How to articles

Recently had a major landscaping project in our back yard. I am looking for articles on how to best photograph it. Any suggestions?

Thanks muchly

Don

Can't direct you to any article; employing a Drone, was my first thought.

 

What's the purpose of the Photography?

 

WW

What's the purpose of the Photography?

Important question.

Important question.

 

I concur.

Make it about people.

One thought: Many of the same principles that apply to interior architectural photography would apply here, with an emphasis on smaller scale compositions. (Vignette versus overview.) Also, the theme of the landscaping would necessarily inform the approach, such as pathways, leading lines, privacy versus openness, color and texture, materiality, and how one experiences the features. A drone is less useful to record experiential features (for obvious reasons), but would serve very well from a documentary standpoint. Edited February 27, 2020 by DavidTriplett

Two purposes

I would like to show off our latest addition

 

also the contractor liked my first shots and wants to submit to trade magazines and submit his project for award. People say the photos I took are very good but I know it could be done better.

Thanx

Edited February 27, 2020 by William Michael

Bit late now, but a series of shots showing work in progress might have been of interest. Possibly now, a high viewpoint wide-angle shot to show the entire area, then close-ups of the salient features - ask the contractor the kind of shots he would find helpful - and how much he is willing to pay for them ! He wouldn't work for free - why should you ?

The problem I see with the example shot above is that the cutoff of the full area feels awkward. A wider shot seems like it would work better, though a shot that features the workman wouldn’t have to be wide, just well composed and I think would include his head. Have you looked the trade magazines to see the types of photos they use and compared yours to those?

. . . the contractor liked my first shots and wants to submit to trade magazines and submit his project for award. . .

 

Again, no articles to recommend to you.

 

The structure appears to be about 20ft diameter: I'd be looking at an high vantage point, looking downward at an angle of about 60 degrees, keeping in shot a perimeter of the garden, to show context and relevance - this would be my Main Shot.

 

For this purpose I think a Drone could be problematic and I’d avoid it – but I am not experienced as my typical day to day function, yet I have seen great results.

 

It is important not to over exaggerate any distortion of the circle, so, as a premise I would be using more toward a Standard Lens, than Wide Angle.

 

Not knowing where trees etc and their shadows will be located, if such can't be avoided by selecting a suitable time of day, then cloud cover may be your friend.

 

Additionally, I concur with David's comment - for the purpose of an award this is basically Architectural Photography, and so to complement the Main Shot I’d make a series of smaller detailed shots displaying, as examples but not limited to: context of individual parts of the structure; individual part’s visual features and textures, etc; perhaps a journey ‘through’ the feature.

 

Excellent Post Processing skills are integral to Excellent Architectural Photography.

 

Any or all of the above could also be used - 'to show off our latest addition'

 

WW

Edited February 27, 2020 by William Michael

Thanks. It sounds like I am on the right track on a whole. I have shots of work in progress. We have a balcony overlooking it so I may have to use wide angle for one photo. Contractor had unfortunate medical event and was in ICU for a week so shrubbery goes iin this spring which should give ample opportunity for nice shots. He is a good friend now and gave some great price breaks with an eye on making this a showcase to promote business and will recommend me so I have no intention of charging.

Thanks

A bit late in the game, but a time lapse video of a construction project can be entertaining and informative. For example, how was the tiled area built up and in what order. A game camera is not that expensive, completely weather proof, and can operate for days or weeks at a time unattended.

 

Once the project is finished, consider why you wanted it that way and what you find attractive. You need establishment shots which show a wide area and how the project fits into your landscaping ideas. Detailed shots are what tell the story, and what you see from ground level as you walk around.

 

If drone photos are used for advertising, they must be taken by a licensed drone pilot, even on your own property (the FAA owns the air).

The photo above was shot at f/3.5 1/4000 sec and 1600 ISO. With your camera mounted on a tripod, you could reduce the shutter speed, which would allow you to reduce the ISO and the aperture, which would probably yield better results.

...(the FAA owns the air).

 

Hmm... they even charge

me for breathing...

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