Early spring is the perfect time for architectural survey photography work. Before the leaves grow and the flowers appear, but after the snow has melted away, you will be able to capture the best shots of buildings. Take a look at this church in Waitsfield, Vermont as an example.
The United Church of Christ in Waitsfield, VT. April 2012. Note that this picture was not taken for documentation purposes; this is not a photograph that would satisfy NR or HABS standards (partially because it's a bit crooked), but I still like the image.
Summer is beautiful in Vermont, but the trees will obscure the church steeple in a few weeks. I don’t know about you, but I love looking in between the tree branches to the buildings. It makes looking up at rooftops even more interesting.
This is just an iPhone photo, but you can see how the tree does not block your view of the building. March 2012.
In other words, take your cameras outside to capture springtime views. While it’s more fun to stroll around with a camera in June and July (depending on where you live), you’ll be more pleased with your early spring photographs. You’ll thank yourself later, when you’re attempting to write an architectural description from photographs or remembering the top half of a building.
Anyone else have a great tip for survey photography?
Preservation in Pink 