The unusual shooting angle is a big part of what makes this picture work
Choose a shooting angle or a camera angle that will add interest to a basically dull and ordinary scene, or that will turn an already exciting subject into a great composition.
Selection of a viewpoint is of tremendous importance to good photography. A change in camera position, sometimes even a small one, can result in a huge difference in the presentation of a scene, especially where there are a number of elements on different planes (foreground, middle ground and background).
By selecting a new vantage, the balance of the scene, and the impact and relative positions of the scene’s elements, including highlights and shadows, can be greatly changed. Bringing the camera closer, for example, will cause objects in the foreground to appear larger. Foreground size is particularly exaggerated when using a wide-angle lens.
STUDY A SCENE TO FIND THE BEST ANGLE
Train yourself to see pictures from different viewpoints. It will help you to develop a “photographer’s eye” if you first put some thought into framing a scene. Don’t just snap away when you come upon a scene. Identify what appeals to you about it, then determine your best viewpoint to capture the scene to show it at its best.
QUICK TIPS ABOUT CAMERA ANGLES - Select a unique viewpoint, one that most people might otherwise never see, for a picture that will capture the viewer’s attention.
- Change camera angle to eliminate distracting background elements.
- A new camera angle will often emphasize a subject's form or shape.
- If you find that you have more in the frame than is necessary (i.e. more than a subject and context), change your shooting position - get closer to fill the frame.
- When photographing children, camera angle can make all the difference to the success of your pictures. Get down to their level. Hold your camera parallel to the ground at the same height as their shoulders or their eyes.
- Want to make someone look more important or impressive in a portrait? Shoot them from a camera position that is lower than their shoulders, so they appear to be taller. Shoot them from above to make them look less important and smaller.
- Choose a very low angle when you wish someone's legs to look longer.
- Change camera angle when the scene's basic design just doesn't look right to you. Think of the Rules of composition when you are framing an image, then alter your shooting angle to comply with them.
- Once you have identified a scene's center of interest, be sure you select a camera angle that ensures that it will be quickly apparent to your picture's viewers.
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A wide-angle lens and a good angle of view make this an effective composition
This picture could have been taken from further away, but a close-in angle of view makes this fantasy castle look even more majestic
A good shooting angle caught the right expression on this careful driver's face
A traditional native war canoe looks intrusive and unbalanced when shot at this angle.
Choosing a more dramatic angle of view with a wide-angle lens creates a more-interesting image
A sailboat next to a wharf at extreme low tide provides an excellent opportunity for an unusual camera angle.
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