EXTERIORS Many commercial men have gotten their start in the business by photo , graphing exteriors and gradually working into other lines. One of the principal reasons for this is undoubtedly due to the fact that it forms a fascinating study to most amateurs and semi-professionals—hence, it is probably more generally followed than any other branch.
Furthermore, it is exceedingly profitable when one has for his patrons high-class architects, decorators, or wealthy owners of beautiful homes and surroundings.
• Unlike other lines, in exterior work, the principal factor is time of day, for a subject may be so photographed as to look entirely different under dif ferent conditions of light, and the changes caused thereby form a very inter . esting study.
As most photographers, whether portrait or commercial, arc fairly well acquainted with exterior work, it is hardly necessary to go into minute details as to general procedure other than to touch upon a few points.
In deciding upon the point of view, from which to photograph any build ing, it is usually best to select that including part at least of the side, and either a non-halation plate, Portrait or Commercial Ortho film is a good selection for this work. The exposure will vary according to the time of day and year, and weather conditions—one second, stopped f64, is a fair average.
With reference to homes and gardens, this class of work brings one into contact with a class of people who appreciate the really nice things of life, and to whom price is not of much consideration. It is a subject about which vol umes could be written, and the best method I know (and a source from, which more information can be obtained than any other) is to consult the books and magazines to be found in any public library on homes and gardens. The cus tomer usually knows just what he or she wants, however, and the photographer can be guided to a great extent by the instructions and by his own common and speculative sense.
Architectural photography is greatly in demand in the larger cities, and, in fact, there are a large number of specialists in this line in places such as Chicago, New York, Boston, etc.
An architect is principally interested in a picture of the whole building and details such as friezes, entrances, columns, fireplaces, doorways, tnantels. ceilings and stairways.
If you have never done any of this kind of work, it would be well to con sult the large files of prints which most architects have on hand, and which will give you the best idea. of what they demand. However, the most im portant point is to give. them exactly what they request, no matter how foolish it may seem, but be sure you know just what that is, for they are often more particularly interested in some one little detail. I have in mind now a cus tomer for whom I went to a great deal of trouble to obtain the photograph of a clock over a doorway. I then found it was not the clock he really wanted, although he specified that at the time—it was the eagle on top of the clock.
In the matter of a lens, the longer its focus, the more you are liable to please, for, as a general rule, they will tolerate no distortion.
Construction photographs are used a great deal both for records and for advertising and promotion purposes. What it requires really is a good lens that will give critical definition, because detail more than anything else is what is wanted. Complete instructions as to size of prints, titles, etc., are usually furnished by the construction companies, as well as specific instructions as to time of day (these photographs are generally made on the same day each week or month) and point of view, so that the work can be handled very nicely by the average commercial man, and is rather profitable.
However, should the selection of point of view be left to the photographer, the view should he one from which he can include the whole building, say one of ten stories, from the time the foundation is started until the building is completed. Otherwise, it may be necessary to use a lens later on that will destroy the effect desired.