You see a great scene before you and rush to set up your tripod. Once it’s set up, you stand in the “normal” position, (standing with your camera at eye level) and take the shot. It’s good, but could it be better? Freeman Patterson (www.freemanpatterson.com), a world renowned Canadian photographer, once told us “Change your position; it adds a totally different perspective to your photograph.” I remember a wonderful shot of his of a Christmas tree in the forest, lights glowing off the snow. He had set up the Christmas tree, making sure the footprints in the snow were behind the tree, prayed his dog wouldn’t rush over to see what was going on, and then climbed up on the roof of his house to take the photo.
When you’re out on a shoot, take the “normal” position shot, but then start to change it up. Take the shot looking up, or looking down, or tilt the lens slightly sideways. There are several ways to alter your shot from the ‘normal” position and take your photographs to a whole new level. Lie down on the ground or stand up on something. Get creative and see how different your photos become.
Certainly for children or pets, you want to get down to their level, even if it means lying on your stomach. We’ve done this at weddings where children are walking down the aisle.
There’s a rule of thumb to follow when taking people photographs. If you’re taking a full-length shot, have the camera at waist level. If you’re taking a three quarter shot, have the camera between the waist and the neck. For head shots, the camera should be at nose level. My husband’s family are all over six feet tall. I’m five foot one. When doing his nephew’s wedding this past year, my husband had to take the photos as I would have had to pack around a small step ladder. Be aware that the “normal” position isn’t usually the best for people photography.
Flower photography is definitely the time to get down on your hands and knees, or even lie on the ground and shoot up. You can shoot down, of course, but then it’s time to change it up. We carry garden knee pads in our photo back packs. They save our knees and increase our photo options.
Next time you’re out with your camera, try changing up the position you’re shooting from. It’s a good workout and your photos will have a totally new perspective.