Camera Superior Position - Definition please?
Jul 9, 2014 04:55:05 #
Can someone explain to me in simple everyday terms exactly what "Camera Superior Position" is? I saw the term used in this section regarding the Gang of 8's displays of images of the homeless men in Las Vegas. In my attempt to follow, for the sake of learning, I thought at first the term was just a common sense term meaning the camera's position would be the lens held higher than the subjects face, but the more I read the more unsure I became of the meaning of Camera Superior Position. I did google the term but could not find anything in the context of it's meaning.
Thanx for any help in clearing this up for me. I do appreciate it.
Thanx for any help in clearing this up for me. I do appreciate it.
Jul 9, 2014 06:08:18 #
There are 3 basic camera positions from which we capture photographs. All have to do with the height of the camera in relationship to the subject
Camera Superior - from above the center point, in the case of a portrait above the eye line, in a full body shot it would relate to the camera being above the subjects waist.
Camera Neutral - A position that is level with the subject
Camera Inferior - a low camera position
Camera position has a direct effect on lens distortion and how particular parts of an image are rendered.
Camera Superior - from above the center point, in the case of a portrait above the eye line, in a full body shot it would relate to the camera being above the subjects waist.
Camera Neutral - A position that is level with the subject
Camera Inferior - a low camera position
Camera position has a direct effect on lens distortion and how particular parts of an image are rendered.
Jul 10, 2014 10:57:48 #
This is a real fun idea to play around with... if you're shooting for fun, experiment with the affect it has on your subject, as Bobby said. Tall men, I found, look awesome on stage in the camera inferior position. They look like rock gods. Taking a high shot of a woman, especially if she's looking up at you with big, innocent eyes, will make her body look smaller. Of course, I'm talking about fun, artsy shots. Not professional portraits...
Jul 10, 2014 10:58:51 #
Are we allowed to post examples on this thread? I have 2 that would really exaggerate the meaning for Newzshooter.
Jul 10, 2014 11:14:18 #
LLucas wrote:
Are we allowed to post examples on this thread? I have 2 that would really exaggerate the meaning for Newzshooter.
I don't see why not if it helps others learn this too ( I will give John AKA NewsShooter) a personal demo next week when I see him at my workshop.
The thing is the examples you are citing are at the extreme ends of the spectrum. The levels of distortion also are directly related to the lens you choose and your distance from the subject.
Jul 10, 2014 13:07:13 #
Will try to attach two extreme ends of this:
PLEASE keep in mind that these are OLD photos, taken with a crappy camera before I learned to shoot on Manual. (Please forgive the crappy snap-shots.)
PLEASE keep in mind that these are OLD photos, taken with a crappy camera before I learned to shoot on Manual. (Please forgive the crappy snap-shots.)
taken from a high angle, her prego status is less exaggerated
(Download)
taken low- exaggerating rock-god status
(Download)
Jul 10, 2014 19:32:44 #
LLucas, in your first example, while the camera position may help minimize her body via pincushioning it has done so at the expense of distortion to her head which now looks like it belongs on a giant. Anytime we attempt to use distortion to accent or minimize a oarticular feature we must accept that there will be an equal and opposite reaction elsewhere in the image.
A great example is in glamour photography we frequently work from flat on the floor shooting up at a strong angle on full body shots. The result is the distortion makes the woman's legs and torso longer, the trepanned off is the perspective shift can produce funky changes in how her head looks on her shoulders, particularly if she has short hair or has the hair all pulled to the back. The wider the lens and the short the subject to lens distance the more extreme this issue becomes. Legs can be made to Lo like stilts but the head becomes conversely small. Thus when shooting this way I tend to use focal lengths above 140mm to minimize the distortion and keep it within useful parameters.
Conversely shooting down with wide lenses from short distances creates a bobble head doll out of your subject.
Ideally we use the various camera positions not to utilize distortion but to minimize it or to use its effects in a very much control manner that is effective without creating obvious distortions
A great example is in glamour photography we frequently work from flat on the floor shooting up at a strong angle on full body shots. The result is the distortion makes the woman's legs and torso longer, the trepanned off is the perspective shift can produce funky changes in how her head looks on her shoulders, particularly if she has short hair or has the hair all pulled to the back. The wider the lens and the short the subject to lens distance the more extreme this issue becomes. Legs can be made to Lo like stilts but the head becomes conversely small. Thus when shooting this way I tend to use focal lengths above 140mm to minimize the distortion and keep it within useful parameters.
Conversely shooting down with wide lenses from short distances creates a bobble head doll out of your subject.
Ideally we use the various camera positions not to utilize distortion but to minimize it or to use its effects in a very much control manner that is effective without creating obvious distortions
Jul 15, 2014 11:43:57 #
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