DIRECTIONS
Read the following introduction and description on Point of View. After you complete the reading go to the ASSIGNMENT section and complete the projects.
In the world of photography ‘point of view’ refers to the position the camera is in when viewing a scene. Are you lying on the ground, looking up at your subject? Are you on a mountain looking down at the landscape below? Or are you simply standing and looking straight-on at your subject? Whether you’re looking up, down, or straight-on changes the scene dramatically, and changes the way that the viewer interprets the final photograph. Subjects can be dramatically distorted simply by where you place your camera. A blade of grass can look like a skyscraper, and a skyscraper can look like a tiny little house. It all depends on your point of view!
Bird's Eye View or High Angle View
When photographing a subject from above, it is known as a “bird’s-eye view”. This could be taken from up in the sky, such as when flying in a plane, or could simply be taken by standing on a ladder, slightly above your subject. Photographing from this point of view can add emotional impact, such as making the viewer feel as though they are superior to the subject.
Worm's Eye View or Low Angle View
Photographing from below the subject is called “worm’s-eye view”, as if you were a worm looking up at the world around you. As you can imagine, this makes all subjects look very large, even if they are very small in reality. As opposed to images shot from above, subjects presented in this way look as though they hold power over the viewer, and can seem very intimidating. By photographing a subject from a worm’s eye view, you automatically make the viewer feel vulnerable, even if the subject itself isn’t frightening.
ASSIGNMENT 1
Take Photographs
1. Add a 2 new Weebly galleries to your website and label one POINT OF VIEW - Bird's Eye View and the other POINT OF VIEW - Worms Eye View.
2. Take 4 different examples of photographs that use the Bird's Eye View angle.
Some examples
- Look down a stairway or other architecture
- Stand above a person or a group of people
- Stand above food
- Look down at interesting items on a table
3. Take 4 different examples of photographs that use the Worm's Eye View angle.
Some examples
- Look up a stairway or other architecture
- Sit on the floor and look up at a person or a group of people
- Kneel on the ground and look up at food
- Look up at interesting items on a table
4. Make any editing adjustments to your photograph in Photoshop.
5. Upload photographs to the correct gallery on your Weebly website. Make sure you publish your website.
2. Take 4 different examples of photographs that use the Bird's Eye View angle.
Some examples
- Look down a stairway or other architecture
- Stand above a person or a group of people
- Stand above food
- Look down at interesting items on a table
3. Take 4 different examples of photographs that use the Worm's Eye View angle.
Some examples
- Look up a stairway or other architecture
- Sit on the floor and look up at a person or a group of people
- Kneel on the ground and look up at food
- Look up at interesting items on a table
4. Make any editing adjustments to your photograph in Photoshop.
5. Upload photographs to the correct gallery on your Weebly website. Make sure you publish your website.
ASSIGNMENT 2
A Bird's Eye View Portrait (Homework)
Take a bird's eye view photograph that tells a story about a person. Observe the examples below to find inspiration for your photo. A person does not have to be in the photo. The photo must give us a glimpse of what that person likes to do, favorite hobbies, favorite books, objects, or what is important to them. In some pictures it's the combination of all the objects that tell the story. In other photographs it's words or emotions that tell the story.
Your cell phone or camera must be directly above the subject. One way to get this photo is to tape your cell phone to the ceiling. Another way of getting this view is to have another person hold the camera.