Architectural Projects: Upscale Residential: Zucchero Residence

Client: Gordon Stein Architectural Designer

Area: Hideaway Country Club., La Quinta, CA

Specs: 7,500sf Main House, 1400 sf 2 Bed

2 Bath Guest Suites. on 1 1/2 acres.

Shoot days: 4

This is the second home I photographed for Gordon of Gordon Stein Design, Palm Desert, CA. Done in the Moorish architectural style, it is bright, spacious and exotic. It is especially exotic for the Coachella Valley where Spanish Revival or 'desert contemporary' are the most popular designs in this area to be built.

The rear elevations were challenging (images 1 & 13). The home is extremely wide and the rear of the property drops off quickly to a golf course 20 feet below. This requires my camera to be closer to the structure than normal. As a rule I utilize the longest focal length lenses as possible when photographing wide structures. This gives less prominence to the foreground and allows the structure to stand out from the background. In this case I had to use my widest architectural lens. To solve the foreground issue I had my lighting drop off quickly on the grass in front. I then gave more light to the structure, allowing it to pop off the background (images 1 & 13).