PicsArt Monthly January 2014 Issue | Page 8

Things That Don’t Go Bump In The Night In learning to photograph architecture, the good thing: IT DOESN’T MOVE. When you are beginning to take pictures seriously and searching for exceptional subject matter, the fact that a civilization’s history and accomplishments are on display in its bricks and mortar, buildings and structures is tremendously picturesque. Architecture affords you the luxury of remaining stationary and doesn’t change its mind while you fidget with dials and buttons on your camera. You can take your time. So if you are looking for something more significant and less self-indulgent than pictures of your kitten, lunch, party or “selfies”, look no further. By showing the world human achievement made of steel and concrete, wood and glass, sticks and stones, that search is over. The bad thing about photographing architecture: IT DOESN’T MOVE. Therefore, everybody tends to copy the same images of the more famous buildings. When starting out, it is a time-honored practice to try and imitate the masters but eventually you want to strike out on your own. More to the point, photography should not be relegated just to action. There is a potential world of imagery not going anywhere, i.e. landscapes, artwork, monuments. I happen to be partial to still lifes. They combine my love of graphics, composition, storytelling and stuff. 8 | PicsArt Monthly