Evolution and History of Architectural Photography

The history of architectural photography can be traced back to the 1830s that also corresponds with the invention of photography. There are many iconic images of most loved buildings which stand as a proof of architectural photography roots. According to experts of Architectural Photography in Toronto, J.L.M. Daguerre and William Talbot are two people who are often credited with beginnings of Architectural photography. They are mostly credited for two photography development approaches known as Perspective Approach and Elevation approach.

The Early Beginnings

In the early years of photography, when the technology of photography was at a nascent stage, photographers favoured non-moving object like landscapes and buildings when long exposure was required. Another reason for the popularity of architectural photography during the 1800s is that it satisfied a growing interest of middle class in the world beyond everyday experience and also encouraged travel to distant places.

William Talbot capitalized on this trend and published a book of his photographic prints which contained proponents of medieval revival like castles, ancient country houses, ruined abbeys, and undisturbed moors and downs. In the early years of architectural photography, many photographers were engaged to capture and document national monuments. In 1851, the French government launched "Missions Héliographiques" where five specified regions were assigned to each pioneer photographer chosen by the Historic Monuments Commission.

If you are really interested in delving deep in the historic journey of architectural photography, you need to contact Toronto Architectural Photographer for assistance. By the end of the 1860s, a new type of architectural photography came in existence- capturing industrial architecture.

The 19th Century

Painting and Books had always nurtured interest in romantic and medieval subject matter since the dawn of the 19th century. This period is specifically known for large-scale multivolume publications on medieval architecture with engraved illustrations and extensive historical and informative texts on the pictures. Such pictures were widely popular in England and France. There were many illustrations made available in conventions of architectural representation. Some of the popular subjects of architectural photography were apsidal ends and facades of churches, interiors, and choice of details.

According to experts of agency indulged in Architectural Photography in Toronto, photographing churches seemed difficult due to limitations of the camera and draftsmen. For example, it was difficult to capture the entire facades of the church along with its towers from ground level. To overcome this, photographers often sought elevated positions in the neighbouring building to capture the whole church. Prior to the invention of artificial illumination; it was difficult to capture structural and ornamental details of poorly lit places.

The mid-nineteenth century brought out an unusual trend where photographs were seen as a new category of fine arts. Photographs were showcased in the Exhibition of World’s industry on the Crystal Palace in London. The exhibition included many photographs of frequently visited monuments and frequented sites. These photographs were made commercially available for mass distribution by entrepreneurs like Louis Désiré Blanquart-Evrard who had printing and marketing establishment and was involved in printing books, albums, and individual prints. If you are interested in seeing these older collections of the architectural photography, you need to contact Toronto Architectural Photographer for guidance.

In the 19th century, architectural photography was largely used to document the historic importance of popular structures. For example, a large number of panoramic images were shot to document the progress of the building of the new wing of Louvre in Paris which has left hundreds of panoramic images of architectural photography. Knowingly or not, pictures exploit the aesthetic potential of the medium and portray architecture expressively.

Architectural photography is also linked to the strengthening of nationalism in European countries where special programs were launched to document the perspective of each country’s architecture. Tourism has always been a guiding force for architectural photography, a trend that is even strong today. Photographic portfolios are increasingly popular today where architectural photography is used as a medium to spread awareness of the works and attract clients.