See the best new architectural photography honored by AIA Los Angeles

The Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) has announced this year’s winners of the annual Architectural Photography Awards.

Fifteen individual artists and photographers working locally and around the world were recognized across three separate categories of Best Image, Rendering, and Instagram feed.

Individual winners like the UK’s Marcus Peel were commended for their “interplay of the monochromatic colors and the shadows that almost sets this abstract shape in perpetual motion.” A statement from AIA|LA said, “the 2022 suite of winning photographs also demonstrate how successfully photographers can reinterpret well-known work.”

The jury was composed of photographer Ashok Sinha, Montalba Architects founder David Montalba, FAIA, and Shimahara Visual CEO Elizabeth Parker. Winners were divided into Honor, Merit, and Citation, with Honor representing the highest level award.

BEST IMAGE — HONOR

Santa Fe by Ryan Gobuty, Assoc. AIA
(Architecture by  Legoretta)

Jury comments: An exquisite portrayal of a harmonious and vivid color palette playing with shadows and dappling light. The artistic quality and dynamic use of color and space is striking! The dynamic quality of this image is incomparable in the way that the light and shadows, building angles, and of course the careful placement of ‘actors’ in this scene all play together. 

Colnaghi lV by Marcus Peel
(Architecture by Crawford and Gray Architects)

Jury comments: An outstanding capture highlighting tonal contrast and intersecting and curved leading lines that create a compelling and mesmerizing photo. Absolutely stunning! The curves of this staircase lend a sensual quality to this image, while the abstract nature of the framing of this image forces us to get lost in its curves and shadows and the various geometric shapes that emerge as you wander through the photograph. What truly sets this image apart is the interplay of the monochromatic colors and the shadows that almost sets this abstract shape in perpetual motion.

HONOR (TRIPTYCH)

Surface,  Absence, The Return by Scott Lorenzen, Affiliate AIALA
(Architecture by Atelier David Tellerman)

Jury comments: These images transport us to a land of wonder and imagination–the geometric patterns and the interplay of light and shadow accentuated by the architecture are nothing short of magical, and the formality of the straight lines and hard shadows highlight the wonder of this place. This collection of images was striking not only for its immediacy of intent but its poetic silence. It brings the viewer in and opens up a new window into a moment of time that was captured with clear intention, sublime composition, and the orchestration of light that ultimately is unmatched in any of the other work we reviewed. | Both architectural and aspirational, these photographs have a timeless sensibility and contrast that is profound, soft yet hard, black and white yet colorful, quiet yet loud; they echo in our memory as a reminder of how great photography can impact us all.

MERIT

Wrap the Triomphe by Jonathan Ducrest
(Art Installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude) 

Jury comments: What makes this image special is the overall grey tonality of the image that seamlessly ‘bleeds’ into the sky, along with a plaza almost devoid of people makes its presence otherworldly.  It is very difficult to make an image of a location that has been photographed a million times, as in the case of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In this case however, the photographer chose to show this landmark wrapped in fabric created by artist duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude, and shows us something unfamiliar about a very familiar subject.

C-Glass House by Taiyo Watanabe
(Architecture by Deegan Day Design and Architecture)

Jury comments: The C-Glass House seems to float in its surrounding lush environment and the all-glass structure adds to its sense of weightlessness and transparency.  The photographer has carefully chosen the perfect time of day to execute and plan this image. Our eyes are immediately drawn to the interiors of this magical house, and long streaks of the stars in the dusk sky adds an element of motion in quite an unexpected yet stunning manner.

Monolith by Darren Bradley
(Architecture by William Pereira) 

Jury comments: While this building has been a landmark for so long, its structure is very much celebrated in this image, along with these contrasting relationships noted. A great photo of a great work of architectural history in the San Diego area. The contrasts of this image are hard to avoid, the scale of the structure itself relative to the two people preciously placed below in conversation, or the hardness of the concrete while set in the foreground of the eucalyptus grove, with the sky seemingly mediating each.

BEST RENDERING — HONOR

Hill House Rendering by Robin Donaldson, AIA

Jury comments: The artist uses a creative and unique perspective for this imaginative medium. The emphasis and balance of shape, texture, color (or lack thereof) is masterful. Whimsical yet clearly calculated, its contrast and intentional departure from the traditional rendering styles we all see so much of really set this apart. Dreamy yet clearly expressing the intentions of the project; it's a great reminder to run your own race. A captivating work of art!

MERIT 

Dolford residential master plan by Brooks Murray Architects

Jury comments: The visual storytelling and painterly feel give this image a unique and whimsical approach to rendering. The composition immediately draws you into the narrative that is beautifully enhanced by atmosphere and drama.

BEST INSTAGRAM FEED — FIRM

Arturo+Lauren (Instagram handle: @arturo.and.lauren) 

Jury comments: Beautiful use of content and cadence to the posting strategy. The content feels consistent with their brand. Love how they experiment with film, behind the scenes and imagery while feeling designed and intentional. Dynamic visual balance!  Arturo and Lauren strike the right balance of showcasing their professionalism and individual personalities. The feed features an array of high quality beautiful client work, with thoughtful snippets of videos and behind the scene footage that paints a picture of not only their brand but also the people behind it.

BEST INSTAGRAM FEED — INDIVIDUAL

Paul Marquez (Instagram handle: @360photo)

Jury comments: The quality of the work is striking and the format and photography felt consistent with the brand. There is a synergy between the posts that is felt throughout the entire grid. Paul Marquez / 360photo has an impressive body of work beautifully displayed in a unique non-traditional grid on his Instagram feed. The visual language underlying the posts is consistent and of high quality, including the choice of one-word captions that makes his Instagram feed a delight to scroll!