Urban Photography Workshop: Capturing the Beauty of Architecture

Last month, Ajman University and the Ajman Municipality hosted an urban photography workshop at the Ajman X Hub, in preparation for the Ajman Film Festival. As one of the keynote speakers, I was thrilled to join architects and filmmakers from Italy and the UAE in teaching participants how to create impactful architectural films.

During the theory session, we covered the basics of architectural photography and filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of composition, lighting, and storytelling to capture the character of a building and highlight its unique features. We also delved into the technical aspects of photography and filmmaking, such as camera settings, angles, and lenses.

The participants then had a chance to apply their newly acquired skills in a hands-on session at the Ajman Museum, which provided the perfect environment to experiment with different camera angles and lighting settings. From modern to traditional Arabic styles, the museum’s diverse architectural designs allowed the participants to produce compelling visual stories while capturing stunning images and videos.

This workshop was unique and part of a larger project aimed at teaching students and architecture enthusiasts the art of architectural photography and film. Urban photography and filmmaking are crucial tools for architects, designers, urban planners, and policy-makers to document and showcase their work and highlight the city’s distinctive features and cultural heritage.

Overall, the Urban Photography Workshop was a great success, and we are excited to see what the participants will produce in terms of architectural photography and film. The value of collaboration and information sharing was evident, and we plan to organize similar events in the future.