As a photographer, when you see a subject or scene that you wish to photograph, you point the camera in that general direction, compose, and release the shutter. A great many of us are standing when we do this, and we raise the camera to our eye and take the photograph. Changing your viewpoint is not only a great way to enhance a composition; it might make your photograph stand out from all of the other eye-level views made of a similar subject.
Bird's Eye View
Bird's Eye View - Photographing from an angle above your subject matter. Shoot down on subjects to diminish them or make them look less imposing. How would you achieve this type of photograph? ✦ Stand on a chair to photograph an object. ✦ Climb up a hill and look down. On similar lines, climb to the top of a building. ✦ Use a ladder. ✦ If you are adventuresome, try opting for a hot air balloon ride or a gondola car ride! Great Adventure has many rides that are safe to bring your camera. (Skyway, Ferris Wheel, Hot Air Balloons)
Eye Level
Start by shooting at your subject’s eye level. For example, get down low when making a child or animal’s portrait rather than standing over them and shooting down on them. Shooting a photo from eye level of the subject is the quickest way to help your viewers connect emotionally with a photo subject. By literally putting them at the photo subjects level, you create an instinctual response. When we are at eye level with a subject, we personify that subject—even if it is not human.
Shooting at eye level also allows you to see more of the subject than shooting downward or upward (or even from the side) would allow. This straight-on angle also helps to prevent distortion caused by perspective or angle of view.
Worm's Eye
Photographing from below is sometimes referred to as worm’s-eye view, as if you were a worm looking up at the world around you. As you can imagine, this makes all subjects look very large, even if they are very small in reality. As opposed to images shot from above, subjects presented in this way look as though they hold power over the viewer, and can seem very intimidating. By photographing a subject from a worm’s eye view, you can make the viewer feel vulnerable, even if the subject itself isn’t frightening. In the photograph of the flower, you really feel as though you are laying on the ground, looking up at monstrous plants. So this is what it feels like to be a bug! Getting down on the ground allows you to see scenes that you wouldn’t ordinarily experience in your everyday life.
Assignment:
- Take a minimum of 60 photos
- 20 birds eye, 20 worms eye, 20 eye level
- Correct 4 best images (any angle)
- (you can always correct more than the minimum requirement improve your skills and build your portfolio)
Credits:
Created with images by 964424 - "england london eye" • NGDPhotoworks - "child male a bird's eye view" • lukasbieri - "youtuber computer filmmaker" • Roark - "blossom bloom ochnaceae"