The Architectural Image

Happy Holidays 2011

2011-12-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

My thanks to all my new and returning clients for making 2011 a great year for my business. I had the opportunity to photograph beautiful architecture and interior design while working with very talented people. Have a great holiday season and new year!

Also don't forget that the holiday season is the time to capture some unique lighting and decor for some of your projects. For other projects it's a good time to wait till the views are free of seasonal references.

Happy New Year 2012
-Andy Caulfield

Outside Looking In

2011-12-17T12:44:00.000-05:00

You can sometimes tell the story of an interior renovation by photographing it from the outside. On this project, a dedicated family center at the Faulkner Hospital-Boston, the exterior views were enhanced by opening up an existing solid wall to reveal the landscape outside. A beautifully maintained tree was already waiting to be seen. It was the last view of the day but adds to the understanding of the location and it's setting.

To see other views from this assignment please visit the "Commercial" portfolio on my website at www.andycaulfield.com

Give Me Liberty

2011-12-03T14:28:00.002-05:00

Boston has two new large construction projects in progress at this time. This photograph is of Liberty Mutual's new 22-story office tower in the Back Bay. This photograph is a composite view created from 13 photographs to show the work site with the best crane positions and worker action at their peak. A beautiful winter day added to the composition.

Established Location

2011-11-08T14:20:00.002-05:00

On this assignment I was asked to photograph interior and exteriors of the commercial office building located at One Faneuil Hall a Post-Modern design by architect Graham Gund. I also was asked to create a few views that established the building's location in this very well know part of downtown Boston. For this photograph I chose to focus on one of the round windows and it's very recognizable view of the Quincy Market. For an exterior view of this building please visit my web site: www.andycaulfield.com

A Sense of Place

2011-10-05T17:10:00.000-04:00

This interior view is of the library-sitting room at the newly renovated Belmont Manor Nursing Center. The style and finish in this room is indicative of the new welcome and public areas of this long established care facility in Belmont, MA.

Researching the Light

2011-10-01T18:54:00.001-04:00

Sometimes an assignment comes up with very short notice. For this assignment which included both interiors and exteriors of a LEED Certified Medical Research building, the interior access was only allowed in the afternoon. By determining the ideal sun angle for this location I decided that it was better to photograph the exteriors in the early morning light. I made arrangements with the client and property management staff to photograph the exterior views in the morning and come back in the afternoon for the interiors. Good lighting is everything in a successful photograph, a little research makes a big difference.

Game On!

2011-09-25T18:10:00.000-04:00

This custom designed mahogany wet bar is the focal point of this "man cave"/family room designed and built by custom home builder John Bruno. The room features pool and foosball tables a TV sitting area and an adjacent workout room. Did I mention 4 beers on tap? Game on!

Now Serving History

2011-09-03T18:12:00.002-04:00

This month I photographed a new food service installation at a local university. The historical location was originally an exclusive apartment building situated on the Charles River in Cambridge, MA. The building was undergoing a complete renovation to be used as undergraduate housing. The 1st floor common area had been transformed into a state of the art food service area with the interior finish to match the look and feel of the existing space. This view is one of eight views I photographed of the project, it features both the new and existing woodwork as well as an original window.

Photographing any location the same day as the "punch list" is being completed is always a challenge, but it can be done. With good planning and communications all parties can stay out of each others way and views that tell the story can successfully be made.

Green Light

2011-08-16T17:25:00.000-04:00

This interior features a view of an office cubicle work area that is lit with highly efficient task lighting that gives an even illumination to the entire work area. The lighting is also tied into motion sensors that automatically shut down regions of the workspace when not in use. At this location I photographed overall views as well as individual cubicles and details of the installed product.

Expansive Views

2011-07-10T10:30:00.001-04:00

The North Hill senior living facility in Needham, MA has embarked on a major expansion of their facilities. This new building phase is called "True North". I was asked to photograph interiors of several newly remodeled apartments which show the new style and direction that this new endeavor will take. Here is one view of an open floor plan design viewed from the kitchen looking toward to the den, dining and living room.

Best Read Without Cover

2011-06-08T20:20:00.003-04:00

To help myself populate a new gallery on my website "Around my Town" I photographed this view of the addition to the Needham Public Library. To achieve this view I had to retouch out the power lines and their window reflections to achieve the clean look I desired. To get an idea of how this view looked when originally photographed go to the "Retouching Services" gallery on my website. This view is infinitely better without it's cover.

Cottage Living

2011-05-26T07:30:00.001-04:00

You may have seen a series of marketing ads running in Boston print media for vacation cottages based in Maine and Massachusetts recently. I photographed both properties late last summer and the campaign is now in full swing. This tear sheet is one of the many variations they have been running that has helped increase interest and sales at both locations.

Red Hot Kitchen

2011-05-14T19:29:00.000-04:00

I received a call from a Cambridge based architect with a request to have me photograph interiors of his own condo. When I saw his reference photographs of the red kitchen that he designed I knew I wanted to work on the project and take my own photograph of this red hot kitchen.

AIA New Orleans 2011-ASMP Print Gallery

2011-05-07T17:14:00.000-04:00

My dusk view of the Fletcher Allen Radiation and Oncology Building a certified Leed Gold hospital facility in Burlington, Vermont is a featured print in the ASMP photo gallery at the 2011 AIA National Convention in New Orleans-May 12-14. The Architect for this project was Cannon Design Inc.-Boston, MA and the Landscape Architect was H. Keith Wagner Partnership-Burlington, VT. The ASMP photo gallery is on display at the AIA National Convention every year and features the best architectural photographs by ASMP Architectural photographers. I was privileged to have one of my photographs chosen again for this honor.

It's A Gas

2011-04-25T17:11:00.000-04:00

I was on a scouting shoot at this location for a manufacturer of specialty entrance flooring. While waiting for the location contact to arrive to access the interior location, I made this exterior view of the overall facility with a great sky. Sometimes the light is just right for a great building.

Old School

2011-04-05T08:32:00.000-04:00

I received a phone call from a member of a local town's building committee with interest in preserving through photography a view of the main entrance of the original Wellesley High School building built in 1938. As years of tree growth had compromised the view options I chose to photograph it from this angle before the Spring leaf out. Converting the image from Color to B&W helped disguise years of exterior wear.

Dental Spa

2011-03-21T14:50:00.001-04:00

This is one view of a innovative Dental facility in Randolph, MA where 10 dental specialists are on staff to provide one stop services all in-house. This particular view highlights the curved lines of the Nurse's station where they can monitor the patients in the four glass walled surgical suites.

Researching the Lab View

2011-03-10T10:40:00.000-05:00

I have had the opportunity to photograph several research lab interiors over the last year and I'm always looking for a new way to convey the layout of the space along with with its potential use. As these lab spaces are photographed prior to "move in" they are often very sparely appointed. That was the case with this assignment however with the addition of models (employees) from the architects' office, they provided this view with that needed sense of place. Don't forget the model releases.

Signs are looking up

2011-02-10T18:18:00.001-05:00

When I photograph a large project in addition to the overall views I always have my eye out for details of the design and installation. In this photograph I featured the lighting design at the New Balance Marine Mammal Center addition at the New England Aquarium. It was just what the lighting manufacturer was looking for. Please visit the "Commercial" portfolio link on my website www.andycaulfield.com to see more of my views from this project. And contact me for a copy of a printed piece I created on my Aquarium photo shoot.

Gold in Vermont!

2011-01-28T12:36:00.001-05:00

The Fletcher Allen Health Care-Radiation and Oncology facility in Burlington, VT that I photographed last fall has earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first hospital project in Vermont to be certified at the gold level and only the second in New England to achieve that status. Please visit the "Commercial" portfolio link on my website www.andycaulfield.com to see more views from this project.

Snow offers another view

2011-01-16T08:05:00.001-05:00

At the peak of winter, spring can seem a long time to wait for a compelling exterior opportunity. Embrace the snow and look for unique views of your projects even if out of season. Sometimes the contrast of the clean environment of a winter landscape helps bring out the best lines of a project. Here is a personal view of the Community Rowing building in Boston, MA. Architect: Anmahian Winton Architects-Cambridge, MA. Please visit the "Commercial" portfolio link on my website www.andycaulfield.com to see a larger version of this view.

Best Wishes for 2011

2010-12-10T20:32:00.001-05:00

When dropping off a family member I photographed this holiday themed display at the E Terminal of Boston's Logan International Airport. This stylized oversized wreath looked at home against the backlit wood veneer wall interior. The renovated Terminal E was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with lighting design by LAM Partners.

Apartment transformed

2010-11-28T09:46:00.001-05:00

I was recently asked to photograph a fun project, "before and after" views of a residential apartment in downtown Boston as a pitch for a new cable TV decorating program. We photographed this room with multiple decor and furniture layouts all in registration so that an animation of the still photographs could be created by the production company showing the space as it transformed with the various styles.

Model Behavior

2010-11-03T16:33:00.000-04:00

I was asked by a client to photograph an architectural model in multiple angles featuring the seven proposed variations of their building solution. I photographed the models at their offices in an unused space creating an on-site studio in which we could control the quality of the light. That lighting control combined with a locked down camera platform allowed me to photograph the variations of each scheme in registration for the eventual presentation.

Working with Fluorescent Light

2010-10-27T19:02:00.001-04:00

This assignment of mine was to photograph a Fiber Optics manufacturing facility in New Hampshire. I was asked to photograph both interiors and exteriors In addition to the manufacturing process photographs. Having scouted the location I found the dominant interior source light was fluorescent light. I augmented those interior fixtures with professional fluorescent lighting kits which allowed me to match the existing light while providing for movement of workers in the views which created a sense of excitement my client was looking for.

Sustainable design in a healing environment

2010-09-10T12:19:00.002-04:00

A recent assignment took me to Burlington, Vermont. I was photographing the just completed Radiation and Oncology facility at Fletcher Allen Health Care. One of the facilities most notable features is this green roof garden and public space. It provides a healing vegetable garden and drought resistant plantings to reduce heat build-up and storm water run-off.

Maintaining the Landscape

2010-08-20T18:00:00.001-04:00

Often when photographing a property for commercial real estate purposes the project deadline not the time of year determines the shoot date. Sometimes the landscaping is not at its prime and it is necessary to fill in for missing or damaged shrubbery. Other times you are using the greenery to hide unwanted signage or mechanical systems. That was the case with the lower right side of this view, where I expanded the planting area for a more pleasant effect.

Dedication Day

2010-07-03T08:44:00.002-04:00

The Needham Habitat house that I have been photographing progress on since August 2009 has finally been completed! It was a marathon sprint to the last of the landscaping that was finished by the Habitat volunteers and coordinators by 8PM the night before the dedication. I took this photograph, one of my last of the project, the next morning to make a print all the volunteers could sign later that afternoon as a house warming gift for the new owners.

Clubbing

2010-06-25T10:08:00.000-04:00

In addition to working on portfolio images of interiors, exteriors and exhibits for architects an designers, I also photograph architectural related subjects for purely marketing purposes. I photographed two college alumni clubs based in downtown Boston for their Dallas,TX based management company. This is one of my views taken at dusk of a main dining room and a glimpse of the Boston skyline.

From Parking to Park

2010-06-06T17:47:00.001-04:00

Hotel exteriors can be a challenge when the best angles of the building's facade are compromised by large expanses of parking asphalt. That was the case in this assignment of a mid level business hotel. The solution was to photograph the exterior at the best time of day in good weather and then add some lawn in the foreground to minimize the parking expanse.

A Sense of Home

2010-05-28T10:33:00.001-04:00

Try using people in your photographs to give the space a sense of scale and use. In this interior view my client wanted to show the viewer how this living room would be enjoyed by people in her target demographic. A senior independent living development which was creating a new marketing brochure was my client.

High Noon

2010-05-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

Photographing a landscape at high noon on a record setting temperature day is not something to plan for. But when it's your client's schedule knowing what to do in front of and behind the camera so as not make it look like that kind of day takes skill and experience. The reward is when your client says, "I had no idea you could make it look this good".

Lunch Break

2010-04-30T18:03:00.000-04:00

Photographing for commercial real estate broker's needs often presents a different challenge. Some or all of the buildings tenants are not necessarily involved in the photography project, yet their spaces need to be documented. Working quietly and efficiently in a tenant's space is a valued skill. This view is of a design firm's gallery area looking toward the open plan kitchen and creative spaces. Getting and in and out quickly and achieving the client's photography needs is always the goal.

Hurray for Harry

2010-04-16T17:31:00.001-04:00

An interesting project came my way recently when I was called by a former Habitat contact who had a need for presentation images to be used in a tribute to a Boston building commissioner. The assignment was to photograph several of the key projectors he had been involved with and to show how they impacted the people of Boston. It was a fun project to be involved with and it was always interesting integrating people into the various views. This photograph is of the remodeled entrance to the Museum of Fine Arts.

When in ROM

2010-03-26T08:42:00.001-04:00

When traveling I am always on the lookout for interesting architecture. This addition to Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind and Bregman + Hamann Architects. The breathtaking centerpiece is the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal structure which is best viewed at dusk to appreciate all of it's reflective facets. This photograph shows how it comes alive at night. Always consider a dusk view if appropriate for your projects.

On the Fly

2010-03-18T16:10:00.001-04:00

Sometimes when making arrangements to photograph a clients work you are given significant access constraints by the property management. The person you are making arrangements with may not have any idea the amount of time it takes to do the job correctly and sometimes they don't care. That's when you get what you need to work with and solve the rest later. This is a view from an assignment I had in Toronto in which access was at a severe limit. Take a look at the retouching section of my portfolio to see the "before and after" views.

Link to the retouching section of my web site

Photographing in Snow

2010-02-22T08:32:00.001-05:00

Photographing in winter here in the North East presents its own set of unique circumstances. Variable weather, cold days and a short window of daylight are all things to consider. Even with those potential obstacles, success can be achieved with good scouting and preproduction. This image is from a scouting trip I made to a New Hampshire University's location after I had been photographing interiors nearby for another client.

Inhabit your space

2010-01-25T18:15:00.004-05:00

When you are commissioning photography of one of your projects consider adding a portrait of yourself taken in the space to your shot list. You can utilize the image for your own web, marketing and blog.

While working in California recently I had the opportunity to just that, photograph a portriat of another one of my CA based clients, exhibit designer Mitchell Mauk, principal of Mauk Design Inc. San Francisco. Mitchell had recently completed the design of aerial photographer Robert Cameron's large format print exhibit at the Metreon building in downtown San Francisco. This exhibit will run through March 2010. It's a great show, try to take it in if you are in the city.

Happy Holidays 2009

2009-12-22T18:15:00.003-05:00

Thank you to all my regular and new clients in 2009 for providing me with great projects to photograph for you this year. It has been a pleasure working with you all and I appreciate you choosing me to help you document and market your projects.

Happy Holidays to you in 2009 and I look forward to working with you again in 2010.
Andy Caulfield

My Workshop-Build Boston 2009

2009-11-09T17:06:00.000-05:00

At this year's Build Boston 2009 I will be part of a panel presentation on "Architectural Photography in the New Economy" workshop # A49 on Wednesday November 18th at 1PM. I will speak about utilizing the AIA & ASMP's booklet "Commissioning Architectural Photography" in preparing for your next photography shoot. With tips on getting the job photographed the way you want within your (reasonable) budget. I'll also talk about digital postproduction and when to best utilize this powerful image enhancing tool. Please attend and ask questions about how to improve your firm's marketing images. I will also have images in the show floor gallery by SAIA-Sterling Architects and McManus Architects both of Cambridge, MA.

Here is a link to the AIA ASMP booklet in PDF form:
http://asmp.org/articles/working-with-an-architectural-photographer.html

Time and Tide

2009-10-23T07:22:00.000-04:00

I photographed this dusk exterior of an existing office building for a property management firm. One of the views I was asked to make was that of the building at dusk. The companion request was that the estuary river be at high tide. As dusk and high tide did not occur at the same time I was able to photograph the building at high tide and then an hour or so later begin my exposure sequence for the building's dusk lighting. With digital postproduction I was able to combine the two views into one for a believable view. When water is a factor in your photograph you should build your shoot schedule around the tide charts as well as the light.

Take the High Line

2009-10-13T21:30:00.001-04:00

During a recent assignment in New York I paid a visit to the Chelsea district's "High Line". This is a repurposing of the old elevated train right of way into a pedestrian park two stories above the city streets. It is a breathtaking view of this part of the city and a great place to watch the sunset. If you have the opportunity visit the High Line which travels right under the new Standard hotel, for a leisurely walk above the city.

Put a face on it

2009-09-21T19:10:00.000-04:00

I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Boston to photograph some of their projects in the Boston area. This year I have begun to photograph a new single family home site in Needham for Habitat's use on their web site and for fundraising. Mostly I have been photographing the progress of the construction and details of the site and volunteers. One of my best images is of the future home owners during a work break in what will be the first floor of their new home. They are very proud of what they have achieved. Sometimes the best image of a building is when you can put a face on it.

To donate to Habitat Boston or this specific project follow these links:
http://www.habitatboston.org
http://www.needhamhabitat.org

Your best view may be from the water!

2009-08-08T09:25:00.001-04:00

As part of my recent photography of the Marine Mammal Center at the New England Aquarium I needed to photograph views that focused on the landscape architecture. As a project that borders Boston Harbor the best view of this landscape design was from the water. The NE Aquarium provided a boat and skilled captain who was able to position the craft in many places for great views. This design by Halvorson Design Partnership was also a view that would have been compromised by the installation of a semi-permanent event tent. But I was able to make this compelling view even though this extension of the Boston Harbor walk was not yet open to the public.

Back to Black and White

2009-07-23T15:20:00.002-04:00

When your subject is monochromatic and color would only provide a distraction, consider converting the view to a Black and White image. It is one of the great pluses in working digitally that you can photograph in full color then covert to gray scale when completing the final post production. It's the best of both worlds. I think this office view has more impact when presented in black and white.

Coordinating with Construction

2009-07-08T19:44:00.002-04:00

Even with the best plans sometimes you have to adapt to a fluid situation. This is the new Marine Mammal Center at the New England Aquarium designed by McManus Architects, Cambridge, MA. They were faced with scheduling a photography shoot day that fell in between the contractor's final wrap up, the installation of a semi-permanent event tent that would obscure most preferred views and the grand opening of this fantastic new facility. With the cooperation of the NE Aquarium, its staff and the various contractors, many exciting views were able to be photographed. Digital post production resolved what was not possible or practical on the actual shoot day. When time permits always try to schedule your photography after the work has been done.

Preplanning for Limited Access

2009-06-05T08:57:00.003-04:00

Sometimes the access to a temporary installation is limited due to constraints imposed by the venue or show management. In this case you need to adapt to the limitations. What is most helpful is a walk through of the site to design a plan to achieve your final photography objectives. What may be the right solution is to add more photo assistants and equipment so that you can progress from one view to the next as efficiently as possible. Preplanning can smooth out all the access limitations.

Assignment preproduction tip

2009-05-15T20:13:00.002-04:00

Certificates of Insurance are usually required when photographing on or from other people's property. In the case of photographing skyscrapers the best views are often from other private buildings. Most building management offices are agreeable to provide access to their property as a vantage point only requiring the photographer to provide a "certificate of insurance" issued by the photographer's insurance company to show proof of liability insurance. It is best for the client to initiate the call to the building management office as they are often interested in a reciprocal arrangement when their building needs to be photographed. After the client contact has been made the photographer can provide the needed insurance paperwork. Allow a few days to make all of these arrangements and to fit into the building owner's and photographer's schedules for the best weather.

Tight Budget?-Photography now File prep later

2009-04-02T13:15:00.003-04:00

Though your need for new photography continues your budgets may be tighter. Why not plan for smaller well targeted shoots that cover your most important needs. Or if you feel you'll only have one opportunity to photograph the location then work with your photographer to focus time on the prime views and get coverage of the others. Depending on your arrangements with your photographer you may be able to photograph a set number of views but defer the file preparation of the less urgent views to later in the year. Work with your photographer in advance of your shoot day to plan within your budget. A solution to fit your budget is out there, no reason to wait.

Sharing the cost of photography with a MPL agreement

2009-03-25T19:22:00.001-04:00

A MPL "Multiple-Party License" is an agreement between the photographer and multiple users of the finished photography prior to the shoot. Simply stated the cost of production of the photography is shared equally by all parties, then each party is billed a separate rights-license fee for their intended use. Agreements like this are most successful when the final image choices and use of the images is the same. It can represent a substantial savings to each participant vs separate photo shoots. The only time a MPL is not practical is when the needs of the parties differ significantly. If one party needs a full coverage record of a project and the other party is looking for more styled images for marketing it becomes too difficult to please both and separate shoots should be planned.

To learn more about MPL's in the AIA ASMP Best Practices PDF booklet click here.

"In or Out"

2009-03-10T14:08:00.000-04:00

This classic phrase used by all parents is also applicable to discussions about what the client wants in the final photograph. What to include in the frame is often a very personal decision that only the client can answer. Take the time to communicate your preferences with the photographer. Is there a particular way you'd like your photographs to look? The inclusion of plants, furniture, props and other image details should be reviewed in advance. In post production retouching do you prefer to have small distractions, like exit signs and sprinkler heads removed? Having these discussions prior to the shoot will insure that the images you receive are the images you envisioned.

Scouting vs Final Views

2009-02-16T10:05:00.001-05:00

There is always value in scouting a location by the photographer, even better a walk through with the architect or designer. Views can be determined, choices can be made, questions and concerns can be voiced. Shoot day preparations can be made and budgets can be confirmed. The one thing that scouting is not good for is as a substitution for an actual photo shoot. For one thing the quality is always limited due to the nature of the process of taking quick reference photos. That said, if plans change and future access is limited, there is sometimes the possibility of pulling an acceptable view from the scout. A lot a factors will determine if that will actually work and you should be prepared to budget for post production retouching to smooth out the rough spots.

Emphasize the "green" aspects for more press

2009-01-08T16:25:00.001-05:00

How green is your project? Any building project that has a green component continues to get good press coverage. When planing your photography shoot try to maximize your editorial potential of it's environmentally friendly features with in-depth coverage. A well photographed project has a much better chance to get published when the magazine editor has a choice of great images. Talk with your photographer about their policies regarding the editorial use of assignment images. I prefer to license the editorial use of my images directly to the magazine at their established rates. For those few magazines which do not budget for photography I ask my commissioning client to pay that fee if editorial use was not part of our original agreement.

Budget for Successful Photography in 2009

2008-12-11T18:47:00.000-05:00

Now is the time to think about your budget and scheduling for 2009. Professional photography of your best projects is an asset to your upcoming business marketing. Structure your budget to allow for complete coverage of your most important projects while saving enough to record your other projects. Try to photograph when the project is fresh, access is more easily obtainable and the subject is looking new. Consider contacting other interested parties to contract with the photographer for shared use, the savings to each party can be significant.

Photographing in New England's winter

2008-12-02T07:43:00.001-05:00

Winter in New England is typically a tough time to photograph exteriors. Snow banks, mud, leafless trees and brown grass challenge the views. Why not photograph the interiors and room details that are now ready as rooms can be filled with beautiful reflected sun light. Save those exteriors for Spring when the weather is better and fall plantings have taken hold. Or take the time to photograph those projects designed in warmer regions of the country.

Then again if your project is an igloo.....it's time to shoot!

People in Photographs

2008-11-23T19:18:00.000-05:00

People often add scale and a sense of purpose to an architectural photograph. The proper mix of people in a photograph is subjective but should always be considered and discussed when planing photography. In this view of a glass wall in a newly constructed hospital lobby it was important to balance the time of day to properly illustrate the wall's light transmission properties with the day of week when some control over the people could be exerted. We ended up photographing on a Sunday as other days of the week would have been too busy for an efficient shoot. For this angle we determined that people were not necessary to show a sense of scale. For other views we included people in motion to show how the space is used.

NYLO Hotel-Warwick, Rhode Island

2008-10-28T20:12:00.003-04:00

I've recently completed my second photography shoot for the new NYLO hotel located in the Warwick/Providence Rhode Island area. NYLO loft hotels are a new concept in the hospitality business, a hip and cool budget hotel. Each property is a newly constructed building in the style of a loft building conversion. Guest rooms and public spaces all feature hip design with exposed concrete walls and fixtures combined with unique custom furniture and many in room amenities. It is a great place for an event, party or meeting. If you are flying in or out of Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport is it only minutes away and has direct shuttle service.
Here is a link to what I photographed:NLYO New Look

This view features the NYLO's spectacular "Terrace" located directly off it's "Loft" restaurant which overlooks the Pawtuxet river. To achieve this view it was necessary for me to photograph from a tall ladder on top of the bridge over the river. With assistance from the housekeeping department we were able bring all the window shades to an even level.

Scouting trip or walk-through

2008-10-05T07:22:00.000-04:00

Often a scouting trip or walk-through of a property takes place prior to scheduling the actual photography day. Simple low resolution digital photographs are taken to help select views or as a reminder of problem areas that will need special attention. Sometimes due to circumstances beyond the control of the client, future access is limited. There is then a desire to utilize the scouting views, this should be avoided as they are typically low quality, quickly composed snapshots not often taken in the best light. On the rare occasion when there is no alternative and the view, lighting and use size are acceptable it is possible to make use of them. Keep in mind scouting shots were not part of the original use license quoted by the photographer, they were taken for discussion/reference purposes only. If you'd like to use one you will need to discuss with the photographer a fee to prepare the scouting view as a master file and an appropriate fee for your intended use. Don't forget that retouching may be needed to make the photograph usable.
This image was taken as a scouting shot with the anticipation of an additional shoot at the same location. That second shoot was never scheduled and the architect was in need of a rear exterior for an editorial article to go along with the front exterior and staircase interior photographs which were taken during the original assignment.

The Shot list

2008-09-26T20:03:00.000-04:00

The "Shot List" is one of the most important discussions you can have in preparation for a photography assignment. If not determined by a walk-through or scouting of the property by the architect and photographer, the shot list needs to be created by the commissioning party. Often the request is too broad, "shoot everything" and the list too long to accomplish during the photography day. Only the client can prioritize that list by order of importance. It is important to remember that typically only a select number of views will be used frequently from a particular project. It makes the most sense to spend the time on those important views and less time on the photographs that are more "for the record". Having this conversation with your photographer prior to the estimate will help you maximize your photography budget and yield a better final product.

For this assignment my client was looking for a great view of this stone entertainment patio for his AIA competition entry. Knowing this was the more important view than the home interiors, time was spent to make sure this view was ready to shoot when the natural light was right. A torrential rain storm that had ended that morning required that a good deal of effort be made to dry out the stone work and patio furniture prior to being photographed. Without the input from the client this view would not have had the attention it needed to make it a successful photograph which in the end was selected for exhibit at his AIA competition.

Ready to shoot?

2008-09-07T20:13:00.000-04:00

With the significant preparation needed to complete a successful architectural photography shoot, not to mention the costs involved, great attention should be given to how well prepared the location is for the photography day. Everyone seems to be very busy these days and the importance of this step can sometimes be diminished or overlooked in the budgeting and scheduling process. From the clients' standpoint the photographs should look perfect and there is occasionally an over reliance on what can be accomplished with photo retouching in post production. The best plan is review all aspects of the shoot with the property manager and maintenance staff. For interiors that would include making sure the desired furniture and fixtures have been installed and are operational and painting has been completed. Is it clean? (you'd be surprised). For exteriors, are the green spaces and trees maintained? Are seasonal or temporary signage or structures removed? Are other people working on site that day? Sometimes property owners schedule multiple parties on the same day as it's convenient to them. It is often difficult or impossible for each party to stay out of each others way when trying to achieve their goals. Sometime it's inevitable so try to determine before hand and see if it will affect the shoot plan.

Location, Location, Location

2008-08-22T19:39:00.000-04:00

The often quoted real estate expression "Location, location, location" applies to successful architectural photography siting as well. Choosing the best angle for your project involves selecting the best point of view that tells the complete story. That viewpoint may be from across the street, from another building or in this example from the water. These two New York City glass residential towers by architect Richard Meier are shown in context to their proximity to other well known NYC icons like the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. That gives the viewer a sense of their Perry Street location in lower Manhattan.
Take the time to review all view options with your photographer when you are considering the possible views for your project.

Green Manhattan

2008-08-07T09:21:00.000-04:00

One of the more interesting new buildings in the Manhattan skyline is the Hearst Tower on 57th street. This new Norman Foster designed 46 story office tower is the headquarters of the Hearst Corporation and the first green building completed in New York City (2006). The unusual triangular framing pattern is known as "diagrid". The building was constructed of 80% recycled steel by Turner Construction. The building's design allows it to use 25% less energy than the minimums set by the city of New York, which helped it earn a LEED gold designation.
Photographing reflective buildings requires careful planning for camera and sun angle to yield the best results.

Framing the subject

2008-07-28T14:28:00.001-04:00

July presented an opportunity for a family trip to the Mid-Atlantic region. Along the way we visited the Gettysburg National Military Park and its new Museum and Visitor center. Designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners of New York City the 136,000 square foot facility was designed to blend in to the Pennsylvania country side. I chose this view to frame the buildings diverse shapes as well as to show the main pedestrian and tour group entrances.

When to photograph?

2008-07-09T20:25:00.001-04:00

When is best time to shoot? This question comes up when planning any assignment. Often the dates that are most convenient to the property owners or to the deadline are what determine the schedule. However that's not necessarily the best day or time of day to make photographs. If you have a high traffic area and you don't want to see the traffic, choose off peak use times, like the weekend for a office location. Other commercial and retail buildings can benefit from including the public in some of the views. That requires careful planning and a little luck for the right balance of people and light.
In this photograph of the Marketplace Center at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace I chose a view that captured the busy retail foot traffic along with the colorful hanging banners which fill the entrance portal.

Steve Rosenthal print show at C7A

2008-06-18T14:36:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to view architectural photographer Steve Rosenthal's print exhibit "New England Village Churches 1965-2007" at Cambridge Seven Associates-Paul Dietrich Gallery. These are exquisite B&W prints of country churches in beautiful light and composition an inspired 32 year personal project. Steve Rosenthal is one of the preeminent architectural photographers in America and based in Massachusetts.

The Paul Dietrich Gallery is located within the reception area of the Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc at 1050 Massassachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 492-7000 and on view Monday through Friday 9:ooam-5:00pm His show will run until July 30, 2008, please try to take it in.

Metroplis Magazine Exhibit at ICFF

2008-06-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

I recently photographed the Metropolis Magazine exhibit at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javitz Center in NYC. The exhibit was designed by one of my long time clients Mauk Design Inc. of San Francisco. Exhibition photography is always a challenge of coordinating the needs to make a great image with the armies of exhibit installers, sales and technical personnel and exhibit hall workers. I think this image turned out great.

My photographs in AIA 2008 Final Program

2008-05-18T18:09:00.002-04:00

I was pleased to see that ten of my images of Boston architecture were included in the AIA 2008 Final Program handed out to all convention attendees. I also saw several of my photographs in books and in my clients promotional materials available at the exhibition.

Here are two of my photographs that were used in the program.

ASMP at AIA National Convention

2008-05-16T17:46:00.001-04:00

This year I was a volunteer at the ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) exhibit at the AIA convention in Boston. ASMP member photographers were on hand to pass out free copies of the AIA-ASMP collaborative booklet titled "Commissioning Architectural Photography". The 20 page booklet covers selecting a photographer, estimating, controlling costs, licensing images and a photography preparation checklist. We passed out many copies of the booklet and spoke with architects and marketing people about tips for a successful photo shoot and about ASMP member photographers who also had a gallery of prints at the show.

www.asmp.org

AIA 2008 National Convention and Exhibition in Boston May 15-17

2008-04-30T12:10:00.000-04:00

This year the AIA will hold it's national convention in Boston. I hope you will have the time to attend and take in all the city has to offer.

I will attend as a volunteer member representative of the ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers). ASMP will have have an informational exhibit booth (# 14198) to share with architects some of the documents they have created in conjunction with the AIA to help organize successful photography projects. I will be present in the exhibit Thursday May 15, from 2:30-5 p.m. to answer any questions you may have about how to organize a successful photography project and ASMP. Please stop by and say hello when you pick up a free copy of ASMP's new booklet "Commissioning Architectural Photography".

Andy

http://www.asmp.org

http://www.aiaconvention.com/live/61

A visit to Fallingwater

2008-04-19T10:59:00.000-04:00

Recently I traveled to Pennsylvania on an assignment and recalled my past visit to "Fallingwater" the Frank Lloyd Wright designed home for Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr. in 1935. It is located about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Bear Run in the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains of PA. It is a spectacularly sited project that is deserving of all its accolades. To learn more about visiting this iconic masterpiece visit the official website:

http://www.paconserve.org/43/fallingwater

Above is a photograph from my visit.

Andy

Stoller and Shulman Photographs at Addison Gallery

2008-03-12T11:49:00.001-04:00

I just saw these two photography exhibits at the Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy, Andover, MA.

http://www.andover.edu/addison/exhibition/2008-Winter/Stollerized.htm

The "Stollerized" exhibit is a small collection of 13 prints by noted architectural photographer Ezra Stoller which will run through March 23,2008.

Architectural photographer Julius Shulman's photographs are part of: "Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design and Culture at Midcentury" on exhibit until April 13, 2008 upstairs in the same gallery.

Stoller and Shulman are two of the most influential American architectural photographers, this is great opportunity to see these original images up close.

Very inspiring.

Andy

What makes a successful architectural photograph?

2008-03-05T22:14:00.000-05:00

In my opinion most successful architectural photographs exhibit these four qualities, which I believe are all of equal importance:

Defined purpose
Point of view
Quality of light
Quality of execution

If you fail on any of these points your photograph will not successfully communicate to the viewer your objective or you will be limited in the scope of how the photographs can be used.

Defined purpose
You need to identify why you are photographing the subject. Are the photographs for your portfolio, a marketing campaign or to advertise a product or service? You need to communicate your purpose clearly to your photographer.

Point of view
You need to determine the best camera positions to convey that purpose. This is where a site walk through or scout of the location with the photographer is invaluable. Consider if there is a view that shows several features in one angle. Equally important, are there aspects to the project you do not wish to highlight?

Quality of light
When does the subject look the best? Is it in the morning or afternoon light or is it best at dawn or dusk? Is the natural and/or existing lighting sufficient or is it in need of supplemental lighting to make up for existing deficiencies or site limitations?

Quality of execution
With the proliferation of digital cameras and their built in programs it has become easier to make a “good” photograph. The question is when is “good” not good enough. Many people are not fully knowledgeable about their camera’s functions and further do not know how to process the camera’s auto-generated file for maximum quality.
The professional architectural photographer not only uses equipment capable of much higher resolution, they also use special lenses and supplemental lighting to capture an image that embodies your defined purpose. That image can be further refined through the use of specialty software and image processing techniques to maximize the success of the final photograph.

Among the many decisions you will need to make are: how important are these images to your defined purpose and will you have access to this subject again in its present condition?

Best of luck with your project and if you need any help I’d be happy to speak with you about it. Please visit my web site to see samples of my photography and the services I offer.

http://www.andycaulfield.com

Thanks for taking a look. Andy

My new web site

2008-02-27T19:05:00.000-05:00

Today I launched my new architecture web site at: www.andycaulfield.com
I display many new images in categories such as commercial, residential, landscape, retail/hospitality, exhibit and photo retouching.

Also take a look at my "Home Sweet Home" portfolio where I've placed an eclectic mix of dwellings from my travels. Enjoy

Andy

My first post

2008-02-21T17:58:00.000-05:00

With this blog I'll try to take you through the process of creating compelling architectural images that will convey to your viewers the important aspects of your project.

Andy Caulfield