Fun With Angles
Photos that are taken front on can tend to look a little flat. And, even if you’re following all the rules of composition, it’s fun sometimes to bend them a little.
On a recent trip to Sydney, I was looking for different angles for the sights I know so well. Here is a way to ’shake things up’ - particularly if you’re very familiar with the subject.
Here is an example of an “above” shot. OK, so it’s not taken from a helicopter, but it’s more interesting, than standing at eye level with those yachts and taking the same photograph. Also, having a wide angle lens helps you get more in.
A fun experiment would be to use a fish eye lens, and stand in the middle of the bridge (which this photo was taken from), and take a photograph of the whole harbour. There would be some distortion, but the effect would be great!
Next is another different angle - for Circular Quay…
It really changes the look and feel of the location. In this photo, you couldn’t tell that it’s a bustling port, with big ferries docked side by side, honking before they depart, waiting to ‘ferry’ people here and there. It looks like a tranquil boardwalk, with cafes and gently swaying palm trees.
Finally, here is a photo angled from the ground up:
This shot appealed to me because of the flowers. The St Mary’s Cathedral itself is an architectural sight to behold in its own right, but add flowers and it looks a little softer.
It’s fun to play around with angles. I like to stand up on something, or bend right down, as close to the ground as possible and see what a difference it will make. Sometimes the results surprise you.