Why Architecture?

 

I have always had an interest in photographing architecture within cities.  Living in Caerphilly and having free access to visit Caerphilly Castle as a resident of the town, has allowed me to take full advantage of photographing its beauty and its decay.  

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The City of Cardiff is practically on my doorstep and has beautiful buildings, old and new.   It has been my hobby since childhood to photograph the architecture.

 

I recently read an article on architecture buildings in Cardiff. (Cardiff Life)  Magazine.  Which inspired me to make a list of buildings I want to photograph.  In my mind I have a vision of how I want to my images to look, the clouds playing a big part in my composition.

 

Here is a list of buildings;

 

City Hall – Victorian splendour

Llandaff Cathedral – 12thcentury

Central Library – new glass-centric

The Royal Welsh College of music and drama- contemporary

St Fagans Museum – entrance

The Senedd

The Pier Head – Cardiff Bay

The Cottage Pub – St Mary’s St

Mount Stuart Square – Cardiff Bay

The Washington Buiding – Stanwell Rd, Penarth

The Old Library - Llandaff

Cardiff National Museum – Civic Centre

 

I love being outdoors taking photographs, it’s like a form of therapy treatment for me, I lose myself in search for a shot, looking for new angles.   I have documented old buildings being demolished, renovated and new developments grow.  I hope that my images will begin to catalogue into a series in years to come.

 

In particular I want to experiment with slow shutter speeds, positioning the lens directly upwards, using the buildings edge as a leading line, capturing the moving clouds.  

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I visited Rome in 2015, I had not used my Digital SLR (DSLR) camera in manual for some years, so I thought to myself, if I am going to Rome then I must take my DSLR to capture some of the most beautiful architecture in the world.  It was a challenge indeed, exposure, lens choice, angles, elements and choosing the best time of day to capture beautiful images.  The results from using manual mode and stepping outside my comfort zone, has led my photography to another level, it has opened up my ability to create images I never thought possible.  

 

Rome is a romantic city with breath taking buildings and churches on every corner, no expense has been spared in building their catholic homes of worship.  These buildings boast the most beautiful doors and windows, which inspired me and shifted my focus to photographing doors and windows.

 

When I first researched photography in Rome, I saw a drone video (see link below), which inspired me for future projects.    

 

https://youtu.be/BXgJCVGO7YE   by Spirit Juice