Photographer Focus : Grant Pitcher
As the second photographer to be featured in our Photographer Focus , we asked Grant to give us some background on himself and his photography .
Personal Background I was born and raised in Durban , South Africa and , though I spent a brief period in British Columbia , Canada , I ’ m back in Durban with my wife and two children . I use Durban as my base but often travel for commissions country-wide and across the borders of South Africa .
How did you get into photography ? I ’ d always had a passion for the creative and enjoyed capturing landscape beauty with a point and shoot camera on my travels to Europe after school in the late 90 ’ s . When digital SLR cameras were first released I got my hands on a basic model in time to photograph my sister-inlaw ’ s wedding .
It wasn ’ t until a year later when an architect friend of mine , Nigel Tarboton of Metropole Architects , gave me the opportunity to photograph one of their newly completed renovation projects that I knew this was something that I wanted to
pursue . Soon after that I showcased the Monk Manor residence in Zimbali and this home had a cover feature in The Property Magazine in February 2007 which then provided the self belief that photography can become a career .
Fifteen years later I ’ ve never looked back and Metropole Architects remain a client ! In more recent times , with the advent of mirrorless technology , I provide my clients with video showcase reels of their projects using my experience of good lighting and framing of the scene to create a story of the location .
When it comes to architectural photography , how do you work and what do you feel makes for a great image ? For me a great image is the result of balancing the light . My trademark is low light photography in twilight time , capturing the perfect balance of exterior and interior lighting . If I can achieve the added drama of a beautiful sky or exceptional view that is a bonus .
With regards to how I work , I am completely self-taught so my imagery is influenced a great deal by what I feel and how I see the environment within the location . I have also kept learning over the years and developing my Photoshop knowledge in order to pull the most of the digital file so these days I do shoot for my post production in mind . I am also a licensed drone pilot and the innovation of this technology made an impact on the additional dynamic and variations of the imagery that we are able to achieve these days with the buildings we showcase .
What is your favourite building to have shot and why ? Umhlanga Arch in Umhlanga Ridge , Durban . I have always been drawn to the challenge of capturing ‘ big buildings ’ and have showcased a number of large warehouses around South Africa . But Umhlanga Arch was special because of its magnificent architecture in a prime location that would set it apart as a beacon on the Durban skyline . I admire the work of the architects , Craft of Architecture , and when I was commissioned to showcase this location I was honoured and put many days of photography time into this project with numerous visits to the site to get the best results .
What should architects consider when working with a photographer to ensure the best quality shoot ? Convey the ‘ Why ’! When designing , the architect is creating a space for human dwelling - whether for work , pleasure or residence . Tell that story briefly to the photographer . This way the photographer would be able to interpret the architect ’ s vision and portray that in a number of ‘ hero ’ images of the location that would best tell that story .
The other key aspect is lighting and when the building will look best in relation to the sun . This way the photographer can plan the shoot accordingly to get the best angles in the best possible light . This is less important for the twilight imagery but for full sun daytime captures the position of the sun is everything , even for some of the interior images . www . grantpitcher . com
10 Grant Pitcher