THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

chapter 11 Perspective
erspective is the one compositional
element that is
almost entirely in your control.
The word "perspective" means
"point of view," both literally and
figuratively. In its literal sense, it
means where you stand in relation to
your subject and how that influences
the appearance of your subject. In
the figurative sense, it means how
you feel about your subject.
The literal aspect of perspective is
essentially practical. If from your
point of view the sides of your subject
are visible as they recede into the
background, then your perspective
will enhance the perspective of the
subject. You can tell where it starts
and how far back it goes.
If, on the other hand, the sides of
the subject are invisible from your
point of view (as, for example, when
you photograph a low building
straight-on from the front), you
diminish its perspective. The building
will appear flat as a pancake.
When we talk about perspective
figuratively, it means how you
perceive a subject, not just spatially,
but aesthetically, emotionally, even
morally. This kind of perspective requires
that you understand your subject
enough to have an opinion or
idea about it ... and that you have
the technical skill and creativity to
convey that opinion or idea to others.
This photograph is an example of what is called "two-point" perspective.
The dominant perspective lines run along the vertical axis to the right of
center. A second, less evident, perspective runs out of the left side of the
photograph. Try using your cropping L's to determine if the photograph is
stronger with both perspective points, or with just one. In addition, notice
how the shadows play off of the other structural elements of the
photograph. (Student photograph by Kimberly DeMarco.)
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