What is one way you can add visual interest to a relatively simple moment? The answer may surprise you…your angle.
Where you choose to take a photo has more impact not the outcome than you may realize. Your angle can convey a meaningful message and surprise your viewer with a unique perspective. We usually view life at eye level so mixing it up in your photos gives the viewer a new outlook and one that isn’t usually noticed. By focusing on different angles, you can create lots of fun new views.
4 Different Photography Angles You Should Be Using
1. Birds Eye View – This perspective is a go to when I’m photographing children. Gaining height on your subject is a great way to show off details that might be missed in a conventional photo. The higher you can be, the better. Try using a stool and a wide angle lens to achieve this fun angle.
2. Get Low – The opposite of birds eye view, getting as low as you can is a great way to hold the attention of your viewer. The foreground of what is in front of your lens can create depth as our eye goes to the subject. This is a great way to add layers to a composition and get on the level of your subject if they happen to be a small child.
3. Circle Your Subject – This is a great angle to use when your subject is still. Circling your subject adds great variety to a set of images and I always seem to fall back to this when I’m shooting. When you move around your subject, you can see the potential in how a different viewpoint can be more interesting. When I’m circling my subject, I keep the camera to my eye and look for a more pleasing background or unique point of view. Usually by making a complete 360 around them, you will find one perspective that you didn’t think of before.
In this scene, I couldn’t circle her completely since I couldn’t get behind her. Each image taken from the different positions (in front, to her left, to her right, above) all work together to tell the story of this moment.
4. Eye Level – This is probably the most common angle and one that is expected but don’t overlook it. This is a great angle to make a strong connection with the viewer. I like to use this angle when my subject is looking at the camera.
Which angle is your favorite or which one are you excited to try? Next time you approach a scene, try a different view and see what happens!
