Cities are filled with spectacular opportunities for capturing amazing photographs. It takes more than pointing your camera, and clicking to capture the heart and soul of a city. Want to take better Cityscape photos? Here are some Tips For Cityscape Photography to get you going.
Location, location, location… Where is the best place for cityscape photography? Start by looking for unobstructed views of the skyline. Reflections can add some drama to your photographs, so if your city has a waterfront head in that direction. Try finding higher vantage points. Look for hotels or buildings with roof top access. Don’t forget to look for roof top bars.
Get to your location early. The Golden Hour and Blue Hour are often the best time for creating dramatic cityscapes. The city is illuminated by the light, and sets the stage for beautiful photographs, bursting with colors.
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Don’t forget your tripod. A Reliable Tripod can be quite helpful when shooting with slower shutter speeds. It’ll help with framing your shot, and keep your camera steady.
Capture the whole skyline by using a wide angle lens to show as much of the city as possible. A wide-angle lens allows you to fit more of the city into the frame, creating a sense of depth in the scene.
Bracket your shots. When shooting cityscapes, you may have many sources of light to deal with. Bracketing your shots will give you a series of photos with varying exposures.
Don’t forget the people! People are the life and pulse the city, and can add interest to your photograph. They help tell the story of a city, plus they make really great street photography shots.
Seek out bodies of water such as lakes or rivers. Water can completely transform a cityscape image. It immediately adds an element of interest to any photo. Try using long exposures to capture the flow of a river. It will give it a silky, smooth, dreamy look. Look for the reflections of the buildings on the water, and experiment with different shutter speeds to create different looks.
Use a drone. If you want to show a different perspective of the city, drones are the way to go. Drones allow aerial views of a city, and can provide a unique perspective of urban sprawl. Be sure to check security issues, and laws in the city you are photographing if you plan on using a drone.
Use a tilt-shift lens. This lens allows you to create compelling miniature, dreamlike images. A tilt shift lens offers optical manipulation and perspective control. It’s just a fun, unique way to photograph a city.
Don’t be afraid of bad weather. It can add an element of drama and moodiness to the shot, and can completely change the look and feeling of a city. You can create some of the best cityscape photographs in stormy weather. Rain brings out the opportunity to add reflections into your photos, while clouds filled skies add texture. Water increases the saturation of surfaces and buildings, bringing the city alive as everything pops with color.
Well, now you have some Tips For Cityscape Photography, so get out there and start shooting!
