change perspective

I don't do it often, but I believe that one of the most simple and fun exercises in photography consists in looking for different perspectives to shoot your subject from. When we cling to our comfort zone, never trying new things, we cut ourselves off from the opportunity to develop our creative strengths and discover what we can do with our cameras. A simple shift of point of view can have a dramatic impact on your photos and open your eyes to a wide range of new possibilities, whatever you choose to do to change your perspective. 

What about you? Do you often find yourself lying on the floor, perched up on a bench or shooting through a window or the reflection of an unexpected mirror? If yes, please share your images with us. If not, today is a good day to try.

Comments

[Marcie]

An almost 'worm's-eye' view:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/2/25/study-break.html

[busymomma66]

I love changing perspective in a situation, it really frees you up. Many times I'll do it at the end and it'll be almost an afterthought, and usually ends up being the photo I like the most.

This was a recent boring trip to the supermarket, gotta do something to liven up the shopping experience. lol

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymomma66/5478411609/

[Kath]

Yesterday was a big day. I am working on my class assignments. I spent the entire morning shooting while sitting in a chair as I ran thru the focussing, depth of field, macro and panning shots. I only have to hand in nine photos in total but I took a lot of pictures as I experimented with lighting and shutter speeds. Catching the toy samurai in the panning shot was the hardest because I was home alone (it is in the photo album in the side bar). Today I will do the stop action and controlled blur shots! Who knew that it would take until I was fifty to enjoy doing homework? I sure didn't like it thirty five years ago!

http://www.soeursdujour.com/2011/02/champagne-for-breakfast.html

[anghjula]

I can be really obsessed by images, so as I avoid all kind of frustration, I can really put myself in indescribable positions or situations...

http://www.blog.chjaraematteu.com/?p=815

[Kiersten]

For me, it's something that happens on the spur of the moment. Having a sudden burst of inspiration, that feeling of "HAVE TO RIGHT NOW!" that won't let go until you're on the ground, or bending yourself into a pretzel to get the shot. Here are a few of mine...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkangel71/5355762934/in/set-72157625042018751/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkangel71/5133611501/in/set-72157624807783520/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkangel71/5127269314/in/set-72157624807783520/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkangel71/4930836687/in/set-72157624807783520/

[Becky Sue]

I love shots of feet from the ground. This one is great!

I was taking a selfie for Tracey's Picture Inspiration class when my dog, Stella, jumped up onto the couch and looked down at me as if I'd lost it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/5482117682/

[agrippina maior]

I crane my neck to look up into the inky black sky lit up by glowing red globes.

http://flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/5452416403/

[Bari]

I found myself laying in the street, before I even knew what I was going. Getting down low is one of my favorite ways to shoot. A tire's view of the blizzard!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barilynn/5414682729/

[AnnikaChristine]

I do that from time to time. So here's one example. It's a starting lane of a closed airport in Berlin.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annikachristine/4853050940/in/set-72157622988004781/

[Sandee]

Just yesterday, I was struggling to get a photo for my Project 365. I'd taken photos all day and wasn't happy with any of them. And then I took this:

http://flic.kr/p/9mgxCV

[Jessica Peña]

I love taking perspective shots - I am known to lay down on the ground or climb things with camera in hand. Here's one of my recent favorites:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28338862@N03/5481834133/

[Heather]

I try to get different perspectives when I can. Here are a few.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8234599@N04/5394947804/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8234599@N04/5461225983/in/set-72157625681512043/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8234599@N04/5461308331/in/set-72157625681512043/

[Jamie Solorio]

Here is a shot that I put the camera on the ground and hoped for the best as I gave my husband a kiss. The timer went off just as I was knocking him back with my kiss! :)

http://jamie-solorio.blogspot.com/2011/02/web-sharpening-for-photoshop-cs5-and.html

Thanks for looking and have a good rest of your day!

[Denise]

Ohh I love that photo!

I'm always looking for new perspectives. I have a shot very similar to yours, where my niece is walking in the middle of the street between her parents and the shot is from down low. One of my favorite angles.

Here's another favorite of mine, with an odd perspective:

http://cupoficedesign.blogspot.com/2010/10/all-you-need.html (the 2nd photo)

[Tara R.]

Over the last year, I've tried to get past my hesitation to 'get down and dirty' for my photos. But a little change in perspective can make a big difference in the images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifmomsaysok/4034391755/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifmomsaysok/4619580612/

[Valerie]

I've been playing with zooming in on my toddler's hands. Sometimes I have to lie on the floor to get the shot I want, but the results make me happy. (I've also discovered my usually ugly standard flash reveals gorgeous currents in the bathtub!)

http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/02/tai-chi-and-toddlers.html

[Virginia]

Oh I received Expressive Photography yesterday and have spent some time pouring over your wonderful images. Next I will devour your wonderous words. This is a book that I will recommend to my photography students from here on out. I teach classes for amateur photographers, with any kind of camera, who want to learn to take better photographs. No f-stops allowed, just a creative spirit.

I will stroll through your website right now.

Thank you for this wonderful place to learn and be creative.
Virginia

[Jess]

I'm forever getting down low... and I quickly got over my fear of what people would think if I jumped up on a chair... rarely do I just stand there to take a picture.

Here is one of my favorite low perspective shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoldnicholsfarm/5333319574/

[Anna]

only yesterday did i experimented with some self-portraits on the floor ;-) here's one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68111170@N00/5479992334/

[Lil'M]

Whenever possible, I like to take a view of things from above. A lot of times photos are taken from below or beside or level with, but it's tricky to get over something (both literally and figuratively) especially if it's not positioned in a favourable angle. Often I will climb up on a chair, table, counter, stool - whatever! - to get the view from above.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_macrina/5393784929/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_macrina/5393780213/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_macrina/5378396629/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_macrina/5428459587/in/photostream/

It creates such a different feel to the picture, almost like "consideration" instead of "participation" or "observation" if such terms could be used for other perspectives. Admittedly, it's not often one can get 'above' the subject, but it really does create a new perspective.

[Christy Woolum]

Yes, I have been challenging myself with Faceless Portraits. I did two posts on my blog recently on that theme.

http://gatheringaroundthetable.blogspot.com/2011/02/no-faces.html
http://gatheringaroundthetable.blogspot.com/2011/02/faceless-portraits-part-2.html

[Michelle Sheldon]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barefootdreams/4109460076/

[Chantal]

I indeed try to look at objects in all sorts of angles...

Here is one, lying down on a wet floor:

http://chantaliaans.shutterchance.com/photoblog/Camilla%2C_where_are_you%A3%21%3Bquestion%A3%21%3B_/

[NatsterNat]

I took this one last year, but it is still one of my favourites. It's always fun trying to shoot from different angles...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58861148@N02/5485370193/

[snippets of thyme]

Yes! I went for a walk and was crumbled and smushed on the ground trying to take photos of dew. I was so happy with these photos and excited to get such a different perspective.

http://rileymadel.blogspot.com/

[Ali]

Love getting on the ground. This one is a self-shot with the timer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliedwards/5486312416/

[Sarah Moran]

I love getting down at the level of kids! In the middle of a play date, I was hogging the blanket sprawled out on my belly to get this shot!

[Sarah Moran]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Moran-Photography/148859758459771#!/photo.php?fbid=187276017951478&set=pu.148859758459771&theater

[autumn sun]

i get low to the ground a lot of times - i love that perspective. but this time i looked up - it was such a gorgeous day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5486115124/
it's in God's beautiful world that i find myself getting down low, in the dirt - so much more interesting from that perspective
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/sets/72157622438333257/

[sarah w.]

I got low to the ground this weekend for a few shots...but still working on perfecting that one.

I also love shooting blindly (for the most part) down to capture the center of something, like this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/galphoto/4783083038/

[Taneisa]

I suppose the picture has more value in conjunction with the words but for a spur of the moment shot, lying on the floor in the window, the clarity of a penny for my thoughts is reflective of what I felt the day I read a post on Shutter Sisters blog..

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A7mOJOQvaFY/TWQltVt6BJI/AAAAAAAAACE/ME-wER1Bfbo/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG

[art and lemons]

I love the composition in your photo and the still line dividing the stopped motion of the children's legs.

Some of my favorite shifts in perspective are photographing reflections and shifting perspectives, especially with portraits.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandlemons/5489051814/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandlemons/5488454873/

[Eden]

I'm trying to take more pictures. I always tend to shoot up at things. I can never resist color.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35580813@N03/5328309623/

[Naimah]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/capturingthebeauty/5460846137/

[Kelly Taylor]

From inside the bushes. I don't do it enough, but it always turns out interesting.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/bridallounge/5165159227/in/set-72157625358325396/

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