HNC Architecture Tasks
In my first year of the HND Photography course, I was given the task of selecting five architectural images, each with a unique focus. The assignment was to capture the full exterior of a building, a partial exterior, a creative interpretation of an exterior, an interior shot with any lighting, and an interior with ambient and flash lighting. My lecturer provided editing guidance but left the subject choice to me.
For the full exterior, I chose The Beresford Building in Glasgow. I had to photograph it twice because a Tesco delivery truck kept parking in front, blocking my shot. After the truck moved, I still had to edit out many distractions from the frame. This task taught me valuable removal techniques that I later applied to my final project.
The partial exterior was Kirknewton station at sunset. This photo was easier to capture, with the main challenge being exposure bracketing. I'm particularly fond of the vibrant colours in this image.
The creative task was the most open-ended. While some classmates went for bold edits, like turning grey buildings mint blue, I opted for a more subtle approach. I photographed the Forth Railway Bridge at night, using long exposure to capture cloud movement and exposure bracketing to illuminate the darker areas. This image is now a prominent A2 print in my home.
The interior shot with any light was taken in my kitchen. The goal was to create an image with even lighting and no shadows. I achieved this by merging multiple images with different lighting positions. I arranged magnets in a central design and added plates and glasses to the draining board to give the image a homely feel.
The final task, an interior with flash, was completed at my mum's workplace. I took several shots with the flash in the room's centre, pointing upwards to brighten the space, and then without the flash to edit it out. It's not my favourite image, but it met the lecturer's requirements.
Through these tasks, I learned to deal with unexpected elements like the delivery truck and to manage various lighting conditions. This experience improved my technical skills and my ability to adapt to different photographic situations. It was a practical and enriching part of my photography education, enhancing both my technical abilities and my creative vision.