Week 2 - Point of View

This week, we were tasked with taking a photograph of the same subject from four different points of view: eye level, below, above, and becoming the subject.

The first photo I took of my subject was from the point of view of eye level. This point of view allows the viewer to connect the subject immediately, as they feel they are looking at them and meeting their eyes. In my photo, my subject is smiling and pointing at the camera, seemingly talking or responding to something said. This as well as the eye level point of view allows the viewer to feel as if they are in conversation with the subject, or he is greeting you familiarly.

The second photo in my series of photos taken at different points of view was taken from above the subject. The subject and setting are the exact same, however the point of view changes the way in which we relate to the subject. As the viewer, we are now looking down at the subject and he is looking up at us. This allows the viewer to feel much taller than the subject, giving a sense of superiority or protectiveness of the subject. The subject in this photo is relaxed, with his hands in his pockets and standing still against the motion of the background. This adds to how we interpret our relation to the subject, as the viewer is looking down upon the subject and he is seemingly relaxed and content.

The photo above was taken from an angle below the subject. Conversely from the previous photo, this angle gives the viewer a sense of inferiority, lack of control, and smallness compared to the subject. This angle also conveys a sense that the subject is in control of the situation, as we are looking up at a much taller figure. The subject appears very tall with the use of this angle, as the camera is positioned almost at ground level. The act of the viewer looking up and being met with the taller subject looking down emphasizes the feeling of smallness and lack of control in this photograph. Similarly to the previous photo, the subject seems to be relaxed and unbothered. However in this photo, that expression conveys to the viewer a sense that the subject is in control, as opposed to the above angle which conveyed a sense of superiority for the viewer.

The final photo I took in this series was from the point of view of becoming the subject. In this photo, the subject is photographed from behind, and the viewer sees what he is seeing. This allows the viewer to identify with the subject in that they are both looking at the same thing together. In this scenario, the viewer feels as if they are experiencing the sight of cars driving by on a busy street as the subject is as well. This angle does not give a sense of superiority of inferiority for the viewer, but rather a sense of shared experience. Similar to the eye level angle, the viewer can identify with the subject, albeit anonymously as the subjects face cannot be seen.