Have fun with the forced perspective

The MasterClass Series #23

Have fun with the forced perspective

Equipment

EOS 5D Mark III (shot #1 and #3)
Kodak DX7590 (shot #2)
EF 24-70mm f/4 L IS USM

EXIF #1

Swinging on the rope
Focal length: 61mm
Aperture: f/16
Shutter speed: 1/200
ISO: 100

EXIF #2

Kissing the Sphinx (EXIF equivalent to 35mm full-frame)
Focal length: 55mm
Aperture: f/35
Shutter speed: 1/500
ISO: 80

EXIF #3

Holding the sun
Focal length: 70mm
Aperture: f/14
Shutter speed: 1/50
ISO: 100

Editing

Adobe Lightroom Classic CC

Now that you’ve learnt how to stitch a panorama, let’s discover the interesting technique of the Forced Perspective.

The Story

In travel, you come across tourists who wish to touch the top of the Eiffel Tower, or the Pyramid of Cheops, or even our very own Taj Mahal. And local photographers get them to push the Leaning Tower as if they are the one saving it from falling over, or even get a shot almost gobbling up the sun! Dammit, they could even get you kissing the Sphinx (see the pic below)! Little wonder we behaved as tourists and had some photography fun at White Rann, while on a trip to the first-ever Photo Tourism Conference in Dhordo, White Rann of Kutch. ICIT and Gujarat Tourism had organised this event where I won the 2018 PhotoBlogger of the Year Award.

The Technique called Forced Perspective

Forced Perspective is a fun photography technique that uses a camera-created illusion that blurs the relative distance of multiple subjects. Wikipedia defines it as ‘a technique that uses optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger or smaller than it is. It manipulates human visual perception through the use of scaled objects and the correlation between them and the vantage point of the spectator or camera.’

The shots

We are used to seeing objects with two eyes. Parallax helps us visualise the distance between the objects and therefore their relative sizes. But a camera is a single-eyed device that has limited ability to determine the distance between the objects. That limitation helps us as photographers to create illusionary forced perspective shots.

While you could play such a photographic trick when there is a monument, or a structure involved, such images are a lot easier to create when the backdrop is uncluttered. White Rann of Kutch accords you one such backdrop.

Let me provide you with some quick tips of Forced Perspective shooting (for illustration, I will also use some forced perspective shots captured elsewhere).

Quick Tips!

1. While shooting forced perspective shots, the subject remains where he/she is. It is the job of the photographer to find the right vantage/viewing angle.
2. For the forced perspective, your shot demands a greater depth of field. Shoot on narrow apertures (f/13, f/16, or narrower).
3. Once the distance is right for creating the ‘size’ illusion, the photographer then needs to get the line-of-sight right. And, as mentioned above, the narrow aperture will provide adequate depth of field to nail the shot.
4. While shooting, encourage your subject to pose. Some results will surprise you (see the ‘swinging on the rope’ image).
5. ‘Forced Perspective’ is a technique that engages both; the photographer and the subject. And time flies while experimenting with this technique. Give yourself an adequate time window when you plan a session.
6. Bonus Tip (courtesy Chetan Kharkanis of sandeepachetan.com): Use your smartphone for the ‘Forced Perspective’ shots. Its wide lens ensures you get both, the closer and distant subject, in focus.

That’s it. Now go have fun. And remember, in this technique, only your imagination is the limit!

Pin it for later reference!

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