Documenting Buildings

 Use a tripod to steady the camera.

 Set your white balance and ISO appropriately.
 Use the shady side of a building on a sunny day in a neutral color area where there is smooth
even light and no shadows.

Photographs of Setting of the structure

 Views of the overall setting of the historic resource(s), e.g. fields and forest surrounding a farm
complex, a streetscape of buildings in a village, etc.
 Views of the historic resource in its immediate surroundings, showing the relationship of the
resource to neighboring resources
 Aerial views when available (an adjacent hill or tall building may provide an aerial vantage point,
or a Google Earth view)
 Views of significant landscape features, e.g. tree-lined approaches, stone walls, formal gardens,
etc.

Photographs of Building Exteriors should include:

 The site and environment
 views of the building in its setting, including any outbuildings and its neighbors to either side
and across the street
 overall views of each side of the building
 close-up views of important features, such as windows, doors, millwork, or other things unique
to your project
 close-up views showing the condition of the building's materials, especially if there are problems
with deterioration
 Perspective view, front and one side.
 Perspective view, rear and opposing side.
 If they exist, at least one view of any dependency structures, such as privies, milk or ice houses,
carriage houses, sheds, detached garages, or barns. These structures need to be identified in the
Index to Photographs.
 All areas where work will be taking place as per the approved scope of work;

Photographs of Building Interiors should include:

 overall views of each room of the building (An easy way to do this: stand in one corner and
shoot the opposite side of the room, then take a picture from the corner
 close-up views of important features, such as fireplaces, stairways & railings, windows, doors,
trim, or other things unique to your project
 close-up views showing the condition of the interior finishes on the floors, walls and ceilings,
especially if there are problems Include close-up views of important elements contributing
elements within that space.
 Overall views of important interior rooms, e.g. courtrooms, formal parlors, historic kitchens, etc.
 Views of important interior features, e.g. staircases, fireplaces, ceiling medallions, exposed
structural framing, etc.
 Views of significant interior details, e.g. door hardware, light fixtures, industrial machinery,
hand-grained trim, etc.

SCOA / Elective I / Photo Documentation of Buildings / Ruchita Belapurkar

  Views of people using the building.
 Specific details of the resources that will be attended to as per the scope of work.
 Close-ups of character-defining interior and exterior features such as: storefronts, windows,
doors, decorative ceilings, stairs, millwork, and casework.
 Deteriorated conditions such as: roof failure, crumbling brickwork, rotten wood, or water
stained finishes.
 In the event that the project focuses on protection such as stabilization, include present
conditions and details.
 In the event that the project focuses on community education, include photographs of examples
of proposed products and drafts of design, development and the like.

Engineering and Industrial Structures:
 This encompasses a wide variety of structure types, such as manufacturing complexes, bridges,
locks and dams, and mines. The buildings and structures housing the industrial process should
be captured with the types of views outlined above and special attention should be paid to the
equipment involved in the flow and transformation of material going through the building. This
can include:
 Any extant machinery and equipment, also capturing the spatial arrangements.
 Machinery details, such as the governor on a turbine, valves of a steam engine, or the gearing in
machines like fabric looms, or other details that reveal a machine’s function like the cone of a
rock crusher or drum of a shredder.
 Power transmission systems, such as line shafting.
 General views and details of structural framing systems, including roof trusses and floor beam
systems and pedestals that supported the building structure and the equipment and machinery.

Bridges:
 General views of all sides.
 Detail views of portals, portal connections, upper chord connections, vertical members, traffic
deck, bridge plates, manufacturer’s badge and any decorative features.
 If accessible, the traffic deck support system (such as floor beams and stringers viewed from
underneath the bridge).
 Abutments and approach details.

Linear resources:
 For canals, railroads, or roads; the photographs should be organized in a logical progression with
the captions including mile markers. The following types of views should be captured along with
views of the resource itself:
 Significant or typical structures; depending on the resource, this might include culverts,
retaining walls, bridges, or locks and dams.
 Contextual shots that illustrate the resource’s path through the landscape.

Cultural Landscapes:
 Possible subject matter could include formal gardens, ranches, or city parks, with an emphasis
on capturing the broader context of landscape design, use, and geography. Aspects of a cultural
landscape to capture including the following:
 Contextual views of the landscape under various seasonal conditions; aerial photographs can be
especially helpful.

SCOA / Elective I / Photo Documentation of Buildings / Ruchita Belapurkar

  General landscape views.
 Structures and structural elements, such as fences and hardscaping.
 Views capturing the spatial relations of buildings, structures, and the landscape.
 Vegetation should be identified with both common and botanical names in the Index to
Photographs.

Quality:
Photographs must conform to the following parameters:
1. Be in focus and clear
2. In color
3. Taken at a high resolution - sufficient to show the details required to review

Labeling Photographs
Photographs must be labeled with the following information: building name and/or address, view (e.g.,
north side), and description (e.g., plaster damage in dining room, north wall). Photographs keyed to a
plan(s) of the building and site, facilitate review of the proposed work.

Do not insert text into the images. Name each image file as follows:

 ResourceName_001, _002, _003, etc.

 The number of each image must correspond to the photo index and sketch map
 Sequential number referenced to a Photograph Key Plan*
 Photograph date (you can use the approximate date, such as month and year)
 Indicate if the photograph is pre-or post-rehabilitation
 A brief description of what is shown in the photograph
 * Photograph Key Plan: shows the location where the numbered photographs were taken with
arrows showing the view.

Tips for Photographing Projects and Creating a Photo Key

1. Exterior photographs must document all facades of the building. Interior photographs must record
architectural features and finishes, such as: windows, doors, fireplace mantels and surrounds, floors,
walls, ceilings, stairs, mouldings, etc., as well as provide an overview of rooms throughout the building.
Pay special attention to areas, which will be impacted by the proposed rehabilitation work.

2. Photo-key floor plans should be on construction plans. If such is not available, floor plans can be hand
drawn on blank or graph paper, but need to note all windows, doors, wall openings, fireplaces, stairs,
etc.

3. All interior and exterior photographs should be numbered and identified with property address as
well as the date the photo was taken.

SCOA / Elective I / Photo Documentation of Buildings / Ruchita Belapurkar

Figure 1 Example of a Key Plan

Example Caption and Numbering

Photo No 1 Photo of medallion showing lime plaster deterioration and flaking of plaster Date: 25.06.2016

SCOA / Elective I / Photo Documentation of Buildings / Ruchita Belapurkar