The photographer stands at a medium-close distance and uses a frame-within-a-frame composition. With flowering branches in the foreground as the frame, the red walls and the rooftops of ancient buildings are included in the shot. Using a medium focal length lens, the details of the flowers, the color of the red walls, and the texture of the buildings are clearly showcased, creating a classically elegant atmosphere. Travel Tips: The admission price is 60 CNY during the peak season and 40 CNY during the off-season.

The Forbidden City - Shoukang Palace, flowering crabapple trees, and red walls in the same frame.

Apply the rule of thirds to compose scenes featuring both the Forbidden City and modern architecture, enhancing the balance of the frame. Use the structure of the Forbidden City as leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye. Shoot from a low angle to showcase the grandeur of the Forbidden City. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the entire scene and increase depth of field. Include tourists in the foreground to add a human touch. Design interesting poses to make the photos more engaging. Choose the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon for shooting, using soft light to highlight the layers of the Forbidden City. Perform color correction to enhance the characteristic colors of the Forbidden City. Adjust the contrast to make details stand out more clearly.

The Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City - Southeast Corner Tower framed with the China World Trade Center

Composition Rules: Use the Rule of Thirds to balance the Forbidden City with modern architecture, enhancing the harmony of the scene. Utilize the Forbidden City's structures as leading lines to guide the viewer's gaze. Angles and Lenses: Shoot from a low angle to showcase the grandeur of the Forbidden City. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the full scope and add depth to the image. Model Integration: Position the model in the foreground, with the photographer 3-5 meters away shooting from a low angle to add a human touch. Design interesting poses to increase the photo's appeal. Choose to shoot during the golden hours of early morning or dusk. Use the soft light to highlight the layers of the Forbidden City. Perform color correction to enhance the characteristic colors of the Forbidden City. Adjust the contrast to make the details stand out more clearly.

The Forbidden City - Shunzhen Gate and Shenwu Gate in the same frame.

The photographer stands below the stairs and needs to use a telephoto lens with at least a 200mm focal length to capture a beautiful juxtaposition of the old and new. Shooting Equipment: Fujifilm XT4 + 70-300mm. Shooting Time: Around 14:00, make sure to choose a clear, sunny day with high visibility.

The Forbidden City - Past and Present in the Same Frame

Composition Rules: Use the rule of thirds to frame the ancient architecture and the white marble railings of the Forbidden City, enhancing the balance of the scene. Utilize the structure of the platform as leading lines to guide the viewer's eye. Angles and Lenses: Shoot from a low angle to showcase the grandeur of the Forbidden City. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the panoramic view, increasing the depth of field. Model Poses: Place the model in the foreground to add a human touch. Alternatively, have the model stand below a dragon-spine ornament, interacting with the architecture in an intriguing pose to add interest to the photo. Choose the golden hour, either early morning or late evening, for shooting to utilize soft light that highlights the layers of the white marble steps of the Forbidden City. Perform color correction to enhance the distinctive colors of the Forbidden City. Adjust the contrast to make details clearer. In the morning, choose the dragon head on the eastern side, and in the evening, choose the better light on the western side.

The Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City - A corner of the white marble platform

1. Shooting Angle: The photographer stands under the ginkgo tree, shooting upwards to capture the eaves, using a low angle to highlight the layers of leaves and architecture. 2. Composition: Employ the rule of thirds, placing the decorative eaves at the lower left corner of the frame, with the ginkgo tree as the background filling the rest of the frame to create visual balance. 3. Lens Focal Length: Use an 85mm focal length or the 2x zoom on a phone to compress the space, emphasizing the contrast between the eave details and the golden leaves in the background. 1. Travel Tips: ① Admission Fees: 60 RMB in peak season / 40 RMB in off-season (10 RMB for the Treasure House and Clock Museum); ② Opening Hours: April 1 - October 31: 08:30 - 17:00 (ticket sales end at 16:00, last entry at 16:10); November 1 - March 31: 08:30 - 16:30 (ticket sales end at 16:00, last entry at 16:10).

The Palace Museum -银杏 Trees at Yanxi Palace

Using the door frame as a compositional element, place the palace slightly to the right of the center of the doorway. This creates a natural frame around the subject, emphasizing the architectural beauty. Shoot from a low angle to enhance the grandeur of the building, while maintaining a balanced and symmetrical frame to add stability and visual appeal to the image. 1. Travel Tips: Peak season is from 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM, and off-season is from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM. 2. Additional Tips: ① It's recommended to shoot during the autumn and winter months, as the sunset is earlier, allowing you to capture the twilight before the park closes. The effect is best around the winter solstice. ② The central axis of the Forbidden City is currently under renovation, so some of the main halls may not be fully visible.

The Forbidden City - Capturing the palaces through the gate holes.

The photographer places the subject on the right side of the frame, with the background tower slightly left of center, enhancing the balance of the composition. The model holds a folding fan and stands in a natural side pose, showcasing the details of her hair accessories and attire, elevating the overall quality of the image. Additional tip: Shooting on a clear day can produce better results.

The Forbidden City - Moat Riverside

Use a reflective composition to ensure the main structure of the corner pavilion and its water reflection are symmetrical, enhancing the balance of the image. Shoot from a slightly俯视 angle, close to the water surface, to fully capture the details of the reflection. The frame should include the entire view of the corner pavilion, the trees on the shore, and the dark night sky background, highlighting the interplay between the architectural lighting and the reflection. Compress the background and focus on the corner pavilion and its reflection to enhance the depth of the image. Travel Tips: Lighting times: On Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays, the lights turn on about half an hour after sunset.

The Forbidden City - Night view of the reflection of the northwest corner tower of Shenwu Gate and the moat.

Frame your composition using the door frame as a natural border to enclose the distant lights and red walls in the center of the image, highlighting the depth and layers of the scene. Shoot from an eye-level angle, ensuring the frame includes the ground-level light projections and the shadows of the weeping willows overhead, adding richness to the details and atmosphere. Use a telephoto lens to compress the space, focusing the viewer's attention on the main subject and enhancing the dramatic effect of the light and architecture. Travel Tip: It's recommended to shoot in the evening when the streetlights are on, as this lighting can make your photos more vivid.

The Forbidden City - Street Lamps at Night