3.2 The Role of Architecture as a Photographic Subject The central element of every architectural photo is the building. The sheer size of buildings makes them very different from almost every other type of photographic subject. An architectural photographer can not only photo- graph the subject from outside, but can also step into the subject and capture images of its inner life. Additionally, a building is immovably connected to its environment, which means that the photographer always has to make the effort to visit the subject. Typically, all elements surrounding a building play a secondary role in the composition of an architectural photograph, resulting in an image with an unequivocal message (fig. 56). The significance of each individual building in images that contain more than one major structure can vary. Sometimes, a single building will dominate due to its size or central position, while at other times, the arrangement of multiple structures can give each a similar weight- ing within the overall composition (fig. 57). This is often the case when several buildings form a homogenous pattern or are made of similar materials. What- ever the physical arrangement, the building(s) remain the central element of the photo's message.