When it comes to using pictures on a blog, most of us rely on our amateur point-and-shoot skills to bring you an image of a beautiful room. At times photos are provided, or we snatch them from elsewhere on the Web. But none of us, I think, ever has the money to actually hire a photographer to shoot a house for us so we can blog about it.
That’s why I was so excited when Morgan Howarth called me recently. He was one of our best photographers from Washington Spaces, who probably shot more covers than anyone else. He teaches a class on architectural photography, and he wanted to know if I knew of any beautiful spaces that he could bring his class to shoot. His students get practice, and I could get free, professional-grade photography, all orchestrated by him.
Well, twist my arm, Morgan. Stay tuned for blog posts in the next week or two that will feature his students’ photography. In the meantime, I wanted to share some of his work — any of you who have ever snapped a room knows how difficult it is to make a picture translate the from what you see with your own eyes. Morgan just makes them sing.
This is the last shoot I did with Morgan before the magazine folded -- a glorious home in Warrenton, Va, designed by Dana Tydings.
The den at the Warrenton house -- Morgan threw some chemicals on the logs to create a blaze of fire that lasted about 30 seconds -- enough time to get the shot.
The breathtaking breakfast room from the same house, which was slated to be the cover of Spaces' Jan/Feb issue, if it hadn't folded!
The exterior of a house in Arlington. Morgan manipulated the image to intensify that dusky sky, which makes the house pop off the page.
One of Morgan's talents is that you can tell him roughly what you want to capture in a room, and he will find the perfect angle to include it all -- from a sconce on the right to a piece of the outside through the window on the left, all the while highlighting the central focal point.
This bath by Nancy Colbert in the 2008 DC Design House was long and skinny, but he managed to capture all of its unique elements.
This living room by Frank Babb Randolph was featured on a cover in 2008, and to this day, it remains a memorable image in many people's minds.
Morgan made this family room from one of DC dermatologist Tina Alster's former homes almost look like a Mondrian painting, making all of the color blocks stand out with his lights.
This picture of a Water Street apartment in Georgetown made me fall in love with Spaces even before I worked there. Getting the exposures correct to show both the outside and the inside is truly an art.
Such a quiet setting, which makes the subtle colors across the image really shine.
I’ll close with this striking vignette. Expect to see more of Morgan’s pictures with his students very soon!
Jennifer Sergent. Native Washingtonian. Former editor at Washington Spaces magazine and HGTV. Currently searching for – and writing about – DC’s design voices. Write to me @
A true artist in every sense of the word.
Oh, lucky you! How wonderful, it will be fun to see what the do! Janell
He certainly has an eye for it. I wonder what he shoots with? I find photography very fascinating. Oh to have the vision for it…
Oh, how I remember so fondly some of this work that graced the pages. He is quite the master at the indoor/outdoor night time shot!
I am a huge fan of his work – I noticed his byline on many of my favorite pictures from Washington Spaces over the past few years.
I actually send the picture of the console with the blue painting to my architect last month, as I love the treatment on the walls and think it would be a great model for the library in my new house.
Thank you for the inspiration!
I never paid much attention to photography until I started taking pictures of rooms we were completeing. It was then that I realized what an art form it truly is. You only have to put an amateur next to the professional to see a big difference, and Morgan is really genius. How very nice to have the opportunity to work with him again and to benefit from his expertise. Can’t wait to see the final pictures.
Stunning Photography,very elegant designed, so chic indeed,Morgan Howarth work is one of a kind,truly smart and a true artist!He make sure that all the details are covered,He never skimp on anything. glad that I’ve found this Blog.certainly inspirational.thank for the wonderful post.
I love his photography and have been wanting to take a class – where and when does he teach?
Just write to him: morgan@morganhowarth.com.