Behind the Lens gallery
Behind the Lens - Linear Perspective June 19, 2009
This series of photographs illustrates the visual device known as linear perspective. Linear perspective is the impression of depth given by converging parallel lines and changes of subject scale between foreground and background elements.
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This image is made distinctive because of its linear perspective. By being above the thousands of Jayhawk fans and framing down the several blocks of Mass. the viewer has the illusion of depth and scale even on the two-dimensional surface of a photograph. Both the dark shapes of the buildings and the bright street lights lead the eye to a point of convergence down the street and over the crowd gathered to celebrate KU's basketball championship Monday, April 7, 2008. This photo was taken from the roof of the Eldridge Hotel looking south.
In the first of two photographs I took of a Kansas diner, I photographed the structure straight on. The scene looks flat with no sense of depth or scale.
In the second of two photographs I took of a Kansas diner, I photographed the structure from an angle to create linear perspective, the impression of depth given by converging parallel lines and changes of subject scale between foreground and background elements.
A slightly higher perspective created linear perspective with rows of corn stalk remains receding in the distance behind a sandhill crane.
The cars of a train photographed from an angle create the impression of depth produced by the receding lines of the train to a point of convergence at bottom left of photograph.
The parallel lines of a bridge railing creates a nice linear perspective leading the eye to the distant figure. The wide-angle lens used for this image exaggerates the illusion of depth and scale.
I did not have converging parallel lines to work with in this photograph but by angling my shot I created a change in scale of the subjects between foreground and background. This feeling of depth is only an illusion, but it is an important compositional factor in the success of this photograph.
Framing the road behind the motorists creates a feeling of depth and scale to this image. The visual device of linear perspective can help a two-dimensional photograph give the illusion of depth and scale.
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