"Every picture tells a story" - at least, that's according to that great philosopher of our time, Rod Stewart. But what about the stories behind the pictures themselves? At ArchDaily we know that a great image requires not only great architecture but also a skilled photographer, so to celebrate World Photo Day we decided to find out more about the most popular images on ArchDaily. We've taken the ten most bookmarked images in My ArchDaily, and contacted some of the photographers to find out more about their images - read on to see the top ten, and to find out the stories behind six of them.
Project: Town House in Antwerp
Photographer: Luc Roymans
Architects: Sculp[IT]
What's the story behind this photo?
The picture was taken for the architects initially to be used to enter an architecture contest - it’s also the architects you see in this picture on the left. An important part of this assignment was that I was able to show how massive and vast the windows actually are, combined with the coziness of the place. I don’t like dull, empty architecture shots myself. I used to shoot very minimal, but as I’ve grown as a person over the past few years, so has my photography. I want to show warmth, fun and comfort in my work now.
What equipment did you use to take the photo?
Nikon D810 and 14-24 at 14mm.
Why do you think this photo resonated with ArchDaily's readers?
I think it clearly shows the architectural ingenuity of the project, combined with the warmness of the actual house and its inhabitants. You get a nice sense of the part you don’t clearly see through the reflection in the open window. It was important that the inhabitant of this project were not clearly recognizable in the shoot - you also see him in the reflection, in such a way that the image is OK to be used. The crazy cozy cat finishes the pictures.
How does this photo speak to your overall portfolio?
I don’t take myself or my photography too ‘seriously' in the sense that I'm a very happy and positive person, which is what I try to show in my general work. I like the way that I put a bit of fun with the cat into this image. I shoot a lot of lifestyle editorials for lots of different magazines, and I always make sure to put a bit of quirkiness into those shoots. Those pictures almost never make it into publication though, but I’ll never stop trying ;)
Project: Vineyard Högl in Wachau
Photographer: Elmar Ludescher
Architects: Elmar Ludescher + Philip Lutz
What's the story behind this photo?
To be honest, we are the architects and in this case I took the photos by myself.
What equipment did you use to take the photo?
Nikon d800
Why do you think this photo resonated with ArchDaily's readers?
We think, because of the strange, almost mystic light conditions.
How does this photo speak to your overall portfolio?
During the last year we had the opportunity to build some projects in rural situations, that try to match the local conditions and building tradition, thus we look for a new culture of roof landscapes.
Project: Casa Rana
Photographer: Alessandro Turchi
Architects: Made in Earth
What's the story behind this photo?
Made in Earth is a non-profit organization that started collaborating with the Indian NGO Terre des Hommes Core Trust in 2010 to create an integrated network of buildings and activities for needy local communities. The Casa Rana project is part of a special care program that follows disadvantaged children. The house was built to host fifteen HIV-positive children, to give them the possibility to live in a loving family atmosphere and to engage them in training and educational activities. Casa Rana is Made in Earth's first project and it represents the beginning of an amazing work of research and passion. Our team is engaged everyday in studying the local traditions and the children's necessities. In this way we define designs that respect a simple architecture, the requests of the houses' inhabitants and the traditional techniques of construction. There is a whole world behind this photo: the incredible stories of the children living in Casa Rana and the story of a team of architects willing to give them hope and happiness.
What equipment did you use to take this photo?
At the beginning of this year two architects of our team, Alessandro Turchi and Giancarlo Artese (one of the founders of the organization), went to Thiruvannamalai, India, to meet the children and to check the status of the ongoing projects. Alessandro has a real passion for photography and he takes his camera wherever he goes – thanks to his passion he was able to capture that moment with his Canon 1000d (EFS 17-85 lens).
Why do you think this photo resonated with Archdaily's readers?
I think that people appreciate the combination between simple shapes and colorful volumes – all this combined in a child-scale project, built with local techniques. The image is probably able to spread the peaceful and the joyful atmosphere that Casa Rana offers to the children.
How does this photo speak to your overall portfolio?
It is the cover image of the Casa Rana project because it represents the perfect harmony between the house, its context and its inhabitants.
Project: 8 Inscribed Houses and Three Courtyards
Photographer: Simón García
Architects: Romera y Ruiz Arquitectos
What's the story behind this photo?
In June 2014, architects Romera y Ruiz asked me to photograph a few of their recently-finished projects in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Looking at their webiste, I saw this project built in 2004 and it caught my eye. The facade is treated like a folding plane, and the visual and spatial relationships between the three patios and common spaces convinced me to make a quick visit between assignments.
What equipment did you use to take the photo?
A Canon 6D and a TS-E 17mm lens. Even with the 17mm I had to use the maximum vertical displacement to capture the complete facade since the street was very narrow.
Why do you think this photo resonated with ArchDaily's readers?
I think that what’s attractive about this image is the folds of the facade, as if it were origami. The ins and outs create interesting geometric plays with the projected shadows.
How does this photo speak to your overall portfolio?
As a general rule, I like to use the project's own geometries to create images that are visually attractive but at the same time provide information about the project that I'm photographing. In this case, the photo of the facade was obligatory for how descriptively it showed the folds: on the one hand, the horizontal rectangles that make up the different floors are framed by the slabs and sidewalls on both sides and on the other hand, the vertical rectangles that form each fold in the facade, together with the painted doors of each patio (green, clue and ochre), and finally, the counterpoint of the triangles that are generated by the folds.
Project: Oak Pass House
Photographer: Joe Fletcher
Architects: Walker Workshop
What's the story behind this photo?
This image was taken near the end of a beautiful day in Beverly Hills. The homeowner and his dog were there to watch the sunset as the last rays hit the tree top.
What equipment did you use to take the photo?
Alpa Max, 50mm HR and an IQ180.
Why do you think this photo resonated with ArchDaily's readers?
I love a strong juxtaposition of the clearly man-made and nature. The linear lap pool that mirrors the old oak is a perfect example. Walker Workshop did an amazing job to create this pool around, and under, this grand tree. I think readers respond to the forms of man and of nature in symbiosis.
How does this photo speak to your overall portfolio?
It exemplifies my love of architecture within nature and the response of both to light and seasons.
Project: The Infinite Bridge
Photographer: Thomas Nøhr
Architects: Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter
What's the story behind this photo?
The whole point behind the Facebook page "Aarhus i billeder" is to show people a new way to see things.
I use a drone for my aerial photos, in this way I can show photos/angles of my home town that people have never seen before. There are so many exiting buildings popping up in Aarhus at the moment. So I use a lot of time planning and studying how I can get the best shot with my drone.
About the "Infinity bridge": I had some time before the official opening and I had some different ideas and angles I was thinking about. But in the end, I got some spectacular photos that people were super exited about.
I can only say that the drone technology gives people like myself an opportunity that wasn't possible before. And this is now possible without big budgets, and affordable for many people. I hope this will inspire the young and upcoming architects to use this technology--to make fantastic pictures of their architecture, and to sell their upcoming projects--so they get the motivation to get even better :-)
Project: Ribbon Chapel
Photographer: Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners Inc
Architects: NAP Architects
Project: House 1014
Photographer: Adrià Goula
Architects: H Arquitectes
Project: Kekkilä Green Shed
Photographer: Courtesy of Linda Bergroth
Architects: Linda Bergroth + Ville Hara
Project: Asahicho Clinic
Photographer: Photographed by Shinkenchiku-sha
Architects: hkl studio
Did you bookmark any of the above images in My ArchDaily? Why? Let us know in the comments!
