images" are often used interchangeably. They refer to images that depict all types of man-made building structures ranging from huts, halls, and bridges to walls, landmarks, towers, and skyscrapers. No props or models are required for creating building images or architecture images though humans can be incorporated to show scale and add individual uniqueness to the picture.

Building images can be classified into several categories, including

Exterior building images

These are architectural images taken from outside the structure, which the photographer uses as the object of his shoot. Natural lighting, either from the sun or moon and stars, depending on the time of the day chosen for the shoot, provides the lighting. Other sources of lighting, however, such as streetlights, may also contribute to the lighting. Aerial photography using drones and aircraft can also be employed in this mode to get a birds-eye-view perspective. The photographer aims at capturing the appearance of the outer parts of his subject in an aesthetically pleasing manner. This mode is ideal for photographing landmarks or iconic structures which are more easily recognizable from the exterior. These may include the Taj Mahal, the White House, or Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.

Exterior building images may be taken at all times of the day and in all weather conditions. It is recommended, however, to shoot either in the early hours of the day to capture the effect of the rising sun's golden rays upon the structure or at sunset.

Interior architectural images

These are building images taken from inside the structures being photographed. This can be used to show the beauty of buildings' internal architecture or decor. As natural lighting may not be sufficient inside buildings, artificial lighting may be employed to supplement natural light. Such artificial lighting may be provided by LED bulbs.

Different themes: Industrial, Infrastructure, Architecture, Towers/Skyscrapers/ Landmarks Industrial images

These are images that show a company's products, staff, as well as production techniques and processes, and equipment used in the production of the organization's products. Industrial images are aimed at capturing and showcasing the hard work and technicality that goes into the manufacturing process.

This type of building images are used by companies that specialize in the manufacturing of goods, extraction of natural resources, and power. Industrial images may feature factories, oil rigs, production lines, dams, etc.

Categories of industrial images include

Product images

This involves taking snapshots of the company's products at various stages of their manufacturing.

Staff images