Angles - How to Make Your Photo's Interesting

 

Perspective

A different viewpoint can change the narrative. An image taken in full light, with no shadows, where the photographer is right in front of the subject at the same eye level, tells a story... that story being that the photographer is as boring as bat shit.

An angle can be used in imagery to show the subject's status. Looking down can weaken; looking up can strengthen. One makes the subject small, and the other makes the subject look big.

This can be a bit of an oversimplification, but it does have merit. Watching a movie, you know someone is dominant if you are looking at them (or they are speaking from a position of dominance at that time). Likewise, looking down on someone makes them seem more subservient.

So that's a simplification for narratives. But what about fashion?

Fashion Angles

It's still true in fashion that making your subject bigger or smaller creates a narrative. Various photographers over the years have used this to great effect.  

In the above example, Jenny is photographed from above. This instantly gives her vulnerability. If I shot this same shot from below, she would have dominance.

It's also evident in this real-life example:

 

Image by Peter Coulson (http://peter-coulson.com.au/fashion-editorial/-Tiziana-161007_0780/)

 

 To see the opposite, then this is a good example:

 

Image by Peter Coulson (http://peter-coulson.com.au/fashion-editorial/Ritaul_160624_0052/)

As you can see, in this case, the model has power.

In both cases, the key reason why is wardrobe. Lingerie or semi-nude often uses a submissive position and leather dominant position. You can change this; it's not a hard and fast rule, but again... just a simplification.