'CAPTURING FORM & STRUCTURE' featuring Archana Vikram
INTRODUCING
Multi award-winning Photographer: Archana Vikram
Genre: Fine Art and Architectural
Qualification: Studied Photography at Speos Photography Institute, Paris
Work: India, Europe and USA
Website: https://www.arcanaimages.com
Laurels: Some of her many achievements are:-
- Her Architectural imagery was included by the ECC (European Cultural Council) in the Time-Space-Existence show alongside the Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy (May-Nov, 2018).
- The California Museum of Photography, Riverside, CA showcased her first solo museum show in 2017 (Mar-Jun). Gallery 1401, Philadelphia presented her work in a solo show also in 2017.
- Her work was chosen to be at the prestigious Fine Art Photo Biennale in Barcelona (2018) and Berlin (2016).
- Various series and individual works have been included in shows at BUE-Buenos Aires Photo (Argentina), Fotoloft Gallery, Moscow (Russia)
- Critical Mass, US ranked her among the top 200 photographers in 2019 & 2014. She has winning placements in multiple international Photography Awards for her fine art as well as Architectural imagery.
A FLASHBACK
I wandered into an unfamiliar space. A structure gazed back at me from a distance, scintillating like a white flame. It was fortified on either side by dark silhouettes of unidentifiable structures. I paused for a moment to admire what my naked eyes were witnessing. Enthralled by the roseate hues of the twilight sky in the background. The poorly illuminated pathway before me showcased differently textured tiles, understandable by the way they each interacted with the radiance of the building.
The white-washed Architecture stood in the limelight, sporting crisp and sharp angles, like an abstract carving on ice. Its composition of frames appeared like a collage of distorted photographs up on a wall. Each frame internally illuminated to showcase an activity, moment or experience. I admired the artistry of the scene, in the way it orchestrated my visual attention onto the sculpture of the building.
With this scenery now etched into my mind, I chose to walk into it to further experience its dramatic welcome.
Stepping forward I was awakened and startled by my actual reality. I found myself, not standing in front of the building I had just experienced, but surprisingly in front of a photograph.
This photograph had indeed artfully compelled me into its context and narrative, which is what Architecture Photography is all about.
The photograph I just described was captured by Multi award-winning Fine-art and Architectural photographer, Archana Vikram. Let us join her behind the scenes and discover what inspires her repertoire of photography to achieve such conceivable narratives.
DEPTH OF FIELD
A Snapshot
Archana Vikram has been part of the Architectural photography scene since year 2013. Her prowess in the field has been long recognized and applauded numerous times, enabling her to feature her works across the world. Her passion for her field is very evident in the way she describes her understanding of Architectural Photography itself.
Archana explains,
“Architectural photography to me is both-the documentation of form and spatial configuration as well as a means to capture and convey architectural experience. The documentation aspect is specific and to me is the literary representation of prose. On the other hand the ephemeral play of shadow, light, texture and the unique experience it creates for each viewer is the poetic aspect. There is a joy in the process of being able to find & portray this essence of the structure. It often reveals a perspective not dwelt upon even during the design process.”
The beauty of architecture photography is the ability to view a subject or space in a different perspective, through the eyes of the photographer, like Archana’s. Her technical prowess and understanding of the field, enables her to visually capture experiences she encountered. It also showcases what attracted her to the scene, defining her aesthetic sense and tastes to her audiences.
Each moment is presented in print to be mystically revisited and experienced again for reinterpretation.
The Process
Although Architecture photography may seem straightforward to novices, there is a lot of pre-planning that occurs before and after the actual photoshoot. It is all these steps that enables a photographer to achieve stunning and believable visuals.
For example:-
Conducting a site survey
Enables the photographer to get a sense of the setting and the purpose of a design intervention in that setting. By doing this, the best locations onsite for a photoshoot can be pre-planned.
Understanding the Design
Gives a better idea of spaces and the key contributing elements that instil certain experiences.
Understanding the purpose of the photoshoot
Whether the shots must capture the structure in its entirety to focus on its architecture; a building’s textural palettes to showcase its materials; its circum ambient interior fit-out to highlight its interior architecture; an aesthetic juxtaposition with the natural surroundings for context etc. The techniques and equipment involved in each photoshoot varies drastically.
Choosing shoot locations with respect to time
Pre-planning shoot locations on-site with respect to time enables the photographer to capture the best light-shadow relationships with the structure at that time. A great showcase of light and shadow against a building’s surfaces creates better 3-dimensional depths in the scene. The space is better understood visually from this perspective as opposed to flat light photography. For example, shots captured at the time of sunrise or sunset showcase the most elaborate play of light and shadow effects against an architecture. It also embraces an array of sunrise or twilight hues projected onto the structure creating an ever changing and dynamic atmosphere.
On the other hand at night, the aesthetic language of a building completely changes from day, with complementing artificial lighting.
The best vantage points with the best lighting work hand in hand.
Finding a composition that works
Is essentially the style of visual showcase. The narration of the composition could be expressed in terms of pattern or repetition, symmetrical or asymmetrical balance, contrasts, movement, focus etc. The nature of composition calls for the use of different types of camera lenses for better precision. A composition also lays a large emphasis on the chemistry of lines, sharp angles and distortions to celebrate the authenticity of an Architecture.
Post photography edits
After a photoshoot, each capture needs a bit of attention and digital editing. Between robust photography editing softwares like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop CC to name a few, various aspects of a photograph are adjusted for better staging. Like contrasts, white-balance, aspect-ratios etc.
Although the above ‘to-do’ list applies to all Architecture Photoshoots, the modus operandi of each photographer may differ as seen in their interpretations.
Archana explains her approach, “Given the opportunity & latitude, I love to know the Architect’s thought and idea behind the project & design. The goals and challenges that honed the final design of the space. Understand the why & the how. Then I like to visit the project to plan the shoot. My approach to every project is like making a new friend. Having a conversation. Understanding the dark corners and spaces that stream light.
To me every space has a personality. I aim to try and capture that gist in my images. My approach is a collaborative process to understand what the architect designed, what nature & surroundings added and the discovering of the newly constructed entity. While the approach is similar, I think the way the images end up are different. The approach is not about me and my style. That to me, is irrelevant. It’s about being able to read what’s in front of you, to have respect, to be curious, and to find a way to tell the story. The more elements I observe, the better I can understand what I was photographing and how I’d like to approach it.”
The Narrative
After going through the cumbersome process of a photoshoot and post editing, the test of a photographer’s mastery begins whilst staging in front of an audience. It is indeed all about the narrative through captivating imagery.
Great understanding and photographic composition, is what creates comprehensible narratives. The better remembered narratives are the ones that instil deeper visual experiences on the spectator. A spectator also becomes familiar with the photographer as a person, by witnessing what inspired him/her in the first place.
Unique methodologies have unique manifestations of storytelling.
Archana explains, “The aim of my photography is different every time the shutter release is triggered.
Photography to me is a slice of experience. It is capable of conveying thought, concept, emotion, a fleeting glimpse into one’s imagination and needless saying, my preferred means of expression.”
Candid
Certain aspects of some assignments tend to leave an indelible impression, even on the photographer’s mind. Although Archana mentions having no “favourites” amongst her repertoire of works she does admit to 2 projects that especially stood out for her.
She describes, “The first is a building constructed over an odd shaped narrow sliver of land that houses a clinic. The use of form to bring in natural light within a structure confined by space and location is an amazing part of its design intent.
The second, is a recently documented project employing up-cycled shipping containers. The incorporation of open space between what would otherwise be a very blocky structure is what creates a flow of space that is both easy on the eyes for both the onlookers and occupants.
Interestingly, both projects dwell upon the structure. I realise that my most enjoyed (and therefore most liked work) leans towards capturing the architectural form.”
ZOOMING OUT
Architecture and Photography are both visual art forms that look perfect on paper. Together, they contribute greatly in the world of design and spatial expression.
As a subject, Architecture photography is impressive in the way it connects with a viewer’s spirit, by its sheer composition of lines and textures. The array of emotions and experiences it can instil, is what makes photography a powerful tool of expression.
Bringing out the personality of an architecture onto a piece of paper is indeed a meta-skill.
Archana’s photography is a portrayal of just that. Today she lends her gifted expertise in Photography to many designers within the Architecture discipline. Her honest interpretations of space and form, transports a viewer virtually into compositions to experience a moment from the past.
A ‘past’ which will indeed, never leave the ‘present’.
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