Its all a Matter of Perspective

"Always take your shots from below 3 feet or above 7 feet to give yourself a different perspective on the world." That advice was given to me in high school from a successful friend of mine in the business. Anyone could be standing with their camera on a beach, watching a sunset, and thinking to themselves, "This photography thing can't be that hard... all I have to do is find a cool sky and push a button." In some sense that's not too far off, yet the real skill shows itself before the shot is ever taken. Five percent of stunning photographs have to do with luck and the other ninety-five percent comes from careful planning on behalf of the photographer. Everything from positioning, timing, exposure settings and creativity come from the brain of the artist. Getting that lucky shot can happen to anyone, but a great photographer improves his chances of getting that shot over and over again through his strategic planning.

One of the key aspects of planning comes in the form of Perspective. What angle will I use to capture the shot? How low or high can I get to change the way my subject will appear in the frame? ect.. These questions are important because they help the photographer decide how to best show his subject in a way no one else could imagine. The following video on aerial filming from helicoptors should be a good example of how an exaggerated perspective can change the effectiveness of a shot.

The majority of people take pictures that are from the perspective of between 4 and 7 feet tall, sense that is the height of most humans. Consequently, everyone sees the world from this perspective. Most early films from hollywood were shot from eye level and probably would be considered visually boring compared to today's standard film. I find it very important to go below 3 feet and above 7 feet whenever I am trying to come up with an aw inspiring shot, precisely because the world just looks different from that angle. This may not apply to all forms of photography, but it is a rule that has yeilded great success for me. Keep it in the back of your head as you go on your next photo assignment and experiment with it. The sky may be the limit, but never limit your creativity by staying within the 4-7 foot veiwpoint.



These shot are from the Lava Canyons created by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Saint Helens in the state of Washington. Two pictures, two perspectives, same waterfall.

Happy Shooting-
DC