Architectural Photography Tips: How to Capture Stunning Building Details and Structures

When visiting Sioux Falls, you should definitely go and see the sculpture area with the Arc of Dreams.  Yes, it is arc, not arch, because they do not meet in the middle. The sculpture was created by South Dakota Artist Laureate Dale Claude Lamphere who intentionally left the 15 foot gap 80 feet above the water because it represents the leap of faith dreamers take to see their dreams come true.

The Arc of Dreams represents the journey of everyone’s dream. At some point it requires a leap of faith to make it reality. The Arc of Dreams is the hopeful path our dreams take as they enter our consciousness, are defined by our intellect, and are ultimately entrusted to our faith in the future.” Dale Claude Lamphere

​I loved this quote and how he explains an artist’s point of view and how art work can be difficult and rewarding at the same time.

Here is the Arc. I treated this again like a sculpture, which it is, and an architectural piece, which it also is.  Challenge yourself to wander around the piece before you start shooting.  Be aware of angles, cropping, lighting and framing.  I loved these angles because of the symmetry and strength of the piece.  Challenge yourself to move your camera higher or lower and you can dramatically change the final image.  Also a slight tilt either higher or lower can change the way the light hits a reflective surface, such as the Arc. It is made of polished stainless steel and is highly reflective.  I would have liked to see how it looked at night, lit up, but as with all travel, there really is not enough time to investigate every angle and situation.

This image was shot a bit away from the Arc and frames the buildings in the distance. The light was right at this time as it highlighted the highest building in the distance and it worked.  I later went on the bridge to view the Arc and the view was nice but not nearly as striking as the original shot.  The background just didn’t work from that angle, shooting from the opposite side. 

Now if you want a really striking image, try cropping your images in different ratios and see what you get. A little cropping can make a big difference in the feel and impact of the final image. See what a square crop can do:

I really need to remember to shoot the “bad” angles as well, so that I can give you a “do” and “don’t do” example.  That is difficult for me, as I have shot imagery for over 30 years. 

Make sure to wander around the sculpture garden, there are really some fine pieces of work highlighted throughout the garden.  I believe that they change every year and are replaced through a jurying process for new works and new artists.  I love that they do this, as it makes the exhibit a fluid and changing one.

The walk to the Arc from the falls and back was a bit long for me, so I drove.  But if you are more agile and feel spry, it looks like lovely way to spend the afternoon, walking or biking along the river up to the Arc and sculpture garden.

That’s it for Sioux Falls.  It was a great afternoon.  This time I did not “find nature’s beauty” as much as find the beauty in man made architecture and art.  That is the way of travel and photography. Every place you visit is an opportunity to hone your skills and create an art piece from what you find there.

By the way, I was feeling either tired or lazy today, so I just used my cell phone for all these images. Yes, you can get great images from your cell phone if you pay attention to lighting, cropping, angles and subject position.

Happy shooting!