Project 12, Month 6, Perspective

Here we are at the half way mark for this year long monthly project.  This month's topic is perspective. Perspective has two meanings in photography:

1. How you see ("interpret") the scene  (and how the viewer of your photograph sees it)
2. The relationship of objects in the scene to each other and to the scene as a whole.  (relationship = relative position, size, scale, and space between the objects)

Things to Consider:

• Changing your perspective of a photograph can change the viewer's perspective.
• Get up and get down.  Move up, down, left, right, and all around before you take that photo.  Get that unique perspective on a subject that others missed. 
• Viewpoint is the position of the camera in relation to the subject.  For example, a bird's eye view is taken from above like you were a bird flying over the subject while  a worm's eye view is taken from the perspective of a worm on the ground.
• Angle of view/point of view is the position of the camera, tilted up or down.  For example, if you stand at the base of the tree and point your camera up, you have a low camera angle; if you stand at the top of a stairs and point the camera down, you have a high camera angle.
• Orientation: Horizontal (aka Landscape) vs Vertical (aka Portrait) perspective.  Some scenes lend themselves more to a vertical than a horizontal perspective while others are more horizontal than vertical and some to either.  Don't miss the shot - take both views and decide later. 

A good photograph is knowing where to stand....Ansel Adams

Suggested Reading and Photographic Examples:

1. Photographic Composition - Change Your Perspective at Valerie Hayken photography & Design; a short article with several examples
2. What is Perspective by Artistechbooks; 2.5 minute lecture type YouTube video explaining Perspective as it relates to all art forms
3. Find a Unique Perspective by Curtis Date at the Digital Photo Coach; short articles with interesting examples.
4. Distinctive Perspectives by Jim Zuckerman at mac-on-campus; short article with good examples.
5. Composition Part III Perspective by Wendy Folse at photoinf; medium sized article with a few photos.
6. Perspective in Photography at Digital Photography Tips on Line; a short article, no photos.
7. Playing with Perspective and Spice Up Your Shots with Unusual Camera Angles by Kristine Johilla at photo poly; short articles with good examples. 
8. Perspective, Depth, and Scale by Jerry Monkman at Monkman Photo; 2.5 minute video with short article and examples
9. Perspective from the NAVY photography training manual at photoinf; short article explaining different types of perspective
10. 88 Brilliant Examples of Forced Perspective Photography by Daniel Adams at instantshift; interesting, (but IMO not necessarily brilliant), photos; "Forced perspective" is an optical illusion that makes objects appear closer or further away in relation to other objects in the scene.