Forced Perspective Trick photography Forced Perspective Photography Ideas • Forced perspective is a type of optical illusion. Objects appear to be a different size or distance due to the angle they have been shot from. • You can turn tiny objects into giants, or shrink buildings. • A classic example of forced perspective is the tourist shot of a person ‘holding’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa. • Forced perspective photography is fun and straightforward. • You can try this technique anywhere you go, get creative! Check out forced perspective poses for inspiration • Popular images include people who appear like gnomes or giants. Even small toys can appear large and realistic. Plan each scene beforehand for a convincing illusion • Every visual element in your frame has to work together • Harmony is the key to a convincing forced perspective shot. • You need to think of how to set up your photos • You need to decide on the necessary props you need for your project • You’ll need to know where to place your camera, and where to position your subjects Take Test Shots • After you plan the shoot, you have to take some test shots before doing the real shoot. • See if you might need some more props or what angles work best so that when you are at your location, you are ready to get started. Try a zoom lens for perspective distortion • You can use just about any lens to create perspective distortion. Your most ideal option would be a zoom lens. • You’re playing around with perspective or false perspective, so expect to adjust your framing and composition a lot. • A zoom lens allows you to re-frame your shot without having to move closer or farther away. Use small aperture for the best results • Forced perspective photography involves two points of interest. These work together to create the illusion. • There would be one subject in the foreground, and another subject in the background. You will need to make sure everything is sharp from the front to the back. • Set your camera to aperture priority and choose a small aperture between f/8 to f/16 to keep a deep depth of field. • Try not to go any higher, or you’ll come across diffraction. This happens when the opening is too small (such as f/22 or smaller), and light struggles to get in. • Since you’re using aperture priority, you don’t have to worry about shutter speed. Work with a partner to get the perfect shot • In some cases, you’ll need at least one participant to execute an optical illusion. • Apart from taking photos, it’s also your responsibility to tell them how to pose and where to go. • Before you shoot, discuss your idea with your partner. • Describe what you want the final image to look like, and show them what they’ll need to do to make it work. • Feel free to show reference photos to give them a general idea about what you want to create. Incorporate Light • Light can be used as a cool prop in your image. One way to do this is to create a bokeh. Use the circles that bokeh light creates as objects in your photo, like in this image. Composition is the key to creating illusion • If you want something to look bigger than it is, put it in the foreground. To make it smaller, put it in the background. • Find the exact spot where your partner appears to interact with your prop. • Your goal is to line up the background and the foreground to make them look like they’re parallel to each other. • Turn on your camera’s grid line and use the rule of thirds to frame your image. Use angles to make your image look 3D • With forced perspective in photography, you’ll need to think beyond eye-level. • You will either need to lay low on the ground or to take pictures from above. • Do you want the foreground and the background to merge? Then shoot at the ground level. • If you’re going to add depth perception to your photo, then take photos from a higher vantage point. Interact with the environment to create depth • Look for flat surfaces to create big/small illusions. • Use streets and footpaths to create an illusion of depth or height. Use toys to add character to your photos • You can place a small toy in the foreground to make it look bigger. • Remember, the smaller the object in the foreground, the farther away you have to move your subject. Use buildings, houses or bigger objects • Try park benches, and light posts to add to your illusion. • There are plenty of ways to interact with them. • You can hold on to them, lean on them, or place them in the background. • Make people wonder how you got that shot. Michael Paul Smith • Michael liked the styles of automobiles and architecture of the mid 20th century. His childhood memories from that period were also a reason why he wanted to preserve the past. His images represent the experiences he's had throughout his life. • His work is on Flickr. References • https://expertphotography.com/forced-perspective-photography/ • https://www.lightstalking.com/forced-perspective-images-elgin-park- michael-paul-smith.