Architectural History and Theory - Assignment 1A: Photo Framing
- Main technique: A contemporary building with an expressive massing thanks to the use of shadows and light.
- Second technique: A contemporary building that stresses abstraction thanks to its use of the grid.



Most of excellent photographers have a unique technique to express their photos. Despite that, H. Binet combined two techniques in every photo she took.
While light and shade are the tools that are vital to her work, she expressed their abstractness by making use of grids and shapes of the building.
“The light can almost be like a character in itself that starts to appear and disappear (Helene Binet, 2015)”.
The use of lighting can make an object stand out more, creating a highlight or a new perspective view in the photo. Yet she was able to show the harmony between figures and grounds.
By using a Samsung Galaxy 8(camera), I apply Helene’s photography technique in six photos below. Whether I chose to use a mobile phone or a camera to capture, they show noticeable separation contrast of light and dark yet it can be seen all as masses of figures just like in H. Binet ’s works.
Photographer: Lillian Pham.






References:
Helene Binet, 2012 ,Composing Space: The Photographs of Helene Binet. , Phaidon Press.
