Camera Angles

In photography camera angle is a common way of adding drama or interest into a photograph. Today the subject is the Grassmere Home located in Nashville, Tennessee and build in 1810. The home and farm is part of the Grassmere Zoo.
I shot these pictures this summer. And I made sure to get all of the homes angles. The first photograph below is a simple angle, which I think brings a welcoming sense to the photograph. I picture how people in the 1800s as they approached the home. I am a history buff so I pause and think of all the people who were around in pre-Civil War Middle Tennessee. The problem with this shot is the stroller a zoo patron left while touring the home, but a quick Photoshop can send that into oblivion.

This next photo is a dead center shot, and my least favorite of the lot. When planning photographs think of how they will look framed. This shot can be adjusted to bring more interest by chopping the extra grassy area out. But it would still lack the interest of the first photograph.

As you can see by the photo below, a slight angle accentuates the home’s height. However a crop of the extra sky would help its appeal. In this photo a shrub all but hides that pesky stroller as in the first photo.

 In my personal opinion this last photo is the best one because it has the trees and extreme angle to draw the viewer into the photograph. Also I believe this makes the home look a bit ominous, which is one of the great attributes of older homes.

When taking your own photos, remember to frame your work in a pleasing manner. Angles accentuate qualities of subject matter. Greenery, clouds, or other background elements all can work for or against the photograph. It can be added that using camera angles on portrait photos can be a bit trickier since your goal is to make a person look their best, so perhaps angles would not be the best option.