A Shift in Perspective
“All I’m seeing is rain for the next week”
“You need to get a new weather app.”
Walking through Seattle with a colleague during another overcast day, the above exchange took place. We laughed about it then and I still reference the comment today but, there’s a bit more meaning to the reply than just the joke. The real message is about one’s perspective, the way you choose to look at a situation. Do you just take it as it is given to you or do you search for a different view?
Photography is heavily dependent on perspective. What you choose to show and what you choose to hide makes your composition. By changing your perspective you can show everyday scenes in new and interesting ways.
Most beginning (and many amateur) photographers take the majority of their images from eye level. Standing up, straight on, just as the subject was first seen. Reacting instead of analyzing.
What begins to separate the advance photographer is the time spent searching for that unique composition. This artist will spend some time moving about the scene to find their interesting take. They are, in essence, having a conversation with the moment to gain a better understanding of what is before them.
Try getting low to highlight foreground elements.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “wait, is he just talking about photography here or is he trying to slip some philosophy in?”
Well, if you can take away a bigger meaning from this idea, I’m not the one to stop you. I do think it’s important to look at situations from many different angles but, I’m just here to help expand your (heh hem) “photography”.
Back to the pictures!
A shift in perspective shouldn’t render the scene unrecognizable. You and your viewer should still know what the subject is but, should be “wowed” with your take.
“I’ve never seen an image like that before!”
If you’ve ever been given this compliment, congratulations, you’ve found a unique perspective on something. Keep going!
Tulips photographed from directly overhead are still recognizable as tulips but offer a different view of their shape.
The best part about this idea is that it takes no special gear. All it takes is your willingness to move, crouch, shift, bend, and maybe climb! You can do it with your camera, you can do it with your phone, you can even do it just with your eyes as you look at the world around. Just have fun exploring!
We spend so much time viewing other humans from eye level, changing this perspective can be very eye catching.
