The Platypod Perspective
By Joe Pellicone
If you have taken photos for a while, you have probably heard many tips and tricks on how to make your photos better, or at least more unique. One of the tips I frequently hear is to photograph a child or pet from their level. What they are talking about here is perspective.
Perspective by its own definition can mean many things, but I think when talking about photography the best one is “the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions” In simple terms, if you shoot a dog from your eye level you will be pointing the camera at a downward angle and will get a completely different image than if you had taken it while kneeling. The angle or perspective you chose to shoot from determines the impact and dynamic feeling of the image. This applies to all subjects that you photograph. I knew all this or at least I thought I did.
Accidental Perspective
I have been doing a project called #NeonAtNight and it became too cumbersome and took too long to set up a tripod at each stop since I was photographing 10-20 locations a night. When a friend told me about Platypod I decided to give it a try. I loved it for its simplicity and how quick it was to place my camera and get the shot. What I didn’t realize is that I was getting something way more than just a tripod replacement. I got perspective! Placing that camera on the ground instead of at eye level got my photos noticed by adding impact! I frequently get compliments on them that includes the word “WOW”! If you want to take great pictures you need to add the WOW Factor!
Just take a look at the examples below. One shot is taken with the Platypod on the ground using a long exposure the other is standing in approximately the same spot using a higher ISO.
The ones taken with the Platypod perspective are much more dynamic in my opinion.
Alternatively, Platypod is useful from a higher viewpoint as well. Check out this image taken from an adjacent parking garage.
Each time I go out to shoot at night, I attach my camera to the Platypod when I leave my house. I preset the camera for the settings I use the most, which is Aperture Priority at F22, ISO 100 and the camera chooses the shutter speed. I keep the camera at the ready on the front seat of the car and when I arrive at a location I just turn it on and go. This also allows me to get those unexpected shots like this railroad crossing. I just placed the Platypod on the dashboard while I was waiting for the train to go past.
These are just a few examples of where my Platypod and I have been. The bottom line is that Platypod performs very well for me. Getting the extra benefits of photos with a different perspective was a welcome bonus!
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