Change Your Perspective

Creating interesting photographs does not need to be difficult. Oftentimes, the difference between an interesting shot and a boring one is a matter of perspective. There are many times when a straight-on head and shoulders shot is appropriate and well-deserving for your intention. However, straight-on shots are not very exciting. Straight shots tend to become quite mundane and your viewers will quickly find excuses to escape from the drudgery of seeing Uncle Harold from the same angle over and over again. Sometimes, all it takes is a little change in altitude to make your shots more interesting.
Shots from Below
Shooting from a lower perspective creates an exaggerated appearance of extreme height to your subject. As seen in the attached photograph, my wife, who is of average height, takes on a towering appearance over the camera’s point of view. The photograph was cropped just above the horizon to create an absence of sense of scale. Since there is no visible horizon, the clouds become the background, which aids in the effect.
Shots from Above
Just as the shots from below create an extreme sense of height, the shots from above create a unique sense where the absence of height becomes the focus. When shooting from above, it is important to reduce the amount of vertical objects around the subject. In fact, using horizontal objects, such as benches and platforms, will help to offset the image. From this angle, the subject should be instructed to look upward slightly, but be careful to maintain a natural pose. The subject should look up slightly, but no more than if they were looking at the top of a picture frame hanging on a wall.
Visual Effects
To enhance variations to perspective, use an extreme wide-angle lens whenever possible. By introducing width, the subject takes on an omnipotent appearance. If you do not have an extreme wide-angle lens at your disposal, consider experimenting with photo editing software to create unusual effects. Although I am not usually an advocate for modifying photographs, these techniques do occasionally have their place as long as they are not used to deceive an unwitting viewer.