We recently took a family trip to Maine to visit my parents. I wanted to make sure I got some good photos while I was there (well obviously, what kind of photographer would I be if that wasn’t clearly on my mind). I wanted a few really good landscape pictures to hang up in my house because I have become quite particular since becoming a photographer (you can read more on that here). Especially some good ones of a lighthouse. A real lighthouse.

I had one word in mind throughout our whole trip….perspective. What does that mean, you ask. When you take a picture, you are always taking it from your perspective; what you see. The perspective of the picture changes as you change your position; step 10 feet back, but leave your camera settings the same & you have an entirely new perspective.

It’s no secret that I shoot 100% in manual mode. I like the control that it brings. I can manipulate the coloring, focus, blur, etc. But the perspective of the picture has a lot to do with it also. I must have taken 25-50 pictures of the lighthouse alone, trying to find the correct perspective for what I was looking for. I wanted the lighthouse to be the focus, but at the same time I wanted to include the surrounding area. I tried to approach the picture different every time. I changed my stance, moved over a few feet, stood on my tip toes, change my f/stop or shutter, played with the ISO, shot from the right, left, & bottom. I went for as many different angles & settings as possible.

So next time you take a picture, even if it’s just a snapshot. Take it, then review it & see what you can do differently. Change your perspective! You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

* This was my final perspective of the lighthouse. Taken from the other side gives it a slightly different look, completely different light, & more rock detail.

*Great lesson of perspective; sometimes you just need to get up close. Remember, it’s not always about the big picture.

*I flipped my camera around from landscape to portrait (horizontal vs. vertical). Shooting this way makes the photo more about the big picture than just the lighthouse & gives even more detail of the surroundings.

*This my first perspective. It’s all about the lighthouse here with just a little surrounding landscape.

*I am standing in the exact same place as the picture above, but I pulled my zoom back to encompass an even bigger picture. This becomes more about the lighthouse & less about the surrounding area. The picture above gives more details to the surrounding area making it all-encompassing.

Challenge: So I challenge you, find your perspective. Take a photo from 3 different perspectives & then send them to me at marissa_nicole_photography@yahoo.com with “Perspective” in the subject line & a brief description of what you did to change your perspective for each photo. I will post them on the blog with the others & we will dissect perspectives.