One way to make your photos stand out from the rest is to simply get a different perspective
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So many cameras, so many photographers, so many pictures, yet the vast majority of images that are produced all look the same. With all the competition out there, what can be done to put a new spin on your images to make them stand out from the crowd? The first thought that comes to mind is to create images from a unique perspective. Rather than simply raising the camera to your eye and pressing the shutter, how about taking your pictures from a more elevated angle or from a much lower angle? While there are many situations you’ll encounter where this won’t work, there will be many that do. When applicable, give it a whirl to begin your quest for a signature look to your images.
The next time you’re out taking pictures and you’re around other photographers, become a casual observer. Watch as cameras are raised to the eye and listen to the sound of clicking shutters. Take a mental tally of the number of times this occurs. All the while, keep another tally targeting how many times you see a photographer get down on the ground to photograph the subject from a low perspective. I can almost guarantee that the percentage of shots made while a photographer is down and dirty on the ground in comparison to those who stick with the convention of raising their camera to the eye is less than 5%. This being said, why compete with 95% of the population if you can reduce your competition to 5%? Chances are, your images will stand out due to their novelty. While I realize this style may not suit everyone, if you’re willing to pursue it, you’ll walk away with many winners.
There are some considerations you’ll need to take into account if you decide to go low. Getting down on the ground makes it difficult to look through the viewfinder to fine tune a composition. This problem is easily solved in two ways. a) Purchase a right angle viewfinder. It attaches to the eyepiece and enables you to view the scene, through the lens, from the top, right, left, or even below. As the name implies, rather than looking directly through the viewfinder from behind it, it attaches to the eyepiece and allows you to view it from a 90 degree angle. b) many of the newer cameras offer a live view mode that enables you to create a composition using the LCD screen on the back of the camera. Some even have the capability of swiveling the screen which really makes composing the photo a breeze. Another consideration to take into account is how low your tripod can go. While some of the images you create from a low angle will be hand held, others may dictate the use of a longer shutter speed. If this is the case, you’ll need a tripod whose legs can be splayed across the ground. It will also mean having a short center post so it doesn’t interfere with getting the tripod low.
Wide angle lenses work great when shooting low, but as evidenced in the image of the wood duck, telephotos work equally as well. For this shot, I simply placed the camera and lens on the ground and included a portion of out of focus grass as a foreground. Depth of field becomes more critical when using a longer lens, but you can also take advantage of the lack of depth of field when shooting low. In that wide angle focal lengths have more inherent depth of field, creating a larger zone of focus is easier. The architectural shot with the number 9 in the foreground was taken with a very wide angle lens. All in all, don’t limit yourself to getting down low as just as powerful an image can be made if you get high above your subject but this is another article topic unto itself.
To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my new book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy.
