Peter Glass Photography Workshops
  • Home
  • One-To-One Workshops
  • GROUP CLASSES
    • Classes I currently teach
    • Meetup
    • Community Classes
  • BLOGS
  • Portfolios
  • Contact

Shoot up, shoot down

6/16/2023

 
Picture
​
​I think it's fair to say that most people take pictures from a standing position, with their camera pointed mostly straight ahead. In other words, they’re rarely pointing their camera significantly upward or downward. I could be wrong, but it’s what I’ve observed over my many decades of viewing photographs. If doing that gives the best results, then that's how the picture should be taken. But the photographer should consider the unique effects possible when shooting up or shooting down, especially with the lens at a wide-angle setting and positioned close to the subject. The following pictures show what I'm proposing.

I could have photographed this building and telephone pole from a greater distance by using a more telephoto lens setting. Being farther away would have produced a less exaggerated and more realistic view. But it’s the combination of the extreme angle created by being close to the subjects and the use of a wide-angle lens setting that makes this picture interesting. Specifically, I'm intrigued by the severe tilt of the pole, as if it’s about to fall over, and the odd positioning of the building’s lights. And I think the effect was heightened by the color and contrast manipulation done in Photoshop.
Picture

​This is an even more extreme example of what happens when photographing very close to a subject and using a wide-angle lens setting. You can see how large and distorted the lower left fence links appear to be and how the fence is rendered as being quite massive.
Picture

​In the two pictures below, what probably are familiar objects to most people appear distinctly different from how they would appear if shot straight on. It’s that up or down camera angle and the resulting mild distortions that make these images appealing. Further, the great depth-of-field on the “Do Not Enter” sign and the shallow depth-of-field on the doll make them, I believe, even more compelling.
Picture
Picture

​Huge thighs and tiny feet resulted from placing the camera close to my body. I like photographing myself interacting with various types of painted traffic lines. And it’s comforting knowing my legs and feet are always available to me as props!
Picture
​
​When viewed at an extreme angle, something as ordinary as a metal fence can become a work of art.
Picture

Walking down the sidewalk, you’d easily see this sign and, as in this location, all the clutter around it. But from a low angle, it’s a different story. Now the sign is nicely isolated against the clouds. In addition, the top of the palm tree adds a striking design element to the composition.​
Picture

​This is not a flattering camera angle for any kind of portrait. But a standard portrait was not my goal. I was in a shopping mall and happened to glance downward over the railing. It was the juxtaposition of the chair and its surroundings, as well as the gentleman's partially bald head hovering over his phone that I found intriguing. Note: I would not have taken this picture had I been able to read what was on his cellphone screen.
Picture

CONTACT PETER
to schedule a class or
​for more information


Comments are closed.
    LIST OF ALL BLOGS and LINKS TO ALL BLOGS
    ​
    ​
    CATEGORIES
    ​
    ​Camera Settings

    Composition
    Depth-of-Field
    ​Finding The Shot
    Focus And Blur
    Image Editing
    Laziness
    Lighting The Subject
    Offbeat
    Ordinary Objects
    Reflections
    The Portrait
    ​While Shooting

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022

Subscribe for monthly information guaranteed to improve your photography!

* indicates required
All Images © 2025 by Peter Glass. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • One-To-One Workshops
  • GROUP CLASSES
    • Classes I currently teach
    • Meetup
    • Community Classes
  • BLOGS
  • Portfolios
  • Contact