Enlightenment Through Understanding

Some of the best people portraits are taken by photographer’s who understand the person behind the photo. Sometimes, you see that somehow the photographer has connected with the essence of the person being photographed. They have tapped into the subjects personality.

Well believe it or not, buildings have personalities too.

Buildings can communicate to us through their size, shape, material, space, and style.

When I go into the nave of an ancient church I feel different to when I walk into a supermarket aisle. It isn’t just the packet soup that makes the difference, it is also the way the building has been formed by its originators. There is an intention behind every building we see.

Armed with this knowledge and a little background understanding about architectural styles and history we can better inform our photography.

(taken from my architectural photography tips site here)

Here's someAmazon links to recommended reading for a backgrounder in architecture - any other suggestions would be really welcome

A Visual Dictionary of Architecture
- excellent images and great for learning about the theory of
architecture. One of my favourites.

Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture
- The ultimate book on Vernacular Architecture in Britain - I met Mr
Brunskill once!

The Classical Language of Architecture (World of Art)
- John Summersons iconic book

Architecture in Britain, 1530-1830 (Yale University Press Pelican History of Art)
- Another iconic book from Summerson

Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture
- If you have the money - then buy it - you won't be disappointed.

An Outline of European Architecture (Penguin art and architecture)
- Grand sweep of an outline - beautifully written.

A History of Building Types (A.W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts)-
For the geeks amongst us

The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (Penguin Reference Books)
- Key reference book

The Elements of Style: An Encyclopedia of Domestic Architectural Detail (Mitchell Beazley Art & Design)

- Sumptuous and well referenced covers US and UK styles


A World History of Art-
Enormous amount of information in this book - you can't do without it.