The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building.”
Louis Kahn, American Architect

Architecture is an integral part of modern society and we often judge the success of ancient civilisations on the merits of their architectural achievements. The concept of architecture can be described as the process and outcome of planning, designing and constructing buildings and other man-made structures such as monuments, bridges and towers.

Ever since photography was first invented, buildings have been a popular source of inspiration for photographers who recognise the cultural significance of architecture. By the 1860s, architectural photography was becoming an accepted visual medium and throughout the 20th century it became increasingly creative as photographers began to experiment with contrast, light, shadows, textures, reflections and perspective.

This exhibition features a wide spectrum of interpretations of the concept of architecture. Many photographers have chosen to capture whole buildings in all their glory, whilst others have taken the smaller details as focal points by cropping in closer to create more abstract images that fill the frame. Pattern and symmetry can also be seen as a source of inspiration in many of the images creating a strong and successful composition.

This exhibition features a powerful catalogue of striking images that depict all aspects of architecture and help us to recognise the beauty that can be found in the smallest of details. After all, as Charles Eames is famously quoted as saying, “The details are not the details. They make the design.”

Participating Photographers: 

Daniel Agra, Angelika Berndt, Bharat Bhambhaney, Andre Braganca, Vanessa Bridges, Kieran Brimson, Alex Brossler, Susan Brown, Bruno Coelho, Lee Conrad, Nigel Dutt, Alan Edwards, Goran Erfani, Fatmah Fahmy, Giuseppe Francavilla, Jason Freeman, Sanjiban Ghosh, Davd Ginn, Karen Goh, Jeff Goodman, Roy Goutam, Shane Griffin, Diane Griffiths, Leka Huie, Colin Jarvis, Louis Gabriel Keroack, Christine Lamb, Jean-Marie Lemazurier, Peter Markwick, Rashad Mehdiyev, Mervyn Mitchell, Roger Newark, Angela Niman, Joseph O Neill, Udayan Sankar Pal, Roberto Pestarino, Lorraine Poole, Ervin Raska, David Rogers, Somraj Sahu, Francisco Willian Saldanha, Yevhen Samuchenko, Sanjoy Sengupta, Parita Sheth, Ivan Sovic, Paul Stoddart, Jovana Stojiljkovi, Erik Svec, Michael Tatang, Rita Testa, Mark Tipping, Cesar Torres, Alan Tow, Tatevik Vardanyan, Kirill Varshavskiy, Linda Walker, Eric White, Georgios Zampas

Composition is an integral facet of good photography and knowing how to best present the image that you see to your audience is one of the key factors in whether or not your photograph will be a success. The viewpoint from which you shoot your image can make a vast difference to how your subject is perceived. As photographer Ansel Adams once said: “A good photograph is knowing where to stand”.

The angle, direction or stance from which you shoot can significantly alter the mood and feel of the photograph. Even subtle changes in viewpoint can completely change the relationship between the objects in the photo and help to show things from a different, more unique perspective.

A centre shot taken from a standing position gives a completely different perspective to gaining height on your subject, crouching down low or even lying down. Changing your position can greatly alter the implied power dynamics of a shot. By altering the distance from your subject you can also change the intensity. By getting in close you can reveal more telling details and create a greater sense of intimacy with the subject. As war photographer Robert Capa once said: “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough”.

The images featured in this exhibition have all sought to experiment with the viewpoint in order to present us with new and unexpected perspectives. Many have opened our eyes and forced us to re-evaluate our perceptions of the scenes that they have presented. Some have even selected a viewpoint that has forced us to reconsider our own point of view and our way of seeing.

Participating Photographers

Zofia Adamowicz, Charlotte B: bby, Miguel Lozano Bonora, Susan Brown, Ian Cook, Darren Cottrell, Liliana Danovaro, Nikolina Dimitrova, Catherine Dipper, Annie Ford, David Gleave, Richard Hall, Penny Halsall, Bob Hamilton, Alex Harvey-Brown, Gary Horsfall, Chris Hutchinson, Mihail Kopychko, Chee Keong Lim, Angel Martin, Keith Millard, Kant Rathod, Maurice Schutgens, Coline Senac, Sonal Shah, Adonis Stevenson, Paul Stone, Viet Van Tran, Jing Zhou