Summer is Doors Open season in Ontario, a series of unique events where communities across the province celebrate their built heritage by opening the doors of some of our greatest architectural treasures. They also provide the perfect excuse to get your camera (or smartphone!) out and capture the beauty of Ontario’s architecture – both old and new!

With Doors Open Ottawa right around the corner (June 4 – June 5) - and as part of blOAAg mini-series on architectural photography! - we asked Ottawa based photography duo Amanda Large and Younes Bounhar from Doublespace Photography to share some advice on how to capture that perfect shot during your Doors Open excursion. They’ve even included some great examples featuring buildings that will be open in this edition of Doors Open Ottawa!

Bringing together their unique experiences and backgrounds – Amanda completed a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo and worked in the field for five years; Younes is a former biologist turned landscape photographer – Doublespace Photography is known for their simple, bold and elegant architectural photography. Photographing projects in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and beyond, their work has been featured in numerous publications, including Canadian Architect and Azure Magazine.

From the Photographers:


Look up. Be sure look around you and explore alternatives to eye-level viewpoints. You can often find some great details and compelling compositions by looking up or down.

MacOdrum Library, Carleton University, Ottawa Architectural Credit: Diamond Schmitt Architects and Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates Architects in joint venture 

Chase light. Look for patterns of light and shadow to add further visual interest to your shots. Don't forget that you can use zoom to isolate part of a space and simplify your compositions. 

Sir John A. MacDonald Building, Ottawa Architectural Credit: NORR Limited, Architects and Engineers and MTBA - Mark Thompson Brandt Architect & Associates Inc. 

Add a human touch. It often is not possible to get a "clean" shot of a space, that is to say devoid of people. Use this to your advantage by including figures in your shots to give a sense of scale and interaction with the building, as well as to add a sense of movement. 

Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa Architectural Credit: Moriyama & Teshima Architects in collaboration with Maki and Associates 

About Doors Open Ontario 

Every year from April to October, as part of Doors Open Ontario, communities across the province celebrate their built heritage - both historic and contemporary - by opening the doors of some of Ontario’s greatest architectural treasures to the public – many of them for the first time ever. These unique community events are a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to explore our province’s rich built heritage, and provide the perfect excuse to get your camera (or smartphone!) out and capture the beauty of Ontario’s architecture.

Heading out to a Doors Open event in a community near you? Share your pictures on Twitter and Instagram with us using the hashtag #OntarioArchitecture!