How to take technical photos at construction sites.
Turn your photos into a working tool.
“An image is worth a thousand words,” we’ve read this phrase many times. Well, when it comes to documenting a construction process, this certainly applies. With just one glance, we can gather many details regarding cleanliness, safety, quality, the construction process, the state of the schedule, equipment and tool usage, and so on, which would otherwise be a lengthy description in text.
That’s why, when taking photos at the construction site, it’s advisable to ensure they come out sharp and clear, so we can review them later with all their details.
Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind at least the following points:
- Establish a photographic tracking plan from the beginning of the project: Define the specific points and the frequency at which you will capture photographs. This can vary depending on the site: There will be some areas that require continuous regular monitoring, for example, on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, while in other areas, you may only need to capture one or two images at key moments, such as documenting the placement of piping within a wall before it is covered or plastered, or the waterproofing process before applying the floor finish.
- Be very disciplined when taking photos: Despite feeling at times that it’s unnecessary or tedious, the truth is that in the event of any future issues, you will greatly appreciate having taken them. A single photograph may serve as evidence, clarify a detail, or help resolve a conflict. .
- Record the date and time of the photograph: This is a very simple operation, and it’s almost always automatic in cameras and cellphones. However, it’s crucial to ensure that it is enabled and that the date and time recorded in the device’s memory are accurate. .
- Preferably take photos during daylight hours when there is good lighting: This isn’t always possible. Sometimes, weather conditions or the time of year may prevent it; however, having good lighting will improve the result. Often, simply waiting for a couple of hours can make a difference. .
- For exterior photos, seek the best time of day: Sometimes, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, the sun has special moments of brilliance that you can use to your advantage. .
- Try not to take photos against the light: Perhaps this is the most common mistake. Not considering the direction of light in relation to the area or object you want to capture. This can result in dark, low-quality images. Often, simply moving and rotating 45, 90, or 180 degrees can turn the light in your favor and significantly enhance the quality and details of the photo. .
- When you need to capture internal details where backlighting is unavoidable: If possible, try placing a curtain, black fabric, or plastic to block or reduce the exterior light and use a light source such as a flash, reflector, or photography lamp pointing towards the object you want to capture. This will help mitigate the backlighting effect in the photo and ensure the area you want to document is clearly visible. .
- Use the digital filters on your camera or smartphone: Modern devices offer various filter and environment options to improve slightly flawed photos. It’s useful to keep this tool in mind for certain photos. .
- Organize your photos systematically: The classic folder system on your computer’s hard drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, for example, may fall short when it comes to searching and finding images in a large volume of information. It’s better to use field management software that integrates photos with construction plans and locates each of them at the point where they were taken, as shown in the cover photo of this blog. Platforms like www.miralaobra.com can help you with this.
