About Studio CAPN
Great Architecture. Great Photography.
Genuine curiosity. Thoughtful listening. Detail-driven eye.
These are my secret ingredients. For me, photography becomes art only when it captures more than beauty—it tells a story.
I’m most satisfied not when the images are simply striking, but when they faithfully express the vision of the architects, brands, developers, and hoteliers I have the privilege to work with.
Architectural Photographer in the Nordics
I’m Claudio Parada Nunes, and I call the magical city of Reykjavik my home. My journey with photography started while studying for my Master’s in Architecture – that’s when I fell in love with how buildings tell their stories through light and shadow.
These days, I’m lucky enough to work with incredible clients who share my obsession for unique perspectives and a keen eye for detail.
My Passions
My twin loves of architecture and photography have led me on quite an adventure, from bustling cities to remote landscapes and some truly unexpected places. Sometimes that means waking up at 3 AM to catch the perfect Arctic light, or spending hours waiting for clouds to frame a building just right.
And truly? This is what I love most about what I do.
Bold. Original. Creative
This is how I approach Photograpghy. I see architecture as more than just buildings—it’s about expression, atmosphere, and perception. My work plays with light, shadow, and form, creating images that go beyond documentation, revealing the soul of a space.
Scandinavian Countries and More
While rooted in the Nordic countries, my passion for travel and photography is without bounds. I have undertaken projects in various countries, including Hungary, Portugal and Slovenia, and am always eager to explore new destinations.
No location is out of reach.
My Gear
Every project demands precision, and having the right tools makes all the difference. From full-frame cameras to specialized lenses and lighting equipment, I use professional-grade gear to ensure every shot meets the highest standards—whether on the ground or in the air.
Here’s a quick overview of my photography gear, split between digital and analogue. I rely on each for different kinds of work, but both play a major role in my creative process.
Digital
My primary digital setup is the Nikon Z7. It’s a high-resolution mirrorless body with incredible dynamic range and color depth, which makes it ideal for all kinds of indoor and outdoor shooting scenarios. The sensor’s resolving power really shines when paired with my set of tilt-shift lenses, spanning between 19mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 45mm. These are essential tools for architectural photography, giving me full control over perspective correction and plane of focus—critical when precision and depth are everything. The Nikon Z7 ensures a 50MP RAW file that is very capable or handling the most difficult light scenarios, and render color accuracy like no other.
Aerial Work
I use the DJI Mavic 4 Pro. It’s not just a drone—it’s a fully capable aerial imaging platform. Its larger Hasselblad sensor, 10-bit D-Log, and variable aperture make it incredibly versatile in different lighting situations. It’s my go-to for scouting locations, capturing bird’s-eye compositions, and adding cinematic movement to both still and video projects.
Analogue
Despite how far digital has come, I still shoot a lot of film. There’s something irreplaceable about the way film renders light and texture, especially in medium format.
The Nikon F6 is my 35mm camera of choice for adventure travel—rugged, metering is dead-on, and it integrates seamlessly with modern Nikon glass. For architecture and interior shots, I alternate between two medium format bodies: the Pentax 67ii and the Fuji GX 680iii (aka, the neck-breaker). The Pentax gives that SLR feel with massive 6×7 negatives, that when paired with its 75mm shift lens really brings projects to life. The Fuji is a modular camera with a 6×8 format, that really slow down the process and make me explore each project with a careful eye and perfect framing — there’s only 10 shots per roll, after all.
Software
In architectural photography and videography, precision, clarity, and atmosphere are everything. The tools I choose to process and present my work play a crucial role in how the final images and videos are perceived. Software like Capture One Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Premiere Pro forms the cornerstone of my post-production workflow, helping me edit and finalize every project to ensure it meets the highest standards—both in stills and motion.
Architectural subjects demand meticulous attention to detail. Subtle shifts in light, texture, and material rendering can define the entire character of a space.
Capture One
Capture One’s ability to render clean files with minimal noise and its advanced color grading tools allow for refined tonal adjustments without compromising image integrity. Its layer-based local adjustments are especially useful for selectively balancing shadows and highlights across building facades or interiors, all while preserving a non-destructive workflow. Thanks to its advanced algorithms, Capture One Pro interprets RAW files in a more natural and nuanced way than Lightroom, streamlining the editing process and delivering better results right from the start.
Adobe Photoshop
When more detailed manipulation is required, Adobe Photoshop is my go-to tool. It excels in architectural post-processing where pixel-level control matters—such as removing distractions, correcting perspective distortions, or blending multiple exposures to balance complex lighting conditions.
For concept-driven or creative work, Photoshop offers unparalleled tools for layering, masking, and blending, allowing me to construct images that go beyond documentation and lean into visual storytelling.
Adobe Premiere Pro
On the video side, Adobe Premiere Pro brings architectural narratives to life. Its powerful media handling and flexible multi-layer editing framework make it the backbone of every architectural film I produce.
Whether I’m fine-tuning motion, integrating seamless graphics, or syncing sound design, Premiere Pro provides the tools to render complex video projects at a professional level—without sacrificing image or audio quality.
Together, these three programs create a powerful, integrated workflow that supports every phase of my architectural imaging process—from capturing light and geometry with precision, to editing with control and intention, to presenting spaces in ways that are immersive, compelling, and emotionally rich. This synergy doesn’t just enhance efficiency—it ensures that each project reflects my creative vision with consistency and clarity, whether it’s a single standout image or a fully realized architectural film.
Who the Heck is CAPN?
Want to learn more about the person behind the work? In this short interview, I share insights into my background, creative approach, and what inspires my photography.
My Clients & Partners
I’ve had the privilege of capturing the vision of diverse clients—from architects and architectural studios to hoteliers, developers, and construction companies.
Selected Clients
Estonian National Museum, Andersen & Sigurdsson, The Reykjavik EDITION, KLH Massivholz GmbH, Hotel Jökulsarlon, Teiknistofan Tröð, Parliament Hotel, Nordic, IcelandAir, Trípólí Arkitektar, C.F. Møller, THG Arkitektar, Studio Granda, Hotel Alegria, Nova SBE
Selected Publications
New York Times – T Magazine, Architecture and Wonder, Home, World, Design, Forbes, Magazine, Revista, Habitare, Archisearch, Avontuura, Publico P3, Archinect, Archdaily, Architizer, Platform, Divisare, Gooood, Dezeen