Photography has changed the way I experience architecture. Instead of simply looking at buildings, I often pay attention to the use of framing, lighting, symmetry, and perspective, almost making architecture a work of art in itself. 
 
Such principles as the golden ratio and balance play out quite often in either field. Both fields share principles of composition, such as symmetry and proportion, that affect the perception of buildings and photographs.  
 
My interest in photography was heavily influenced by my father, who was also a photographer. Through his prints, I studied the way he approached composition, perspective, and told a story through his images. This has helped shape the way I now observe architecture and environments. Similarly, my mother encouraged my creativity from a young age and taught me how to approach photography more thoughtfully. The mixture of their influence played a major role in helping me develop my creativity and grow into the photographer I am today.  
 
Posting my photography online also introduced me to a creative community through a group chat called “Through the Lens”, which inspired the title of this post. Through sharing photographs with other photographers, I have become more confident creatively and have gained a network of likeminded people who I can share my work with. Photography has also changed the way I experience architecture entirely. It has taught me to notice details that I would have otherwise ignored. These are things such as texture, shadows, lighting and composition. More importantly, it has allowed me to express creativity and emotion through photography in a way that feels personal and meaningful.

Fig 1 Sailboat framed through the structure of the Hotwalls. 

I took this photograph during our first visit to the architecture site in Portsmouth. I really liked how I was able to get the girl in frame taking the photo of the sailboat. The different hues of blue make this picture feel serene, which was my intention when I took this picture. I enjoy how the colour of the beach also complements the colour of the sea.

Fig 2. Entrance of the Portsmouth dock. 

Similarly with this picture I really like the hue of the blues and how they all fit together but don’t make the photo look muddy or lifeless. This is one of my favourite photos that I took on the site visit. I particularly like the sharp geometric forms created by the structures along the waterfront.

Fig 3. Photo of a swan.  

I took this image during a trip to Windsor with friends before one of my international friends had to return home after A Levels. I like how the soft lighting and still water create a calm atmosphere around the swan. This picture really taught me that composition and lighting can shape emotional responses to a scene. I know this because all the people that I have shown this to have had the same sort of reaction to it. 

Fig 4. a Doraemon blow up figure.  

I took this photograph while visiting Swansea because Doraemon was a major part of my childhood growing up in Italy to this day remains as one of my comfort anime series. What drew me to the image was not only the intense colour and lighting, but also the emotional familiarity attached to it. 

Fig 5. Photo of the two main colour in the photo.

I really enjoy how the colours all contrast perfectly with each other and the lighting just ties in the whole picture especially the red and blue. The strong reds and blues create a vivid atmosphere that almost feels cinematic.

Fig 6. Picture of my grandparents in Italy.

I always come back to this photograph because I think it captures something deeply genuine and emotional. The warm lighting, quiet street, and closeness between them creates an atmosphere that feels intimate and comforting. I love that it does not feel staged or performative, but instead it captures a real moment of affection. To me, the photograph demonstrates how powerful images can be in preserving emotion and human connection through a single frame.

Fig 7. Emerald tree boa on a branch. 

Lastly, the image that started my photography account. This remains one of my favourite photographs because it captures a skilled predator in a vulnerable and almost calm state, which I find quite powerful. The deep shadows and highly saturated colours create an intense atmosphere that immediately draws attention towards the snake itself. I have always been fascinated by snakes, so photographing one in this way felt both personal and visually meaningful to me.  

Through photography, architecture no longer feels static to me. Photography has changed the way I observe architecture, but also the way I express myself creatively within the spaces around me. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to include some of my own photographs on the homepage, because they represent an important part of both my creativity and the way I experience architecture.

Figures:

• Figure 1. Own work
• Figure 2. Own work
• Figure 3. Own work
• Figure 4. Own work
• Figure 5. Image colour picker. (n.d.). #FC0401 · Color Code Generator & Picker. [Image]. https://imagecolorpicker.com/color-code/fc0401
• Figure 6. Own work
• Figure 7. Own work