The first prize in the architecture category of the Sony World Photography Awards was recently won by Xuecheng Liu, a Chinese photographer who captured the expanse and energy of New York with a wide angle aerial shot of Times Square. This bird’s eye view of the striking skyscrapers centred on the lights of a vibrant city intersection highlights the unique perspective offered by aerial architectural photography and how it can transform the way in which buildings and design projects are visualized.
While this photograph caught the judges’ attention, a number of experienced architectural photographers are taking to the sky to capture outstanding aerial shots that provide architects, planners and clients with valuable and informative views of cityscapes, ongoing design projects and completed buildings. Even the digital design tools transforming architectural visualization include aerial rendering in recognition of the importance of being able to fully visualize the scale and context of a project and how it will relate to its surroundings.
Unique Vantage Points are Revealed in Drone Imagery
From documenting the timeless beauty of historic high rises to showcasing the aesthetics of a new commercial property, the use of drones in architectural photography reveals the intricate design elements and spatial relationships that are impossible to appreciate from the ground.
Logistically easier than taking photographs from neighbouring buildings and without the costs associated with capturing shots from a helicopter, the use of a drone allows designers and clients to view projects from a different and unique vantage point. They can also be used in the documentation of existing buildings including skyscrapers, where their versatility allows them to draw nearer to sculptures, signage and spires of the upper floors that create an iconic city skyline.
Patterns and Symmetry Are Emphasized from Above
According to a fine art photographer who now explores alternative views from a helicopter, a shot of a cityscape reveals an artistic vision of color, patterns and symmetry, very different from the view perceived when looking up from the street. Checking the layout and uniform balance of streets, buildings and public spaces from the air can help urban planners to complete the grid-like structures commonly seen in modern cities and only really fully appreciated from above.
Aerial 3D Rendering Enhances Project Visualization
The informative and striking shots acquired by drone or helicopter can be used to provide the detailed, large-scale backdrops for models of architectural projects. Even before a building is completed, aerial 3D rendering offers a unique and comprehensive view of a project. By adding lighting and other effects to computer-generated imagery taken from elevated viewpoints, architects can explore different options for their designs and showcase a realistic representation of a project to prospective clients.
From highlighting a building’s detailed features unappreciated from the ground to exploring its relationship with its surroundings, the benefits offered by aerial views taken by drone or helicopter allow for a more comprehensive appreciation of architectural projects, completed designs and historic buildings.