What are the best ways to improve your chances of winning an architectural photography competition?

Find out what is needed,Get it.. study more and more. Read instructions very well, Find a mentor to help you..keep on researching and resoursein malterials that will help you in your field.

Before submission, seek constructive criticism from peers, mentors, or professional photographers. Use feedback to refine your work and improve the quality of your entries.

Fully understand the competition's theme. Photograph from creative vantage points to showcase buildings in an original way. Avoid clichéd perspectives. Use lighting thoughtfully to accentuate architectural details. Experiment with different times of day to find the most flattering natural light. Frame shots intentionally, using compositional techniques like the rule of thirds. Ensure a clear focal point. Include people, cars, or surroundings to convey the size and scale of the architecture. Zoom in on intriguing textures, features, and craftsmanship. Reveal the intricacy of the design. Use post-processing judiciously to enhance images while maintaining an authentic look. Avoid overediting.

Winning an architectural photography competition requires a combination of technical skill, creativity, and attention to detail. Here are some tips to improve your chances Understand the Theme and Criteria Research Previous Winners Showcase Unique Perspectives Focus on Composition Play with Lighting Highlight Details Technical Excellence Tell a Story Post-Processing Skills Submit a Cohesive Series Caption and Title Thoughtfully Consider Printing and Presentation Seek Feedback Stay True to Your Style Remember, winning a competition is subjective, and judges may have diverse preferences. Stay true to your vision, keep refining your skills, and enjoy the process of creating compelling architectural photographs

To win an architectural photography competition, focus on a cohesive portfolio aligned with the theme, showcase technical excellence, experiment with unique perspectives, and tell a compelling story about the architecture. Prioritize quality over quantity, tailor submissions to judges' preferences, and stay updated on industry trends.

To enhance your chances in an architectural photography competition, focus on capturing unique perspectives, paying attention to lighting and composition. Showcase your ability to convey the essence of the architecture. Also, adhere to the competition guidelines, and consider submitting a cohesive series that tells a compelling visual story.

I try to do something different from the ordinary given too many questions and answers with the blend of good music to be able to arrive at a given ART which is different from what every photographer will be looking to arrive at and that between me and the creator of the universe

Always try to find a unique perspective and follow your heart. If you feel that the perspective that you see will be the best, just go for it. All depends on the weather and the lightning and what you would like to show. A cheerful image or the moody atmosphere?

Do a thorough research then study the existing architectural examples go through the work of photographers try to practice more and focus on the features which are really highlighted and appreciated.

Researching the architectural subjects you plan to photograph can significantly boost your chances in a competition. Understanding the history, unique features, and angles of the architecture you're capturing can help you highlight its essence in your photographs. Exploring different perspectives and knowing the best times of day or lighting conditions can add depth and uniqueness to your shots, making them more compelling for the competition judges.

In architectural photography light really is everything, so you might want to plan to shoot on a brighter day to take advantage of light and shadow to highlight shapes, lines.

Skyhraphy is very important in architectural photography. The play of light and shadows make a picture stand out. Architectural photography means both interior and exterior shot of buildings. Light plays a very important role, as in exterior shots the light source is one the sun , in interior shots also one should consider one main source of light. Directional lighting is the best in architectural photography.

Planning your architectural shoot is key to maximizing your chances in a competition. Scout locations, consider the best angles and lighting, and plan the time of day for shooting. Having a clear idea of what you want to capture and how to execute it can result in stronger, more impactful photographs. Plus, it helps ensure you're prepared to seize the best moments and features of the architecture you're photographing.

A program like PhotoPills is a great asset to determine where is the best place to place your camera and tripod And know exactly right day and time to get that perfect view and angle. Make certain of course that you have the best choice of lens to account for your subject.

Planning your shoot is best preproduction thing you should have to do. - It gives you confidence while on shoot. - You are clear with the shots you have to take. - Helps you to bought only needed equipments. - Saves your time of shoot which you can utilize for postproduction.

Wide-angle lenses and a tripod are going to be essentials, but another tool I'd recommend, even if it's on the expensive side and you don't technically need it, is a tilt-shift lens. Speaking from experience, the amount of time and effort you save by being able to adjust the composition of your subject just by using the lens and not having to change your tripod height becomes invaluable when you're trying to compensate for changing weather/lighting conditions, or sunset during twilight shoots. They can also aid in preventing certain distortions such as wide-angle stretching and keystone effects. One downside is that you'll have to manually focus them, but it does prevent any potential miscues with autofocus changing while bracketing shots.

I personally like using a drone or telelens while I photograph the architecture. It gives me different angles and perspectives. Open your mind for all posobilites.

I mostly use Heliofocus software with a laptop for macro photography of flowers. Yet I can see that it may have its advantages with architectural photography. Having the software focus the lens multiple times to make certain that the whole building is in focus. Of course a wide angle lens would take care of most of the depth of field that needs to be considered. Also the proper distance away from the architecture is essential.

While shooting architecture it's most important that you get all the areas covered, I use bracketing function to shoot 3 images one will be underexposed for the proper highlight, second will be in mid and third for shadows. Merge them in Lightroom and you have a perfect shot.

Tilt shift lens all the way. Also, try medium and telephoto lenses if you can back up far enough which usually isn't the case. Try keeping the vertical lines straight which means you might have to go up high on a tripod. Avoid blown out windows.

Divide the frame into a 3x3 grid and position key elements along the lines or at their intersections. This helps create balance and interest.

Architectural photography is generally a lot slower than other styles of photography with so much to consider when framing out your shots, making sure to not include too many distractions, testing different tripod heights, and sometimes coming back to a scene at a later time of day if possible for more optimal lighting conditions. It's good to tether or use the live-view function on your camera to get a view of the scene you are capturing, try different camera placements and light restaging to properly compose your shots. It's good to try and not feature any tangents with items within the scene, like making sure to show all 4 chair or table legs when possible and not cutting off other pieces of furniture or decorations awkwardly.

Shoot in a variety of weather conditions and times of day. ... Prioritize good lighting. ... Look for a unique angle. ... Don't be afraid to include people (architecture doesn't exist without them) ... Explore details as much as the whole. ... Try not to objectify the building.

Pick the best time of the day to keep a clear image of the object, it is pivotal to lean into whether you want your image to be shot during the day or in the evening for a clear shot with the architectural lights in symmetry. Once you have decided on whether you shoot in the day or night, then get all the relevant gear that you need and head to the location. Study your objects, learn their angle and keep focus points. Set your settings to manual so that you have full control. Capture the well-composed image, and with slight light changes using Adobe Lightroom and you will have a winning image for an award.

I try to consider telling a story through my photographs. Shows how people interact with architecture or express the building's purpose and function. A descriptive element can add depth and interest to my submissions. Technical Excellence: Ensure that my photographs demonstrate technical excellence. These include sharp focus, accurate exposure, and well-balanced composition. Pay attention to post-processing to enhance my image without overdoing it. Research the judges: If possible, try to research the background and preferences of the judges. Tailoring my submissions to their tastes within the boundaries of the contest theme can increase my chances.

The most common technique I used in my architectural and real estate photography was bracketing and compositing, or 'manual HDR' as some people call it. Take your base exposure, along with a stop or two up, and two or three below your base so you have both brighter and darker versions of your main shot. If you take all of these into Photoshop and layer them on top of your base exposure, you have control over the lighting of your image and can create a nice, realistic look to your image by using darker exposures to tone down highlights (lights, noon skies, windows) and brighter ones to bring out some shadow detail. Don't go too far and create an artificial look, but it's an effective way to shoot and edit without the use of strobes.

One word 'light'. Study it, it what makes an image. Technique will come with practise and research. Even if you have to wait for hours for the right light or even come back another day. It helps to know the weather forecast prior.

How you edit your image really just depends on your own personal vision and if that vision is something the juror sees as unique or interesting. Photography is so subjective so one edit could be considered really amazing to one juror yet a different competition and juror may have a completely different opinion.

Consider using ND filters for shots in which moving clouds appear. Also making a scouting visit to the location can help you detect the best times to photograph the facilities and achieve the best moments of the day for each location.

Always add your details and caption into the metadata. Without metadata you create orphan works. You will still be the copyright holder but if you, the creator, cannot be found you can never be paid or credited.

Show the judges something they haven’t seen before. If you’re photographing a well known place then it is likely to have been covered from all angles so original photos might be hard.

Subject matter in the architectural photography realm has to be impressive to win a competition. When you’re hired for a job not all locations are going to be grand…its up to you to make it grand. I would also consider layering exposures through Lightroom or one of the other raw file processing systems. Color balance and light intensity need to be on equal footing..after you’ve accomplished that aspect you can tweak your contrast variance. Don’t be afraid to ask someone else’s opinion on the finished product. Sometimes an untrained eye can see things you’ve missed.

You need to fully understand the client’s vision. Be clear what their expectations are. This point involves building a relationship with a client whether a single person or the vision of a corporation.