Change the perspective in your photography by looking up.

What is looking up in photography?

Any time we aim our camera upward would be considered looking up photography. Whenever you choose to photograph objects that are above your head. For example, things in trees, people up on a hill or mountain, anything up in the sky such as a sunset, the stars or clouds. In a city looking up at the architecture can create some very interesting and unique images.

How to photograph looking up images.

When we are out taking photos we get caught up in what we see right in front of us. We may look ahead, to the left and right, down and even behind us, but many times we forget to look up.

Take some time to start looking up, what do you notice? What do you see? Make sure your camera is pointing upwards. Normally we are used to holding our camera horizontal or even pointing downward. Point that lens straight up. See how doing this can give you unique perspectives and images. You can even get on the ground and point up at the underside of smaller objects like flowers or mushrooms.

How can you create a unique looking up photograph?

Take the time to look around the area where you plan to photograph. Think about how you’ll create the image you have in mind.

What lens will you use? What perspective will you shoot from? How will the lighting affect your subject while you are there? Can you come back at a different time of day to create a better image? What is the point of interest in your shot?

If you think about and answer these questions before pressing the shutter you are more likely to create a unique and compelling image.

Click here to find inspirational examples of looking up photography.

Inside BootCamp Magazine

Featured Artist

Let’s take a look at this month’s magazine. Here is our featured artist of the month, Jorg Rauthe, from the United States.

Even big birds seem to have temper flare-ups. While observing these three Blue Herons at the Venice Rookery, Jorg seems to have come across an attempt by the herons to create a Ménage à Trois. The tall Blue Heron did not go for it. This was photographed is in the middle of a very dramatic episode. In the end, the intruder was forced to hit the road/air.

Comment: James Herrick – “Great timing! The interplay let’s us feel the emotion of the moment. The “expression” of each bird gives a us a different take on what is going on in the scene.”

Cover Image

This month’s magazine cover image was taken by Caroline Holdstock from the United Kingdom. Caroline joined BootCamp to give her a reason to get her out taking photos regularly, with a theme to shoot for. While visiting the Isle of Wight and Osbourne house, she photographed the grand staircase. Caroline loved the repeating patterns of the stairwell and the rich colour of the wood. She tried to capture them as best she could from a restricted position where she could stand to get the shot. It was a bright sunny day, which was not the best for this, but she feels the bright square at the top draws your eyes up the staircase.

Active Members

Let’s take a look at what our BootCamp members have created while looking up.

Starting with Laima Ratajczak from Australia. Her image for this challenge is of a sculpture in Yunnan Province, China when they were there in October. It was approximately 6 meters high and the sky really was bright blue!

Comment: Sig Rannem – “Nice complementary colours and great symmetry in this photo Laima! What I think would make this image even better would be to darken the blue sky a bit so that there is more contrast between that and the blues of the sculpture – just a thought. Good work!”

Next, we have Belinda Swan from Australia. About an hour from where she lived, a farmer has set up a paddock with a range of old farming equipment and vehicles so people can come out and photograph the Milky Way and also use the property for some light painting. She was very fortunate to visit during the week. The light in the background is Canberra, Australia.

Next, we have Richard Hutson from the United States. The “Smoke Stack” was shot looking 300 feet straight up at it from the base with his Leica Q 28 mm fixed lens. This smoke stack was decommissioned several years ago and is now destined to be the focal point of the Potrero Power Plant redevelopment project located on the waterfront next to Pier 70 in San Francisco. Someone has to climb the ladder on the left side of the image to change the red flashing light at the top.

Comment: Mary Helen Hughes – “To infinity and beyond! This photo makes you feel exactly like you feel when you look up at this tower in real life. Great job for making a person feel like they are really at that place.”

And last but not the least, we have Stephen Main from Australia. Stephen grabbed a photo from his archives for this challenge. This is the lighthouse on Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia.

These are just some of the images created by the members which show us that by just looking up we can create wonderful, interesting and unique images.

You can share your own images by joining Photo BootCamp Academy and can count on the community to help and guide you along the way. If you are not yet a member of this awesome family now is the best time to become one.

You can check out the complete BootCamp Magazine and see for yourself!

Summary

• Looking up photography is anytime you point your camera upward. 
• Always look up, remember besides looking around you check out what you see when you point the camera at an upward angle.
• Get down low and shoot up at flowers or subjects that are lower to the ground.
• Create different perspectives by using different settings and lenses while looking up.

Related Articles

Did you enjoy this article? Check out these related articles, too:

• Capturing Life’s Simple Pleasures
  Seasonal Photography Tips: Photographing Summer and Winter.
• Lessons Learned In Life And Photography
  What can reflecting on lessons learned do for us?
• Creating Complete And Harmonious Images Using Visual Balance
  Moving on or moving forward

Do This Now

Please leave me a comment below – I’d love to know what you think. Brent