Question on low points of view

[Gonetae]

ello folks, Just a wee thing that has been on my mind while looking at some cracking photo's today. A lot of the ones which appeal to me have a very low point of view and I was wondering about how folk go about achieving this.

Is it as simple as just lying on the ground to take the shot, or do folks focus from a higher PoV and then rest camera on a beanbag or reversed centre column of a tripod? My main reason for asking as that I'd love to get some similar shots but have a bit of a dodgy back and no tripod atm but ordering one from Redsnapper next week that I believe has a reversible centre column.

 

[Harvey_nikon]

I've seen people using those GorillaPods for taking low down shots before, very cool little things and it is on my shopping list!

I've seen people lying on the floor to take them, focusing then lowering it and i've seen people just hold it low, wait for the focus beep and shooting without even looking

What ever works for you really!

 

[happy haggis]

Most tripods will go quite low enough to get down and take shots from a lower angle. A really useful accessory for this type of shot is a rightangle viewfinder. It will save an awful lot of backache.

 

[The Matt]

In absence of an angled viewfinder or a tripod, take a bin liner or two out with you. It'll give you something dry to lay on at very least. I generally have poor results with aiming without seeing through the viewfinder. Wouldn't recommend it.

 

[68lbs]

I straddle the tripod, bend my head down and look through the viewfinder upside down when the tripod is set really low. Takes a little getting used to... in fact, it might explain some of my shots!

 

[seriousrikk]

I just get my clothes mucky and lay down!

 

[EdBray]

Something like this may help!

 

[Gonetae]

Brilliant guys, hadn't considered a viewfinder before as I just assumed they were very pricey, I think I"ll be looking into geting one of them now though. Cheers

 

[jakeblu]

This is where live view comes into its own, although you still have to get down low, it is still easier than using the viewfinder. Beanbags are very useful for this type of shot also.

.... My main reason for asking as that I'd love to get some similar shots but have a bit of a dodgy back .....

Sympathies, I have dodgy knees and its a bit of a struggle but I just grin & bear it.

I just get my clothes mucky and lay down!

Snap

Steve

 

[Nod]

I have dodgy knees and back but still lie down (on a sheet of plastic if wet/muddy) if I need to. Sometimes it's possible to get down into a hole or down a bank to achieve a low level shooting position - easier than getting down (or, more importantly, getting back UP again!)

 

[EdBray]

I just lay on the shingle to take this, camera base was rested on the arm of my coat.

 

[Gonetae]

What an absolute stunning shot Ed!, that's exactly the type of thing I was talking about.

 

[ukaskew]

and i've seen people just hold it low, wait for the focus beep and shooting without even looking

I subscribe to this technique With a bit of practice it's far less random than it might first appear. As all my wider angle stuff is shot with primes I've gotten pretty used to what the camera will see from a given point and roughly where to stick the AF point.

Not an exact science obviously, but it's free and quick and has given me some very good results.

Bit of an extreme example to say the least (although that's the point of sharing this particular one), but here goes...