This Video Explains the Basics of Composing Low Angle Photos.
The angle of your camera can completely change the look of your photo. When you shoot subjects from a low angle, they tend to appear larger and more powerful . In this video, photographer Ted Forbes explains how it works.
As Forbes explains, it’s all about the skyline. As you draw, you can illustrate the size by creating horizon lines with vanishing points, as if you were drawing the side of a building. It is important to pay attention to these horizon lines when composing low angles. Forbes puts it this way:
When you shoot photos from a low angle, the horizon line drops to the bottom of the image, forcing the subject to fill the image in a more dramatic way. Most often it is used to express a sense of awe or even a sense of authority. For example, historical and religious stories can take on power and importance. They are perceived more than they really are. When we use this point of view, size is also emphasized. Placing people in the image below not only gives them emphasis without using size, but also gives you a point of reference for scaling.
Forbes explains this technique in detail, making it easy to see how best to implement it. He has a few more tips for shooting this way, so be sure to watch the full video.
PHOTOS USING LOW ANGLES | The Art of Photography (YouTube) via PetaPixel