Shooting architecture on the North Shore

The North Shore does not always get the architecture attention that Ponsonby or the central city does, but there is a lot to point a camera at. Victorian and Edwardian timber villas, beachfront apartments, mid-century houses tucked into the cliffs, and one very famous bridge. Here is where the Hellophoto team likes to wander with a camera, plus some thoughts on doing it politely.

Devonport: villas and volcanic views

Devonport is the obvious starting point. The streets behind the main shopping strip are lined with timber villas and cottages, many with verandahs, bay windows, fretwork and decorative brackets. It is one of the best places in Auckland to study how these houses were put together.

What to look for

• Verandah details. Turned posts, lacework brackets and the rhythm of a long verandah shot from an angle.
• Weatherboards in raking light. Early morning or late afternoon sun skimming along the boards shows every line and paint layer.
• Colour. Plenty of villas wear heritage colour schemes, and the contrast between body, trim and joinery colours makes good detail shots. Our post on colour and paint in photos explains why those colours can shift on camera.
• Rooflines. Gables and finials against a clear sky, shot with a longer lens from across the street.

Climb a maunga for context

Takarunga / Mount Victoria and Maungauika / North Head are both close by, and both give you views back over the rooftops toward the city. They are Tūpuna Maunga, ancestral mountains of great significance to mana whenua, so keep to the paths and treat them with respect. The summit road on Takarunga is closed to private vehicles, so plan to walk up.

If you are interested in the history behind particular buildings, Heritage New Zealand’s list of historic places is a good place to look up a building before or after you photograph it.

Takapuna and Milford: modern and mid-century

Head up the coast and the architecture changes. Takapuna has a mix of apartment blocks, commercial buildings and beachfront houses, and the beach itself looks straight out to Rangitoto. Shooting from the sand back toward the buildings at golden hour gives you warm light on glass and concrete.

Milford is quieter. Walk the residential streets near the beach and you will find a scattering of mid-century homes with low rooflines, big glass and timber details. Many are set back behind gardens, so a longer lens helps you frame them from the footpath without hovering at the gate.

Tips for modern buildings

• Look for repetition: balconies, louvres, window grids.
• Use reflections in glass to layer the sky or a neighbouring building into the frame.
• Overcast days suit pale concrete and render, which can look harsh in strong midday sun.
• Keep verticals straight, either with careful camera positioning or a quick correction in editing.

The harbour bridge from Northcote Point

Northcote Point sits right where the northern end of the Auckland Harbour Bridge comes ashore. It is a great spot to photograph the bridge’s structure up close, and to frame the city skyline through and beside it.

The bridge opened in 1959, and the extra lanes on each side, the “clip-ons”, were added about ten years later. Look closely from underneath and you can see where the clip-on sections attach to the original structure. That is the kind of construction detail that makes for a strong architectural photo.

Practical notes

• There are walking routes along the foreshore below the bridge, but some stretches are only passable around low tide. Check the tide before you go and do not get cut off.
• Late afternoon and dusk are popular for the city view, as the skyline lights come on behind the bridge.
• A tripod makes blue-hour shots much easier. Keep it out of the way of people walking past.
• Northcote Point is a residential neighbourhood. Park considerately and keep the noise down early and late.

Street etiquette for architecture photographers

Photographing buildings means photographing people’s homes, and a little courtesy goes a long way.

Stay on public land

Shoot from the footpath, road verge or a public reserve. Do not walk onto driveways or lean over fences for a better angle. If you want to photograph a garden or porch up close, knock and ask. Most owners of a lovingly restored villa are delighted that someone noticed.

Be mindful of people

In New Zealand it is generally lawful to take photos in public places, but that does not make every photo a good idea. Avoid framing people in their windows or gardens, keep children out of your shots unless you have permission from a parent, and think twice before publishing anything that shows a house number, a car registration or someone’s daily routine. The Privacy Commissioner’s guide to your privacy rights is worth a read if you plan to share your work widely.

If someone asks, explain

If an owner comes out to see what you are doing, say hello and explain. Offer to show them the photo. Taking the time to chat often turns a suspicious moment into a friendly one, and sometimes leads to a story about the house you would never have heard otherwise.

Putting a route together

A relaxed half day might look like this:

1. Morning light on Devonport villas, then up Takarunga for the view
2. Coffee in Devonport, then drive or bus up to Takapuna
3. Midday on modern buildings and the beachfront
4. A wander through Milford’s back streets
5. Late afternoon to dusk at Northcote Point for the bridge and skyline

Bring comfortable shoes, a mid-range zoom and a tripod for the evening, and give yourself time to stop and look up.