Different Angles
Since the theme of this week is photography, I thought I would continue to add another image to the discussion. While traveling and documenting a location, I feel it is critical to capture both the subtle and the not so subtle elements that visually define that location. After all, most places that we visit have key elements that must be included in any visual story. Since these are key elements in a location, they will have been photographed quite extensively by the see of humanity that now has a camera in tow.
The challenge then becomes how do we capture the essence of a location, see it in a different way, and put our own unique style stamp on the resulting image. I think that this is where the two previous posts all come into play. First, finding beauty in what might not otherwise be considered beautiful. Second, learning to see in a way that is not readily apparent to the masses. Third, looking for angles that are unique, thus blending the first two into an image that has your own personal style written all over it.
For me, I know that I prefer to shoot a good number of my images from a perspective that is not often seen by others. I do this in two unique ways. First is by putting myself physically into different locations, e.g., climbing up things or crawling over things, both give me a perspective not often seen by others. The other way that I change angle is through the use of wide angle lenses. I love shooting wide because when done correctly it can take an average subject and give you something very special.
Combining all three elements will help you not only document a scene in a completely new and unique way, but also will help you to expand and grow your own personal style. This particular image is of a channel marker that sits at the end of a well worn and oft photographed jetty. I personally have tons of images that show this marker as a distant object when photographed from land, the perspective that most people shoot from. In this case I walked out on the jetty, and using a 21mm lens, was able to get right up and close to the marker, making it the dominant portion of my image frame.
As I took several shots, I noticed that the gulls were disturbed by my presence and they began circling overhead. Carefully framing and waiting, I was able to grab a capture of an object that in and of itself is not very exciting and yet the resulting image is dynamic and dramatic.
The use of a wide angle lens not only added drama, but done correctly, I was able to bring in multiple elements into a single image. In this case, the international border marker, the international bridge, the local wildlife, and a bit of the town, all come into a single image that works.
This image is definitely one for the books and a great keeper as I continue to document life in Down East Maine and the Canadian Maritimes.