I love getting great drone shots. The aerial perspectives available with a drone has opened new worlds to photographers previously only accessible by renting expensive helicopters and lifts. It’s a fantastic tool to have as an architectural photographer.
While having a flying camera is thrilling, the rules of photography still apply here and knowledge of composition, lighting, and what can be done in post production are key factors. To me the photography of architecture is like doing an enormous product shot and because of the scale involved, is the most challenging of subjects. What follows are a few examples.
The recently opened 6th St. Viaduct is full of possibilities for great photos. In this view, I wanted to show how the pedestrian ramp is connected and relates to the bridge. Here I used the bulk of the ramp to offset the lines of the arches as they hopscotch across the frame. This was all timed with the late afternoon sun, getting raking light across the concrete, and bringing it into sharp relief. Also important was the inclusion of people in the scene to give a sense of scale.
Pedestrian Ramp 6th St. Viaduct | Michael Maltzan Architects | HNTB Civil Engineering
Here is the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement. This was shot for Lumenpulse, who supplied the lighting for the bridge. Timing on this was critical. Shot some time after sunset, it was dark enough to see the lighting but enough fill light remained in the sky to reveal some detail.
Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement | Lumenpulse Lighting | Shimmick Construction
Another favorite dusk photo is the Aquarium of the Pacific. With this perspective, you can see the waveform roofline and the cool fountain in front, designed in the shape of a nautilus shell. Beyond the aquarium, you can make out the cranes at the port of Long Beach, and the cables of the bridge in the previous photo.
Aquarium of the Pacific | EHDD Architects
To fly a drone professionally, you need to be licensed by the FAA. Some areas you need special permission to fly such as within 5 miles of an airport, and some locations are completely off limits such as national parks. With the growth of the industry, obtaining permission to fly restricted areas has become much less onerous, and with an app on your smartphone, permissions can now be obtained within minutes in a lot of cases.
Here’s a daytime shot of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona. A drone was the best way to obtain this view of the chapel and show how it relates to the site, placed amongst the red rock buttes of Sedona.
Chapel of the Holy Cross | Personal Work
As you can tell, I love what can be achieved with a drone. The creative possibilities are endless.