By Paul S. Bartholomew on May 23rd, 2010
I really don’t know where to show these images. I could put them in my exterior architecture portfolio but it just doesn’t seem right. The photo shoot was for a hotel in Times Square that asked for these scenic views. The images were a small portion of the shot list and the subject matter isn’t for a particular architect and just for the sole purpose of showing the views all around the hotel. It’s an awesome view! I think I may have to pursue more personal assignments and create some kind of skyline or rooftop view portfolio. Access is the challenge but New York City has many great places.
Twilight is a spectacular time and very inspiring with just a moment of the perfect light. I find myself fortunate as a photographer to have access to such great locations that most people don’t get to see. These are among the best times to do something really special. I often think about the unlimited views people see from their office windows in Manhattan. So many ways to see such a beautiful city. The thought first came up when I was photographing views from a building on 5th Avenue. I was leaning over the side of the rooftop to get a clean view below and my client next to me started to laugh. I looked across the street and their was an office building with people watching me and waving. Perhaps I was a change in their ordinary view but they seemed interested in what I was doing. It was a good day.
The images below are all from the same hotel rooftop in Times Square and are marked with the view’s direction. The Times Square view was the most difficult and was handheld with a very good camera for low light. I had to hang over the side of the building and use my elbows as a camera support. My assistant was spotting me since it can get windy up high. Lots of fun though!
View Looking East in Manhattan © Paul S Bartholomew
View Looking West Toward New Jersey © Paul S Bartholomew
View of Times Square, New York © Paul S Bartholomew
By Paul S. Bartholomew on May 16th, 2010
One of my favorite clients had a nice project at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The building is at the Innovation Research Park and involved a lab, lobby, conference center and a few exterior views. Projects that involve exteriors and are 5 hours away need to be carefully planned. Special access to certain interior spaces and weather conditions can easily cause delays. I try to schedule at least 2 days for this kind of photo shoot as insurance. The extra time allows for adjustments when plans don’t turn out. Believe me, plans are often changed and this project had a couple delays such as people moving into the new spaces and repairs being done.
I posted some of my favorite images from the photo shoot and think they are interesting to explain because of the lighting situation. Below are two evening views of the lobby. I’m favoring evening photo shoots for interiors like this for many reasons. Most of the daylight comes through the main entrance that is behind my camera position. During daylight hours the reflections wash out details and colors but the light falloff really makes for poor quality. Light falloff is not only about exposure but also about color temperature. The cooler daylight color temperature falls off and mixes with the warmer interior lights. The results can be muddy on top of the other issues mentioned.
Doing an evening photo shoot will give more consistent lighting throughout and reflections are much less in this situation because we are only dealing with the interior lights. Basically we simplified the lighting. Some may ask why the reflections are less without daylight. The reason is because daylight enters most interior spaces from windows and creates side lighting. Depending on the angle of reflections we most likely face issues. Evening lighting in this situation is very good because the interior is even and the lighting drops from the ceiling downward. This kind of lighting shows the surface material well with low reflections that help preserve color saturation and show textures.
I always bracket my exposures and these images required a separate exposure layer to help preserve the extreme ceiling detail. I try not to get concerned about bringing back too much of the ceiling because sometimes the results may look unnatural.
One last detail to point out because I know I’ll get some questions about it. The blue window at the end of the lobby is a diffused opaque material that doesn’t get direct daylight. The exposures were planned to have just a slight hint of twilight left. This creates the blue effect. The blue window is a nice balance to the warm interior colors.
Architectural commercial interior design of a lobby.
By Paul S. Bartholomew on May 3rd, 2010
I finally had a new logo designed recently and I think it’s a good improvement. The hard part is updating all my marketing materials such as websites, business cards, email templates, postcard templates, letter heads, directories ……… OK, you get the point.
By Paul S. Bartholomew on April 16th, 2010
I’m starting to see a shift in the way we view architectural and interior design photography. I believe all photographers have their own approach and style of working. Some have a formal style that shows the subject with everything in its proper place with perfect lighting yet void of people. We can try to setup a formal view and incorporate people posing but this becomes a challenge for many reasons. Most people aren’t comfortable posing and they look frozen in some kind of task. Personally, it feels odd when seeing posed images with frozen people but it’s at least a good start and shows a sense of scale and purpose.
How about a realistic approach that doesn’t show everything in its perfect place? Perhaps photographing the people moving around and capturing unposed activity? This is real life with people interacting within their environment with objects moved and blurred motion implying activity. When I see this kind of image I think of the word credible.
I’m experimenting with this realistic approach incorporating people and their surroundings. It may take a little while to find some direction with it but it’s a good start. I’m updating my Leica system to the M9 and hope this will help with this approach. The small rangefinder doesn’t scream professional photographer and will allow me to blend within the environment so people don’t react to the camera and stay natural.
Of course I don’t plan on changing my current style drastically. I feel that my current portfolio fits a purpose and has it’s strong points in a formal sense, but finding a balance and incorporating another approach will only strengthen my entire body of work. I guess it’s diversity within a specialty.
Below are some views from a current project in New York. Ever try photographing an empty restaurant in Manhattan during daylight hours? Good luck! This was a good opportunity to work with people in their environment and the client was enthusiastic about the idea. It’s nice having some creative freedom on commercial projects.
New York Restaurant Interior
New York Restaurant Interior
New York Restaurant Interior
By Paul S. Bartholomew on April 15th, 2010
This was a nice and unique project for me. It’s rare when I’m commissioned for real estate photography but this isn’t an average home. The owner decided this Princeton area home deserved more than the usual real estate photography. She was right, the home is very impressive and photographing the grand spaces without careful planning would lead to poor results without any sense of a comfortable place to live.
The winter light can be harsh but we did well with the overcast day for our photo shoot. Overcast provides diffused lighting with less reflections and it was welcome for this situation. We (my assistant John & I) added some strobe lighting to help fill some shadow areas and add highlights. The exterior was a challenge due to the seasonal conditions so we decided on evening exteriors to make it more colorful.
Here is the link to The Manor On Princeton Pike website with more of the photos from the shoot.
Residential Interior Design of a Princeton, NJ Area Residence
Evening Exterior of a Princeton, NJ Residence
By Paul S. Bartholomew on March 30th, 2010
As an architectural photographer most of my work is accomplished from spring till fall. Winter can be down right depressing but it allows me to rework a lot of my marketing and business practices. 2010 looks positive and I’m stepping things up a notch by pursuing new portfolio ideas and finding new ways to help clients.
I managed to get out and take some photos after one of the snow storms this past winter. I live in Bucks County, PA not far from Washington Crossing Historic Park and I always wondered what it’s like after a snowfall. These photos are of buildings near Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve not far from the town of New Hope. I can’t wait to return in warm weather!
Washington Crossing Historic Park
Washington Crossing Historic Park
