Composition: Part III
© Wendy Folse
Perspective
Perspective can be a tricky thing to understand and yet it is really quite simple. The confusion arises from the word's two different definitions, both of which are relevant in photography. In composition, both meanings must be given some thought.
Let's start with the second definition first, since it is the one that most people will concern themselves with first. This definition of perspective deals with the aspect in which a subject or it's parts are mentally viewed. What does that have to do with composition? Everything. The perspective of the subject is how the photographer wants the subject to be viewed mentally by others, or perhaps, how the subject wants to be viewed mentally by others in the case of a portrait. What is the photographer trying to tell the viewers about the subject? What is he trying to show?
Say for instance that the photographer wants to show how hikers litter our streams and damage the environment. He may choose to shoot from a low angle and have an empty soda can floating in the stream as his main focal point. Or he may choose to shoot a wide angle shot and include the heap of trash around the picnic site.
On the other hand, suppose he wants to portray the peacefulness of the stream in all its beauty. In this case, the photographer is likely to choose to exclude anything that looks like humans have been there. The subject may be the same exact stream in the same exact location but each shot from a different perspective. This is where the photographer inserts his own views of the subject and says to the viewer, "From my perspective this is how I see the situation."
Now for the other definition of perspective. As an art term, perspective means the science of painting or drawing so that objects represented have apparent depth and distance. In photography, the photographer paints with light instead of pigments. How does he show that an object has depth and distance? The absence of light is shadow. The photographer balances highlights with shadows to show apparent depth. If you have ever looked at a photo that failed to capture your attention or one that looked dull and lifeless, it was probably due to a lack of contrast between light and dark. People will often talk about a photo being flat or the lighting being flat. This is what they are referring to, the lack of contrast.
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