Architectural Photography – Loughborough University

Architecture

I recently had the opportunity to photograph the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine at Loughborough University on behalf of Balfour Beatty.

The brief was to capture the building’s design and presence, with a focus on its modern architectural features and how it sits within the wider campus environment. With its clean lines, striking use of glazing, and contemporary finish, it’s a building that really comes into its own under the right light.

I timed the shoot for late afternoon to take advantage of softer light and a bit of texture in the sky. This helped bring out the detail in the façade while avoiding the harsher contrast you often get earlier in the day. As the light began to drop, the building took on a completely different feel.

Staying on into dusk allowed me to capture that transition — when the interior lights start to glow and the building becomes more prominent against the darkening sky. This is often my favourite time to photograph architecture, as it adds depth, warmth and a sense of life to the images.

The large glazed areas worked particularly well at this time, revealing glimpses of the interior while reflecting the remaining colour in the sky, creating a nice balance between inside and out.

Projects like this are always a great reminder of how much timing and light can influence architectural photography. A well-designed building like this deserves to be shown at its best, and shooting across different times of day is key to achieving that.

Gateway Student Accommodation – Lincoln University

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