Hills --or inclines of any sort-- tend not to show their rise when shot straight on, much less upward at an angle. If somehow you can find a vantage point that allows you to shoot laterally from a 45 degree (more or less) angle, and can likewise include elements that provide an upward perspective (eg, two like objects, one closer and larger, the other further away and somewhat more distant), there's a better likelihood of showing the rise in the land.
Photo-Noob wrote:
Hello everybody
I'm currently staying in a vacation home that can only be reached by driving up a rather steep road. All my attempts to take proper picture of said road have fallen flat so to speak, i.e. they do at all show how steep that hill actually is. What's the secret to taking such a picture properly?
Thank you for your help.
Regards
Andy
Show us some examples of what you have tried and let us think about how to improve it. I did go back and look at some of my images with steep hills to see what made them look steep. And some of the things I see is that wide angle and up close helps as well as something of known size to get a sense of overall size.
I'm with Johnswanda. Look for a vantage point from a distance.
Watching this thread as my photos of steep hills always look less scary than in person. I think too many trees get in the way of some of the hills I encounter on our hikes, so can't really get the full scope of the trail.
Photo-Noob wrote:
Hello everybody
I'm currently staying in a vacation home that can only be reached by driving up a rather steep road. All my attempts to take proper picture of said road have fallen flat so to speak, i.e. they do at all show how steep that hill actually is. What's the secret to taking such a picture properly?
Thank you for your help.
Regards
Andy
Take from the side.
Straight on will not show steepness.
John N
Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
I prefer to shoot from the base up and use a telephoto lens. Tree, lamposts, Utility overheads can all be used to accentuate this. Otherwise try shooting from a distance to incorporate the base level and the horizon.
Again, thx everybody for your suggestions and ideas. I'm attaching four (out of 20 or so) pictures I took earlier today. Shooting from the side would obviously be a solution, but due to the trees / houses lining the road was not possible. I took all pictures with 18 - 140 mm Nikon lens 'cause it's the only one I own. With the exception of img 3 (62 mm) I took all pictures at 18 mm, which seemed to produce better results than using a longer focal length. With img 2 I pointed the camera to the ground a couple yards in front of me, which - at least in my imagination - makes for a steeper look than pointing straight out, horizontally.
For steepness reference: a "standard vehicle" has to drive up that entire hill in 1st gear ...
davidrb wrote:
Get the largest clear glass jar available and fill it 2/3 full of a dark liquid. Set it on the side of the road and photograph it. This will re-create the glass vial in a builder's level and will demonstrate the angle of incline. Use a large enough jar and your favorite bourbon/scotch whiskey and you won't care how steep the hill is.
I think this would attacked too many photo bombers!!! I like it though!
I think your pics have shown the steepness very well. #3 and #4 are the most successful - the walls to the side of the road show the incline.
leenso52 wrote:
I think this would attacked too many photo bombers!!! I like it though!
Gotta learn how to type this early. I meaned attrack!
Xpatch
Loc: New York, Antigua, GT.
Perspective, Dutch line, distance and try composing with vericalor horizontal comparisons. Good luck post an image, please.
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