The Subject’s Eye View

When we photograph, we see our subject and its environment from our visual and mental perspective. This is both normal and expected. There is nothing wrong with it at all. But what if you want to try something completely different?

It’s challenging to do, but the only thing you require is an open mind and of course your imagination. A camera is necessary, but can get in the way while you build this approach.

Let’s say you have a pet in the home. In the past I had the joy of a series of half wolves, but I am older and lack the energy needed to keep such critters happy and so now have cats. There are about a million cat videos on the web that millions find fun.

But here’s the challenge. Make photographs from the cat’s perspective.

I don’t mean just getting to the cat’s position, although that is a start. Since cats are good examples of pets that have no interest in your opinion of where they sit, you may not have to lie on the ground to make images, which for some of us, is a good thing.

What does the cat “see”? It’s not what you see, so you have to think like you think a cat thinks. What gets a cat’s attention, other than food or sleep. What does the cat look for around it. Can you create a sense of what the cat is thinking and what it’s next action might be?

Tough stuff, but massively illuminating from a seeing perspective.

What about a flower? Lots of folks make flower images. Sadly most of them are boring and tedious, because flowers are generally naturally beautiful. What else is there? I am no flora biologist but I am aware of people who believe that plants have feelings and some form of awareness of their surroundings. How this works, I don’t know, but we know that flowers turn to face the sun as an example.

Now instead of making yet another flower image, BE the flower. What is the flower’s “eye” view? What does it “see”? What parts of the its environment are interesting to it?

I warned you, you need an open mind and IMAGINATION to achieve this kind of assignment. It’s less a question of can you do it, and much more, are you willing to make the effort to do it.

Wrapping Up

Creating images from the subject’s eye perspective is way outside the box, but doing so will open your own eyes to new photographic and creative opportunities.

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