Article researched and compiled
by Michael A. Buccilli
A park bench, a boat beside a dock, or a favorite building may look familiar from the place where we usually stand. Move a little to one side, however, and the same subject can begin to tell a different story.
Changing your viewpoint in photography means changing the position or height from which the camera sees the subject. It is a simple way to explore a scene, and it does not require new equipment.
Start With the First View
When something catches the eye, go ahead and take that first photograph. It records the scene as it first appeared and gives the photographer a starting point.
Then pause and look again. What is most interesting about the subject? Is it the shape of a boat, the flowers around a bench, or the way a building relates to its surroundings?
The answer can help guide the next photograph. One view may emphasize the subject itself, while another includes more of the place around it.
See How One Subject Can
Tell Two Stories
The Goodtime III photographs taken along Cleveland’s waterfront offer an example. In the head-on view, attention goes toward the bow and the shape of the vessel. In the angled view, more of the boat’s length and its relationship to the waterfront become visible.
Both photographs show the same subject. The difference is what each viewpoint emphasizes.
Photo: © Michael A. Buccilli | Windows Photography
length and its waterfront setting.
Photo: © Michael A. Buccilli | Windows Photography
Try Moving to One Side
A small movement can change how the subject and background line up. A tree that appears directly behind a person might shift to one side. A boat may become separated from a busy section of the dock, or a flower may stand out against a softer background.
The surroundings do not always need to disappear. Sometimes a doorway, shoreline, or row of trees adds helpful context. The question is whether those details support the subject or pull attention away from it.
Nikon’s composition guidance encourages photographers to explore different angles and distances when deciding how best to present a subject. nikonusa.com
Change the Camera’s Height
The height of the camera can make a difference, too. A lower view of a garden bench might bring flowers into the foreground. A higher view might show more of the path and the arrangement of the garden around it.
There is no need to crouch or climb if that is uncomfortable. Holding a phone a little lower, resting a camera on a stable surface, or using an adjustable screen can offer a different view. Even a modest change in height is worth trying.
Notice how the foreground and background relate to the subject as the camera moves. Those relationships can help a flat photograph suggest a greater sense of depth. Adobe
Give It a Try
Choose one subject that is easy to photograph—a chair near a window, a flowerpot, a tree, or a familiar building.
- Take one photograph from the first position that feels natural.
- Move a little to the side and photograph the subject again.
- Try another comfortable camera height or position.
Compare the images. What attracts attention first? What changed behind or around the subject? Which photograph best conveys what made the scene interesting?
There may be more than one answer. A direct view might celebrate the subject’s shape, while another view tells more about its surroundings.
A thoughtful photograph can begin with a simple question: “What happens if I look from here?” The next time a scene catches your eye, give yourself a moment to explore.
For another place to begin, revisit Photography 101: Give Your Photo a Clear Subject.
