Equipment

Architectural photography is conducted with medium- and large-format film cameras with 3 to 15 times the exposure area of regular 35mm film or digital sensors. Big image capture enables ultra-wide photography with minimal distortion, and allows for variable sizing (rectangular, square or panoramic) without loss of quality. Large-format bellows cameras provide for perspective control such as correcting for slanting lines when the camera is aimed upwards to photograph a tall building or lofty interior. Large-format transparencies of 4x5 inches or longer allow for enlargements to wall or mural size.

Smaller 35mm format is used for architectural photography when portability or safety issues rule out hefty medium- or large format equipment that normally requires a tripod and attendant baggage. Premium Leica optics enhanced for perspective control and low-light conditions enable suitable image quality from 35mm film (and from digital capture for normal to slightly-wide views) when the camera must be hand-held, with the proviso that very big or panel-size enlargements may not be available.

Metro station photographed with super-wide Zeiss Biogon lens