Anyone can take a great photograph, whatever the quality of their camera, because it is the photographer's point of view that makes a picture interesting. The way you see the world is what makes your photography yours. A great photo is more than pleasing to look at. It makes you feel something.
'Camera angle' means the position of the camera in relation to its subject. It has a direct effect on the composition and mood of the picture. Here are eight of our favourites.
1. Bird's eye view and high angles
A bird's eye view looks straight down on the subject from above. A high angle looks down from above eye level. Both can make a subject seem small, vulnerable or unimportant, and both are good for showing the scale of a scene, which is why high viewpoints are popular for landscapes.
From above, colours, textures and patterns become more prominent. People and animals look smaller, with the head and eyes large in proportion, so they can seem meek or childlike.
2. Low angles
A low angle is the opposite: the camera is below the subject, looking up. It makes the subject look powerful, dominant or larger than life. It is used in sports photography to show strength, and it makes buildings and trees look taller.
It can also put you in someone else's place. A shot from a child's height shows how big the adult world looks from down there.
3. Eye level
At eye level the camera is level with the subject's eyes. This is the most neutral angle. The subject seems approachable and equal to the viewer, and there is a sense of connection. It is usually the most flattering angle for portraits, and it suits symmetrical, balanced compositions. With children and pets, that means getting down to their level.
4. Dutch tilt
For a Dutch tilt, or oblique angle, the camera is tilted so that the horizon is no longer level. It creates unease, imbalance or suspense, and suggests that something is not quite right. It is a favourite of horror films and thrillers. People photographed this way look off-balance. Use it sparingly, and tilt enough that it looks deliberate.
5. Worm's eye view
The worm's eye view is the low angle taken to its extreme: the camera is at ground level, looking up. The subject looks huge, towering or forbidding. Use it under trees, in front of statues and tall buildings, or to make an ordinary subject dramatic.
6. Over the shoulder
Here the camera is behind someone, looking past their shoulder at what they are looking at. It is common in film and television. It shows the scene from that person's point of view, as though the viewer were standing with them, and it can build suspense about what they are seeing.
7. Curved horizon
A very wide-angle or fisheye lens bends straight lines, so that the horizon curves. Pointed slightly down, it makes the horizon bulge like the edge of a globe. Pointed up, it dips. The effect adds energy and a sense of movement, and it suits action shots and big skies. It can also be disorientating, which may be just what you want.
8. Forced perspective
Forced perspective is an optical illusion that makes things look larger, smaller, nearer or farther than they are. It works by lining up a near object with a distant one, so that they seem to be side by side. The tourist 'holding up' the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the famous example. Film-makers use it too, to make actors look like giants or to make sets look bigger.
Conclusion
We hope this has given you a better idea of camera angles and what they do. Next time you are out with a camera, try a few and see what you get.
If you have questions about framing the results, ask us. Our picture frames are made to measure, in a wide range of styles, colours and finishes to suit any room, and we are glad to advise on the best frame for your artwork.
Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.