Flatness- trick of the eye by using vantage point

Spatial hierarchy: the objects, in thsi case the bubbles, in focus attract the attention of the viewer before the little kid playing with them in the backgroud, which is out of focus. The photographer could have shifted the focus to be on the kid, instead of the bubbles in the foreground.

In this photograph, Paul Raphaelson uses vantage point to reveal information that would have been lost if he had stood on the same plane as the cars. By standing above, presumably on another level of the parking deck, Raphaelson was able to record the tire marks in the snow (evidence of time) and indicate the altitude of the cars he is photographing. His vantage point simultaneously affords depth to the image, through inclusion of the side of the parking deck and the buildings below, and flattens it, establishing the distinct plane of the cars and tire marks.

The spacial hierarchy is almost the "joke" of this photograph by Garry Winogrand. The woman in the foreground is the logical "focus" however the two animals, presumably rhinoceroses, are equally in focus and take up the same amount of picture plane as the woman in front of them. This establishes a dialogue between the two (three?) subjects, ultimately resulting in a comparison.

vantage flatness and hierarchy

vantage and flatness:



had the photographer been more to the right the flatness would not have been as stressed.

a bit less vantage point, but still flatness:



hierarchy:

morgan maassen is awesome.

http://www.morganmaassen.com/-human/

So I found this new photographer and he's pretty awesome. All of these photos use the vantage point to add a lot of interest to the photo. In the first, he messes with the contrast so it appears that all figures are walking on a flat plane, however this is a great example of spatial heirarchy. We know that there is depth within this frame because the figures shrink as they go back in the frame. The ones that are closer are larger and there is a sense of space because of the emphasis placed on the figures themselves.  For my discussion of vantage point, I'm going to talk about the third photo (because the second and fourth are obvious in their stylistic choices and how the vantage point is important). The vantage point that Morgan Maassen chooses to shoot from for the third photo in the series completely makes the photo. He puts the fin against the sky with no concrete items or plants or anything to tie the board to earth. Because of the vantage point, the board appears to be floating in the air. 

(to briefly discuss the other two: the second would not have the epic lead up to the figure if Maassen had not put his camera close to the walkway. the distance appears long and the picture has depth because of this stylistic choice. the last follows the line of the wave. clearly he was surfing in while dane peterson is and this vantage point gives more insight into the actions of the surfer and the epicness of the wave. LOVE!)

Vantage point

Alexa- Spatial Hierarchy

This photograph, by Willard Van Dyke, clearly shows a spatial hierarchy between the cars in the foreground, middle ground and background. The cars in the front rows are more in focus, whereas the ones further in the back are out of focus and appear to be smaller because of the perspective.

Alexa- Vantage Point

The photographer used a vantage point where his relationship to the subjects are at the same level as him. It appears that the cows are walking straight at him, as if the camera is the same height as the animals. We are facing the cows straight on.

spatial hierarchy

Because the focus is on the guitar, the woman is out of focus, demonstrating the photographer's use of spacial hierarchy. (photo by Dario Infini)

Vantage Point is the Key to Flatness

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