Once again, I found this task
uninspiring until I started thinking about it, until I started reading up about
it.
The photos that I managed to
take for this one also seemed uninspiring and bland; they do capture the wide
angle lens distortion though and they do add some dynamism to the image; in
particular shot 1 (below) where we can clearly see the first column on the
right tilting away from the camera (I can assure you that that was not how it
looked through my eyes!); so what on Earth is going on here?
Looking through some of my
books, there doesn’t seem to be too much on the subject save good old Freeman
again (2010, p132). He points out how “It is not simply
the wider angle of view that exaggerates geometry, however, but the viewpoint
in relation to near and far objects.” This is, in effect, exactly
what we had to do with the task. He goes on to mention that, “…it pays to
experiment with a wide variety of camera positions, particularly strange ones,
such as from below or from above.” Well, that sounds exciting!
The task brief points out that
this type of low viewpoint, “…adds a sense of
monumentality, making the subject seem larger than it is, and tilting the
camera adds to the effect as vertical lines dramatically converge. Not the
ideal combination for a portrait shot!” Sounds like something that Brandt would have smirked at when
using his large format wide angle beast (16mm Eq) for his Perspective of Nudes series; and maybe not ideal
but it certainly worked for Josef Koudelka and his Gypsies series: an example of how
chance, vision, and glory come together.
Not quite so glorious, or
fortuitous , just my vision:
Shot 1. 1/200 at F/4, ISO 200 14mm (28mm Eq)
The wide angle lens ‘drawing
us into the scene’, and creating what Freeman (2007, p100) calls dynamic
tension (I just love that expression), had eluded me at first with these columns.
The column on the right, the one I focused on too, seems to almost bend as if the weight of the building is too much for it and it’s about to give way: we only have a few seconds to get our shot and then get out of there before it all comes crashing down on top of us!
The column on the right, the one I focused on too, seems to almost bend as if the weight of the building is too much for it and it’s about to give way: we only have a few seconds to get our shot and then get out of there before it all comes crashing down on top of us!
Shot 2. Distortion
Interesting also to see how
the implied ‘lines’ (in yellow) continuing through the image appear to change
angle as we look (or are pulled) further into the image following the depth of
field (blue lines). At the bottom of the closest column the yellow line is
horizontal, whereas, the columns to the right appear to be lifting up slightly
(red line).
All this was accentuated by the wide angle, the low viewpoint and the slight tilting of the camera. I can only imagine what would happen to these columns with a nice 24mm or 22mm (although I draw the line at fish eye distortion, at least for the time being...).
All this was accentuated by the wide angle, the low viewpoint and the slight tilting of the camera. I can only imagine what would happen to these columns with a nice 24mm or 22mm (although I draw the line at fish eye distortion, at least for the time being...).
And so, once more, a somewhat
dull task transforms and reveals itself (after having given it some thought and
after actually looking at the shot and trying to pry
out the suggested tension and effect) to be a much more intriguing and
instructive activity than originally thought. It seems just about
everything is a question of perspective - a veritable game
of perspectives; where 'bending' the rules or 'crossing the
lines', seems to be, on occasion, an accepted and welcome norm.
References
Freeman, M, The
Photographer’s Mind – Creative Thinking for Better Digital Photos, Focal Press, 2009.
Freeman, M, The
Photographer's Eye - Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos, Boston: Focal Press, 2007.
http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&ALID=2TYRYD1KHF54
[Accessed 27/03/2016]
[Accessed 27/03/2016]
Just my backup...
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