For this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Patti of Pilotfish blog asks us to be a little creative and instead of just shooting what’s right in front of us, use different perspectives to make our photos more interesting.
It’s a good practice, not only in photography, but also in life. When confronted with challenges and unable to solve them, sometimes a change of perspective will help us find solutions or at least a better understanding. When dealing with people that we don’t see eye-to-eye with, looking at issues from their perspective can make it easier to reach a compromise that will work for both parties. It’s a great life skill to develop.
Mendocino County
I’ve only got a few precious days left in Mendocino County, where the landscape leads to many opportunities to use different perspectives. There is a dramatic coastline filled with secluded beaches, steep cliffs, fabulous sea stacks and beautiful arches.
Looking down on this arch from the bluff above provides quite a different perspective.
Mendo also has some wonderful redwood forests. There are interesting things to find near the forest floor,
but the trees are so tall you spend a lot of your time looking up.
Sometimes, if you want to see the very top, you need to lie on your back and shoot straight up!
California Desert
By this time next week, I’ll be in the Mojave, chasing the desert wildflower bloom. That will call for a change of perspective. Although occasionally you may still have to look up for the best photo,
more often you’re looking down.
For some of the most beautiful desert (and alpine) wildflowers, you have to get right down to the ground and lie on your belly. Because of that, we call these exquisite blooms “belly flowers”.
When photographing flowers, sometimes your best perspective is to come in really close.
Other times going wide angle, a different perspective, is an interesting way to capture the wide array of colors and shapes, the incredible profusion of blossoms surrounding you.
It’s good to walk around a flower to see it from many different perspectives, but please be aware of where you are walking when doing so. Don’t crush a dozen other flowers trying to get that perfect shot of just one! That said, Happy flower hunting!
Excellent photos. Well done. I like ’em!
Thanks, John. So glad you do!
just awesome Dianne! I love the trees and the sunbonnet is beautiful! I have never seen that flower before!
Thanks, Pam! The sunbonnet is hard to see but worth the effort. They’re not super common and you have to look close and then get down on their level to really notice how exquisite they are. I keep looking but so far I’ve only found them in Death valley.
I do love your seascapes Dianne. They’re wild and alive, gorgeous. And the beautiful belly flowers, worth getting all sandy for.
Thanks, Wendy. I’m glad you like them!
The Redwoods were absolutely stunning! Looking up and the view is even better 🙂
So glad you like them! The Redwoods ARE definitely stunning trees, so tall and majestic!
What a profusion of beauty! Your photos are marvelous, Dianne. I especially love your shots of the flowers (Mescal) and the shot looking straight up at the sequoias. You have a wonderful eye for detail and beauty. Enjoy the spring blooms in the desert. It’s a wonderful sight!
Thanks, Patti. I’m so glad you like them! These are Redwoods, not Sequoias, tho. Sequoias are bigger but Redwoods are taller.
Personally the redwoods will always be in my heart after seeing them in their forests. They are just so mesmerizing. Thanks for the reminder of some very special moments among them Dianne