Architectural Photography with the Alpa 12 SWA with 38mm Super-Angulon XL (中文)

The Alpa 12 SWA features extensive lens shift, viewfinder with spirit level and rectilinear etchings, and smooth shutter release. The camera should therefore be ideal for architectural photography requiring major perspective control, even when use of a tripod is not feasible. In fulfillment of this expectation, the images on this page were photographed hand-held with an Alpa 12 SWA with Schneider 38mm Super-Angulon XL lens. The requisite Center Filter IIa, requiring 2.5-3 f-stop exposure compensation, was used for all images.

An asterisk (*) by the shutter speed indicates the camera was rested on a stationary surface or against window glass. Vertical perspective control was achieved solely through the camera. Images have not been digitally retouched except where as noted.

 

		Jefferson Building Fujifilm Pro 400H 1/125 sec, f14 20mm lens rise Horizontal perspective digitally adjusted. Street sign digitally removed.
		Construction craft fair at National Building Museum. Kodak Portra 800 ½ sec, * f11 15mm lens rise.
		Modernist office building Kodak Portra 400 1/60 sec, f13 24mm lens rise. Horizontal perspective digitally adjusted.
		Modernist office building Kodak Portra 800 1/250 sec, f11 22mm lens rise. Horizontal perspective digitally adjusted.
		American Red Cross Building Kodak Portra 400NC 1/125 sec, f16 23mm lens rise.
		Livingston House in azaleas in early morning sun. Kodak Portra 400VC 1/60 sec, f11 20mm lens rise. Digital conversion to black-and-white.
		World Bank Kodak Portra 400VC 1/125 sec, f16 23mm lens rise (maximum shift in vertical orientation) Overhanging streetlamp digitally removed.
		Fairmont Hotel Kodak Portra 800 1/15 sec, f8 10mm lens rise with 8mm lateral shift. Person sitting on couch digitally removed.
		Agency headquarters, Washington DC. Kodak Portra 400 1/60 sec, f11 22mm lens rise. Area under upper building overhang digitally dodged. Overhanging streetlamp and protruding automobile digitally removed.
		International Monetary Fund Ilford 3200 1/60 sec, f11 8mm lens fall Debris on ledge digitally dodged.
		Metro station, Washington DC. Kodak Portra 400 (digital conversion to black-and-white) 10 sec,* f8 (camera rested on concrete bench) 18mm lens rise. Click here to view more metro images.
		Art Deco Entryway Kodak Portra 800 (digital conversion to black-and-white) 3 sec,* f11 2mm lens fall. Extensive digital retouching including dodging, burning and replacement of burned-out ceiling light.
		National Association of Broadcasters Building Kodak Portra 160NC 1/60 sec, f11 10mm lens rise. Photographed from second story of adjacent building.
		Yellow brick overlooking café, Kramerbooks & Afterwords. Kodak Portra 800 1/30 sec, f16 21mm lens rise. Hot spot in far upper left digitally darkened.
		Corporate atrium and reflecting pool. Kodak Portra 400VC ½ sec, * f11 8mm lens rise.
		Broadcast facility and transmission towers Kodak Portra 400 1/60 sec, f13 23mm lens rise (maximum shift in vertical orientation)
		Café Bonaparte and shops. Kodak Portra 400NC 1/125 sec, f16 15mm lens rise.
		Café Bonaparte close-up from image above through virtual drum scan of negative.
		4 Times Square in hazy mid-morning sun. Fuji Reala 100 1/30 sec, f16 20mm lens rise. Steel girders in shade digitally strengthened.
		Garages in open shade. Kodak Tri-X 400 1/30 sec, f11 12mm lens rise.
		Garages close-up.
		National Gallery of Art, East Wing. Kodak Portra 800 1/15 sec, * f11 8mm lens fall.
		Rockefeller Center in drizzly overcast. Ilford 3200 1/60 sec, * f16 20mm lens rise. Canvass cover in lower right digitally darkened.
		Office building, c.1932, aside traffic underpass. Sheer height: photographed from a distance of about 120 feet. Velvia 100 pushed ½ f-stop. 1/30 sec, f11 22mm lens rise.
		Cutler and MCI buildings, Washington DC, aside Murrow Park on an early spring morning. Fuji Provia 400 1/125 sec, f11 26mm lens rise (maximum shift in horizontal orientation) Horizontal perspective digitally corrected.
		Restaurant back entrance in moderate overcast. Kodak Tri-X 400 1/60 sec, f11 3mm lens fall; photographed from elevated platform.
		Regency House apartments, Washington DC, in moderate overcast. Kodak T-Max 400 1/60 sec, f9.5 20mm lens rise.
		Renovation and construction. Kodak Portra 400VC 1/125 sec, f11 22mm lens rise.

 

National Museum of the American Indian in early-morning sun.
Kodak Portra 400VC
1/60 sec, f16
20mm lens rise with camera tilt.
Upper rim of building digitally darkened about one f-stop.