Photographer Timothy Soar explains why he is holding a series of free-to-attend workshops at various locations around the country for members of the Regenerative Architecture Index to develop their photography skills.
Photos by Jason Sayer, taken while participating in a photography workshop sponsored by In Opera Group and held at The Northcliffe, London, the 1920s Daily Mail HQ repurposed by John Robertson Architects.
We are no longer recording a stable idea of architecture. If architecture is changing, then the language utilized to represent it needs to also change. Not stylistically, however fundamentally. What does it imply to picture something that is designed to progress? How do you convey systems rather than surface areas, relationships instead of things, duration rather than a single minute?
I’m holding a series of workshops for members of the Regenerative Architecture Index to explore how a better visual language might be constructed, one that is capable of holding intricacy without decreasing it. That may imply reevaluating how we frame the topic, it may mean paying closer attention to use, or to the life of the structure beyond completion. Due to the fact that within regenerative practice, representation is no longer neutral. The images you produce will shape how this work is understood, shared, and eventually valued. They will affect whether it reads as a set of visual gestures, or as a much deeper, systemic shift in how architecture runs. That makes the question of how we photo this work not simply suitable, but immediate.
We’ll look carefully at this together. Analysing images not just for their structure, however for their intent. Who are they speaking to? What assumptions do they bring? What narratives do they enhance, or withstand? From there, the focus reverses to your own work. How do you want it to be checked out? What is necessary within it, and how might that be made noticeable? How do you start to develop a visual vocabulary that aligns with those intentions, one that is specific, consistent, and grounded in the truths of the tasks themselves? The objective of the sessions is to produce a space where those questions can be evaluated with care and accuracy, where experience, insight, and critical discussion begin to form a clearer way of seeing. If regenerative architecture asks us to reconsider how we style, then it appears only sensible that we likewise reassess how we look.
Why participate
“I participated in the workshop at 8 Bishopsgate. It was a wonderful day that began with a talk by WilkinsonEyre and Tim, offering valuable context for photographing the structure’s architecture. Throughout the day, it was terrific to receive expert ideas from Tim, who motivated us to think artistically about composition and check out the building through the lens. The format was interesting and inclusive for all ability levels and equipment, promoting a terrific conversation on what makes an effective picture.”
— Alex Jackson, Piercy and Co
“A thoughtful and engaging workshop where Tim shared an exceptional depth of understanding and encouraged us to look more carefully at the world through his lens.”
— Fergus Knox, Knox Bhavan
“Architects often have a strong interest in photography, yet some do not have the confidence to capture architecture through a cam. I was invited to the workshop led by Tim at the YY building and at first was reluctant, assuming it would be focused on specialists. I had no devices of my own, however I was assured that an iPhone would be perfectly great … so I chose to go. I’m extremely delighted I did. The day was well structured, providing a welcome possibility to “decrease” and thoughtfully observe a structure both in usage and in detail. The event was unwinded, informative, and pleasurable. I particularly valued learning from Tim during the final crit session, where we had the ability to see just how impressive everyone’s photos were.”
— Tom Wells, AHMM
Upcoming dates
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Thursday 23rd April, The Design Hub, Caffè Terrazzo, 1 Manor Road, London W13, 5pm-8pm
- Wednesday 3rd June, Downstairs at dMFK, 76 Charlotte St, London W1, 9am-12pm
- Wednesday 29th July, Marine Court, St Leonard’s-on-Sea, East Sussex, 10am-1pm
- Thursday 10th September, Thetford Forest, Norfolk, 10am-1pm
- Sunday sixth December, Harry CJ Wix, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 10am-1pm
Participation is free to RAI members however locations are strictly restricted so booking is necessary. Beverages will be served.Contact Lorna Soar to book your place