After a lengthy search you've scoped out an ideal spot for a cityscape photo; or, maybe you picked a great holiday destination months ago with opportunities for some once-in-a-lifetime architecture shots. Now, you want to capture the grandeur "on film" (or more likely, on CCD, but somehow that doesn't have the same ring to it). Of course, a mountain of factors play into getting the photos you really want, but by keeping these tips on shooting angle in mind you can add more interest to your pictures and improve your chances of getting dramatic results.
Depth Finder (Architecture):
It's always good to keep in mind that just because a scene looks good to your eye, doesn't mean you'll get a good photo by simply lifting the camera and snapping away. Remember, our eyes see a lot more than you can get into a photo, so to convey depth and context in your close range photos of buildings and grounds it's best to choose an oblique angle from your subject. Not only will this give you a picture of more than one side of the building and thus provide more detail, it will also add depth by giving a better perspective of the building's surroundings and background.
Moreover, shooting from an angle will introduce noticeable diagonal lines that lead from bottom to top and side-to-side and draw the eye through the photo. Far from taking away from the impact of your subject, drawing the eye through the photo so it notices more surrounding detail will enhance the impact of your subject by keeping it from appearing as a stark and overpowering chunk of stone and metal just floating there. It's worth noting that this technique works when shooting inside buildings as well.
The first photo below encompasses this tip. Compare it to the straight on shot below that has less interest and impact. The photos are of China's Forbidden City.
"You Are Here" (Cityscapes):
Whether traveling in an exotic city or just exploring your own urban playground, if you're carrying your camera there'll be plenty of occasions when you think, "Hey, just a sec, let me get a shot of this." One way to get really memorable shots is to look for genuine cityscapes rather than street photos. This means finding a high point, whether a window, balcony, rooftop, or the like.
As you look for a promising location and then line up your shot, make sure you include a view of your immediate surroundings as well, rather than just the pretty buildings in the distance. And this means what's as close to right below you as you can manage and still get those distant buildings in. Doing this will lend your photos a sense of, well, "immediacy" or being in the scene - the "you are here" factor, if you like.
Here's a nice example of a "You Are Here" cityscape.
