I see a lot of the photos that roll through our system. The vast, vast majority are shot at eye level.
It's certainly understandable. It's natural. But it's also unfortunate. There's a lot of ways to shoot any room and if you're shooting your own photos, exploring more of those ways is wise. Even a slight change in perspective can make a huge difference in how a room feels. And, because it will be a bit out of the ordinary, it could create some visual drama that will set the photo apart.
The photo above on was shot using the Kodak v705’s ultra wide angle lens. You'll notice a couple of things about this photo if you look closely. First, the ceiling. There's nothing special about this ceiling, so you really don't need it in the photo. Second, the back of the couch. The back of the couch just gets in the way. When taking this photo, you want to minimize both of those. But at eye level, you really can't.
The photo below was shot from the exact same spot, only standing on a chair.
You'll notice that the ceiling is now nowhere to bee seen. The focus on the couch is also lessened, since we're seeing more of the sitting area and a lot more of the floor space. You want people to focus on the good stuff. You don’t want their minds to wander off thinking about anything other than what you want them to be thinking about. You may be looking at these two photos and saying, "yeah, I can see a difference, but it's not that big." No, it's not. But every little bit helps and sometimes the little things can make a big difference.
So, next time you're shooting a room, give this a try. Just grab a nearby chair and change your perspective. It only takes a few seconds. Some shots might justify climbing up on a ladder to make it even more dramatic. See if it makes a difference for you.
Note: I want to thank Martin Rodriguez for allowing me to use his family room for this post!
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