Everyone adores stunning cityscape photographs, but do you know how to capture them so that they seem magnificent? With so many people living in and around cities, it’s no surprise that cityscapes are a popular subject for photographers.
However, taking great cityscape photos isn’t always easy, so, whether you’re a beginner looking to give cityscapes a try or an experienced photographer in need of some inspiration, here are my 10 top tips which were taken by Mohit Bansal Chandigarh, to help any photographer capture their own amazing urban cityscape photographs. Some of these principles may be applied to various types of photography, including natural landscapes and street photography.
Photograph a sunset cityscape
Sunsets are gorgeous, and it’s no secret that people enjoy looking at beautiful things, so when you combine a wonderful cityscape with a spectacular sunset, you have everything you need to capture something truly remarkable. Even though the sun rises and sets every day, stunning sunsets are rare and fleeting, so do your study beforehand. Check the time of sunset, as well as the weather and cloud cover, so that you have the best chance of photographing Mother Nature’s most spectacular display.
Photograph the roofs from a higher vantage point.
There are an increasing number of high vantage sites that offer breathtaking city views. In many cities, public viewing galleries are now required to be built into new high-rise buildings, which implies that their number will only increase in the future years. This is excellent news for photographers on the lookout for stunning cityscape shots, as from this height you get a whole different viewpoint, and the resulting photographs may be very awe-inspiring under the appropriate conditions.
Focus On Symmetry and Balance
Consider side-to-side equilibrium and symmetry. Place things of equal visual weight on the left and right sides of the frame. Place the horizon in the upper third of the photograph (the rule of thirds). Utilize your mobile device to help you select the optimal mixture..
Acknowledge the correct camera settings
Worst of all would be to return home and discover that your photographs were improperly exposed. Occasionally, the automated settings on your camera will work properly, but the majority of the time, they will be incorrect. Learn how to manually adjust your camera or utilise aperture priority and exposure compensation to achieve the ideal exposure. Utilizing the histogram on the back of the camera is the best way to determine if the exposure is accurate. This will notify you if the photograph is over or underexposed.
During blue hour, photograph the cityscape
Blue hour is the only moment of the day when the natural lighting is low enough that the street lights are on, yet bright enough for there to be detail in the sky. Photographing the city during this time can result in some interesting cityscapes. It might be difficult to catch the blue hour if you are unprepared and unprepared, so investigate the time the sun sets and the blue hour begins in preparation to ensure you are ready to take your shot in plenty of time.
Carry a variable aperture.
It is possible to take great cityscape shooting with a long lens – you can use this to zoom in and emphasize specific buildings and minor details – but a wide-angle lens is a better choice for beginners. A decent wide-angle visual field will enable you to record expansive sceneries, and you can even mix Foreground with background layers to create a three-dimensional appearance.
Incorporate patterns to enhance the composition of your cityscapes.
Take a stroll throughout the day, examine basic city settings, and search for patterns if you’re interested in subtler cityscape photography. Patterns are capable of imparting a picture with a feeling of visual rhythm and harmony. And when you merge them into the larger landscape — a wide-angle lens is of great assistance here! — you may produce a tranquil, even contemplative image.
Photograph Cityscapes Throughout Golden Hour
During golden hour is the optimal time for photographing a cityscape. Soft, golden light may improve any scene between sunrise and dusk. Blue hour is the optimal time to photograph water-based cityscapes. The blue hour can last somewhere between five to forty minutes and occurs shortly after the sun has set. Reflections start taking on the mystical feel of lingering, ambient sunshine.
Learn when to cease
Once the landscape has grown black or the sky has become dark, it is time to pack up and enjoy the evening. You must now rejoin your travel companions in the social element of the evening, as the burden of taking a perfect shot has been lifted. Above all else, locate the brief moment when the light between the sky, the city lights, and the ambient light on the ground is evenly distributed. It is the opportune moment and your finest chance… And it will stop as quickly as it started.
