Take a stroll around a city with the size and history of London and you’ll be struck by the variety, size and density of the buildings you can take photos of. If you set out to photograph these buildings you’ll be presented with opportunities to create great images, and you’ll also be challenged by the creative choices you have to make to capture the essence of the city’s architecture.

How to take photos of buildings

Here are our 5 tips for better architectural photography:

– Try to capture a sense of scale. Some buildings are huge, emphasise this by including something small in the shot.

– Create contrast. Show variety and create visual interest by placing contrasting elements in your image. Ancient and modern are the obvious contrasts when shooting buildings.

– Use the negative space. In addition to the buildings themselves, consider how the negative space (most often the sky) can be used as an additional part of your shot.

– Think in terms of shapes and lines. Makes shapes in your photo by placing the buildings at angles within the frame. Use diagonals and patterns in your composition.

– Vary your lens choice. Wide angles and telephoto lenses can both be used to create different views and for variety within your set of photos. Explore the effects of different focal lengths on distance, shape and scale.