Photographic Compositions, ContinuedViewpoint andViewpoint is the camera position in relation to the subject. Camera angle iscamera anglethe angle in which the camera is tilted. The terms “viewpoint” and “cameraangle” are often used in conjunction with one another and sometimes areused interchangeably. They can also have different meanings depending onhow you apply them. Repositioning subjects within the viewfinder andchanging the camera angle are two simple ways to control composition.Photographs made from ground level with the camera held horizontal to theground is referred to as a low viewpoint (camera position); however, thesame picture made from ground level with the camera tilted up may bereferred to as a low-camera angle. Low viewpoints and low-camera anglescan add emphasis and interest to many otherwise ordinary scenes. This typeof photograph is useful in separating subjects from backgrounds, eliminatingbackgrounds and foregrounds, distorting scale, adding strength, and forcreating the illusion of greater size and speed.A picture made from a high or elevated position with the camera heldhorizontal with reference to the ground is referred to as a high viewpoint;however, if the camera is pointed down at some angle between horizontal andvertical, the camera position is referred to as a high-camera angle. Highviewpoints and high camera angles help orient the viewer by showingrelationships among all elements within a picture area. High viewpoints andcamera angles also minimize apparent strength and size of subjects.Horizontally held, eye-level photographs are usually taken at a height of 5 ½feet. With the camera tilted up or down, you have either a high- or low-camera angle, respectively.Continued on next page1-31
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
