I have written in the past about the virtues of HDR photography for shooting architectural interiors. That is the use of combining multiple exposures to create a beautiful exposure throughout an interior space. However the more HDR photography that I view, the more I notice that it is lacking an essential element in photography; 3-dimentionality!
I’ve started incorporating many of my old lighting techniques and blending it in with my HDR images and the results are phenomenal. With dimensional lighting it makes the interiors jump off the page. Depth, dimension, texture and excitement! It’s all there when flash units are used to add side, separation and detail lighting.
Here is a small office suite I recently photographed. Take a look.

DRS Defense Solutions Arlington VA Architectural Interior Photography – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

The mission: Capture the fun and excitement of the outdoor Ice Rink in dowtown Silver Spring Maryland while highlighting the spectacular lighting and architecture of the Civic Center and Ice Rink for the contractor.

Of course there was only one time to do this! At twilight! However, the timing proved a little more dificult than I thought. I actually shot it twice. The first time I had it scheduled, on a Wednesday evening, Silver Spring was a ghost town! Only 3 people on the rink!

I had to reschedule for a Saturday night, but was concerned because sometime too many people can overwelm, and detract form the buildings and architecture. I think it worked out well though! Ive included images from both nights.

What do you think?

Wow! If I had to get my car worked on, I wouldn’t mind spending time in this service center. A beautiful design by Marty Bates of Bates Architecture . Take a look at some of the photography.

It’s hard to document the building of a commercial building from start to finish. The absolute best way to do it is to do aerial photography of the site. Not only can you see the whole site, but you can clearly see each phase and watch it progress from ground breaking, to final site clean-up!

With a background in aviation, I’ve been doing aerial photography for almost 20 years. Coupled with my use of gyroscopic stabilizing equipment, I can produce some of the sharpest aerial photography that you’ve seen. And I can reliably photograph a project at regular intervals to produce outstanding progress photography.

Take a look at this slide show of a project over a period of a couple of years.

Aerial Photography Building Construction Progress – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

You can view all of my photography at www.commercialphoto.com!

Apartment building construction is on the rise in Maryland, DC and Virginia. I have had many assignments over the last year or so to photograph everything from subsidized and student housing to high-end luxury apartments. Architects, commercial contractors, commercial real estate companies, REIT’s, and apartment owners need to market these properties to take advantage of an ever increasing number of renters in America. And as an architectural and interior photographer I have been asked to create beautiful images of these buildings highlighting the spacious units as well as the amenities.

Here is a portfolio of architectural images of apartment buildings in Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland.

DC, MD and VA Apartment Buildings Architectural and Interior Photography – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

You can view all of my photography at www.commercialphoto.com!

A recent commercial photo shoot for a sign company at the Washington Convention Center. Architectural and Interior photography can come in different forms. And when you need to market your product; photograph it!

Illuminated signage poses its own problems due to that fact that it is brighter than its surroundings. A close up image of the sign is fairly straight forward. However when shooting it in its natural setting, the background will go very dark. The solution? Multiple exposures combined via high dynamic range photography. HDR allows you to compress a broad expanse of exposure values into one image. Essentially the Ansell Adams Zone System of the modern day! To enhance the signage, I allowed the overall background to go a little darker than usual which makes the signs really pop!

Take a look!

Washington DC Convention Center Signage Photography – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

You can view all of my photography at www.commercialphoto.com!

OK. Ok. I know it has been a while since I’ve posted to my blog. I’ve been very busy! Lots of buildings to be photographed! It never ceases to amaze me, how beautiful, inviting, and warm healthcare space has become. The Patient Care Tower at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland is no exception.
Take a look!

Architectural & Interior Photography of Franklin Square Hospital Center Patient Care Tower – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

You can view all of my photography at www.commercialphoto.com!

I was recently hired to photograph the Royal Caribbean cruise ship “Enchantment of the Seas” as it made its way up the Patapsco River under the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Maryland Port Administration’s Cruise Terminal.

With Marty Jenoff of Focal Point Productions in the back expertly operating the video cameras and Roy Taylor on the controls of the helicopter, we launched at sunrise into a beautiful June morning, complete with clear skies and calm winds.

This was one of the most enjoyable aerial photo sessions that I’ve experienced as Roy; one of the most seasoned pilots in Baltimore, skillfully maneuvers the aircraft into every needed position almost as if reading my mind. And Marty blew me away with his creative video action while he showed me the incredible capabilities of the video system onboard. Hats off to these guys for a great morning!

Here’s a preview of the fruits of our efforts!

Aerials of Cruise Ship Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas at Port of Baltimore – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

Architecture. People. Do you combine them? Do you like to have people in the images of the buildings you are showcasing?
Architects, interior designers, construction and real estate professionals seem to differ on their opinions. Some feel that the space is designed for people to use so they want to have people using it. Others feel that when showcasing there building, the people are a distraction.

I have photographed plenty of both, and although they look great together, they have to be handled completely different.

Architecture is stationary and requires long exposures to photograph properly. People, on the other hand, cannot stay still long enough for the 15 to 30 second exposures required for interior design photography. And although having a blurred person in motion at say an airport terminal is a nice effect, there are times when the people need to be sharp and in focus.

How do I pull it off? Multiple exposures. I’ll usually place the people into the scene then photo them at a wider aperture, shorter shutter speed. Then I’ll ask them to move out off the scene and I shoot the architectural image as I usually do. After some careful Photoshop merging, I’ll end up with a beautiful mix of people in space! And of course now I have the best of both worlds, the image with people and without!

Here is some recent architecture and interior design photography with and without people. You be the judge! Do you like them with people or without?

Architecture and People, Photography by Jeffrey Sauers – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

You can view all of my photography at www.commercialphoto.com!

Architects. Designers. Commercial Contractors. Real Estate Professionals. Developers. Builders. You’ve designed or built a really unique building. Now it’s time to show it off! How do you make it jump out and grab people’s attention? Shoot it at twilight! Not only are twilight images lush with color, but they are great for drawing attention to the interior spaces while showing the exterior of the building. It is the only way to do that in one image!

Take a look at the slideshow below. Twilight really makes architecture look magical!

Architecture at Twilight by Jeffrey Sauers – Images by Jeffrey Sauers

You can view all of my photography at www.commercialphoto.com!