Architectural Photography with a Fisheye

[Gerald]

A fisheye lens can be very effective for architectural photography, especially for interiors pictures.
Unfortunately, too many fisheye photos look like they were taken with a rectilinear ultra-wide angle lens and distorted later.
The biggest challenge of the photographer is how to transform the curvilinear perspective of the fisheye lens into something positive in the composition.

The first picture below takes advantage of the symmetry of the building for a calm and balanced composition.
If not for the presence of the human figure, the composition would be almost a study on abstract composition with curved lines.

The second picture is even more abstract than the first.
The use of B&W and selenium toning reinforces the disconnection with reality.
Only the palm trees show that we are still in the real world.

The photos were taken with a Sigma XQ Fisheye 16mm F2.8 on a Sony A99V, ISO 200, 1/40s.

[Minolfan]

First is nice; second is great!

[kds315*]

Nice ones! It is also possible to rectify those images later using Software

[edri]

[Gerald]

Minolfan, Klaus, edri,

Thank you!

[Nordentro]

Very nice indeed

[Gerald]

[Lloydy]

Excellent images, I also like the second one most.

[miran]

Wow, great photos, especially #2!

[Gerald]

Lloyd, miran,
Thank you for your comments!

I was wondering why people prefer the second picture. IMHO, the first photo has a balanced composition, but perhaps it lacks a "center of interest". In contrast, the composition of the second picture is more symmetrical and the ceiling illuminated by sunlight ends up functioning as a true "center of interest" of the composition. The effect is even more strong because the ceiling is at the very geometric center of the picture!

Although it is slightly off topic of architectural photography, the photo below, which shows the interior of a washing machine, is another example of symmetrical composition more or less in the same spirit of the second picture.