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Photographing at ground level
Right Image:
Minolta Maxxum 9, 24mm f-2.8
lens, Fuji Velvia 50, Bogen tripod with Bogen Super Clamp and ball head attached to
tripod leg. Spot metering (leaf), -1/2 stop underexposed, shutter speed not recorded, f-13, on manual
exposure mode and manual focus.
Most photographs are taken at eye
level, simply because it
is much easier to find subjects and photograph them at eye level. Many of our subjects
need to be taken at eye level, but if you look a little closer or from a different view,
you'll find unlimited photo opportunities closer or at ground level. By lowering your
camera, you can add interesting objects to the foreground. Add flowers or rocks to your
landscape shots and show a different view from what most people see.
Many smaller animals
need to be photographed at ground level. This way you come eye to eye rather than looking
down at the animal. Children are mostly photographed at eye level with the camera pointed
down. I never liked this approach since the child looking up, makes them look being
dominated. By lowering the camera closer to the ground and at the child's eye level, we
can show more natural photographs of children and how they see the world rather than how
we see them.
Right Image: Minolta Maxxum 7, 200mm f-2.8 APO lens,
Bogen tripod with Bogen
Super Clamp and ball head attached to tripod leg. Fujichrome Provia, 1/60
sec at f-2.8. Besides smaller animals and children, there are so many other interesting
subjects that we can photograph if we could only slow down and look. The best part of it
is that you don't even have to go far. Outside your door, so many things can be easily
found. Most subjects on the ground need to be photographed as close to the ground as you
can get. Believe it or not, finding the subject is much easier than photographing them.
Usually you need a small aperture to gain depth-of-field which can result in long shutter
speeds. This requires a tripod. You need a tripod with legs that can spread out and almost
flat to the ground. Inverting the tripod's center-post is an awkward and difficult way to
work. By lowering the tripod and spreading its legs you can work much easier. One tripod
accessory I highly recommend is a Bogen Super Clamp. It attaches to the tripod leg and
with an addition of a quick release plate and ball head, you can attach your camera and
work flat to the ground for some unusual shots. I have a Bogen Clamp and ball head
permanently attached to one of my tripod's legs for working at ground level or even for
using two cameras at the same time on the same tripod. Don't worry about getting your
shirt dirty. You need to be lying on the ground if you want to get those unusual shots.
Left Image
Minolta Maxxum 9000, 100mm macro lens,
Bogen tripod with Bogen
Super Clamp and ball head attached to tripod leg. Fujichrome Velvia, 1/60
sec at f-5.6. Many insects can be found and photographed if you look in the right place. Insects are
best photographed early in the mornings when the air is still cold which makes them less
active. Look between the rocks or plants where many insects hide or feed. You can find
leaves, vegetation, rocks with interesting shapes, and every once in a while, a ground
squirrel staring you in the eye, and if you are flat on your stomach, looking down at you
for a change. Next time you are having one of those 'what should I photograph days', look
down, start walking slowly.
Bogen -
Manfrotto Quick Action Super Clamp
The
Quick Action Super Clamp, one of the most advanced and innovative
products on the market today. A rapid action
locking jaw has been applied to the most well known clamp in the world,
the original Super Clamp. These modifications have allowed us to keep
its extreme versatility by adding unrivaled speed in locking and
unlocking. The 635 Quick Action Super Clamp is also supplied with a
wedge to allow the clamp to fit on a plane surface.
Pipe Size: 0.5"-2.16"Manfrotto manufactures one of the widest
range of clamps designed to match the industry standards required in the
photographic, film, broadcast and entertainment industries. |
BOGEN 3021BPRO Professional Tripod
Designed for the professional
photographer, this is an extremely versatile tripod, ideal for small,
medium format cameras, digital or conventional type. The tripod has an
easily removed centre column that just as easily re-fits as a horizontal
lateral arm. Not only does this allow the camera to be offset from leg
position, it provides the simplest way possible to shoot from directly
overhead. Key features include four leg angle settings Centre column
with an innovative three faced design Double positioning vertical and
horizontal centre column Low-angle adapter built in the centre column
for ground level shots Rapid-action lever leg locks with just 45-degree
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