People have been using photography to express themselves for nearly two hundred years, ever since Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first blurry photograph in the late 1820s. The old cliché that a camera doesn’t lie, comes from the fact that a photograph captures an image as it is, with no input from the photographer – but there are things the photographer can do to make the image more subjective.
One of the ways photographers manage to tell different stories with just one image is through the use of camera angles. The right camera angle can make even a beginner’s photo look professional. But what are the most common camera angles, and when could you use them to improve your photography?
Let’s take a look.
WHAT IS A CAMERA ANGLE?
The camera angle is the position you hold the camera when you take a photograph, e.g. high up, from below, from the side etc.
WHY ARE CAMERA ANGLES IMPORTANT?
Different angles can affect the perspective of an image, and the mood. As a photographer, you’re in control of what the viewer sees and you can use this to tell a story or convey a message. You can let the viewer see what you want them to see, whether that’s making something appear larger and more domineering, or smaller and insignificant, experimenting with angles and lighting can really make a difference.
TYPES OF CAMERA ANGLES (AND WHEN TO USE THEM)
1. LOW ANGLE
A low angle shot is when you look up at your subject from below eye-level and shoot upwards. These shots can make the subject matter appear larger, and more powerful and imposing than they are. This shot is often used in sporting photography, or in architecture, landscape and portrait photography.
2. HIGH ANGLE
This is when the photographer captures the subject from above the eye level. A high-level shot can make the subject appear smaller, or more vulnerable, compared to their surroundings. It’s often used when photographing pets, nature or food.
3. CLOSEUP (CU)
A close-up shot is exactly how it sounds; an eye level shot that focuses on a particular detail, for example, the subjects face in a portrait, with no background details. You can focus on more details with this shot as it magnifies the subject and highlights emotions that might be missed in other shots, which makes it ideal for portrait photography. It’s also used in nature photography or when photographing children or animals.
4. EXTREME CLOSEUP/MACRO (ECU)
An extreme close-up shot goes one step further than the standard close up, offering a magnified view of a certain detail to reveal details the viewer may not usually see, or notice. For example, it may be a close up of a petal, or a drop of water. It requires a steady hand, and an eye for detail and is often used in nature or food photography, or even product photography.
5. LONG SHOT (LS)
This shot shows the whole of the subject in relation to its surroundings, and it’s often referred to as the ‘establishing shot’. It shows the full length of the subject with space around it, so you get an idea of where the subject is and what they’re doing. It’s often used in landscape or cityscape photography as well as photojournalism.
6. MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
In a portrait shot these tend to show the subject from the waist up, and they also capture the immediate surroundings, with neither dominating the shot. It’s often referred to as the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ shot in photography, as it has the perfect balance of long and close up shots. It gives just enough detail of the surrounding environment without taking the focus away from the subject. It works great in portrait shots, photojournalism and wildlife photography.
7. POINT OF VIEW (POV)
A POV shot shows us what the subject sees, making the viewer feel empathy with that subject, whether it’s a person, an animal or an inanimate object. This angle makes the viewer part of the shot, rather than just being an observer, so it offers a different perspective. It’s often used in wildlife photography, action shots and portraits.
8. THE DUTCH ANGLE (DUTCH TILT)
With this shot the camera is tilted to one side, which adds an edge to a photograph, and almost a feeling of suspense. It can be disorientating and is a shot to play around with as it can change the perspective; it’s said to have its roots in German expressionism as it was used in a lot of early silent German films to create a sense of unease. It’s often used in urban photography, festival shots and experimental photography.
9. BIRD’S EYE VIEW (OVERHEAD)
This overhead shot places the viewer directly over the subject. You can include a lot of detail, but it can be tricky to do without a ladder, although the use of drone* photography has made this more achievable. It’s the perfect shot for photographing food or a still life, but it’s also used for landscape and architecture photography.
10. OVER-THE-SHOULDER (OTS)
With this shot the viewer is positioned behind someone they’re either looking at or having a conversation with. The viewer can see the back of the head and the shoulder, as well as the person they’re speaking to. This shot can either show a conversation or a confrontation, either way it makes the viewer feel part of it. A different angle can change the relationship between the subjects, for example, a higher angle could make the other person appear smaller. This shot is often used in portrait, documentary and street photography.
Different camera angles can hold a lot of power in a photograph, it can change the whole perspective. The key is to decide on the story you want to tell and then experiment; you might just surprise yourself.
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