why is getting low good?

tomd · 19th of October 2009 (Mon)

In many cases it is recommended to get low for sports photography. From marathons, cycling, football, tennis, motor sports and seemingly everything in between, recommendations are to get low.
In fact I agree with this recommendation, but my reason for this thread is WHY?

Why does getting low produce a more pleasing perspective in the shot? Is it simply that the photograph is from a perspective that the casual observer typically does not see? Does getting low put the horizon in a position that the brain reads as acceptable? Is getting low to clean up the background? does it open up the sensor to more light than pointing the camera level or slightly down? Maybe getting low helps capture the facial expressions of the athlete?

When I see sculptures/statues of famous people, they are usually in a straight on perspective, not "looking up", same is true of paintings.

There must be an element to photography that getting low is advantageous, any one know what it is?

lawlz_xD · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

In my opinion, any average "photographer" with a digital camera will be shooting down onto the players, and will result in the same type of average pictures. I suppose for sports such as swim, water polo (I shoot these two sports), it's a must to get down to the players level, and I often find myself having to lie down on the deck to get some good shots in.

Adama · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

The whole idea is to give a lesser seen perspective. Most people are either shooting/viewing sports from eye level or, as lawlz_xD noted, down on the athletes.

It just makes the shot more interesting. Also as you noted, it can unclutter the background without needing bokeh.

FlyingPhotog · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

In the NFL, if you shoot from the endzone, you have to get down to avoid blocking TV cameras and/or crowd.

Nothing will get you a AA Battery to the back of the head faster than blocking some drunk-azz football fans view of the field.

Sibil · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

Helps capture faces and also brings the viewer of the image into the action.

mcluckie · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

Puts a little foreground in your picture for a sense of scale, position, intimacy. Easier to get the Rule of Thirds happy. Puts the horizon at a visually better position. Birdseye, antseye views are usually more interesting.

Quote:

does it open up the sensor to more light than pointing the camera level or slightly down?

ridiculous

snyderman · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

definitely gets more 'faces' in the shots.

dave

chris270 · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

The biggest reason to get low is to eliminate distracting backgrounds like sideline crowds, buildings, and parked cars. Try shooting half a soccer game from your knees and the other standing...it shows how much you can eliminate. Alot of the newspaper photographers in my area stand and shoot and then quickly travel on to the next game. I always look at their shots in the paper and look at the difference in perspective of mine from down low....sometimes a big difference in bg.

duxbar · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris270

The biggest reason to get low is to eliminate distracting backgrounds like sideline crowds, buildings, and parked cars. Try shooting half a soccer game from your knees and the other standing...it shows how much you can eliminate. Alot of the newspaper photographers in my area stand and shoot and then quickly travel on to the next game. I always look at their shots in the paper and look at the difference in perspective of mine from down low....sometimes a big difference in bg.

Total agree. Also I think it creates a feeling of being 'in the game' we're all use to seeing the game from above on TV and in the stands. The view on the field at the level of the players is powerful.

DC Fan · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

Bicycle racing from a standing position.

Bicycle racing from ground level.

Yes, there's a difference.

tomd · 20th of October 2009 (Tue)

DC Fan, thanks for posting, great examples.

Chicle · 22nd of October 2009 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by snyderman

definitely gets more 'faces' in the shots.

dave

Especially for football too, it gets the eyes in the shot. When standing up and shooting the helmet usually covers the eyes.

Adama · 23rd of October 2009 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC Fan

Bicycle racing from a standing position.

Bicycle racing from ground level.

Yes, there's a difference.

Yes, it's a lot warmer

snyderman · 23rd of October 2009 (Fri)

Football with camera approx 2' from ground level ... I can get down pretty low still for an old guy!

Example:

John E · 23rd of October 2009 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adama

Yes, it's a lot warmer

lol.

19th of October 2009 (Mon)	#1
tomd Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live next to my neighbor Posts: 12,306 IMAGE EDITING OK	why is getting low good? In many cases it is recommended to get low for sports photography. From marathons, cycling, football, tennis, motor sports and seemingly everything in between, recommendations are to get low. In fact I agree with this recommendation, but my reason for this thread is WHY? Why does getting low produce a more pleasing perspective in the shot? Is it simply that the photograph is from a perspective that the casual observer typically does not see? Does getting low put the horizon in a position that the brain reads as acceptable? Is getting low to clean up the background? does it open up the sensor to more light than pointing the camera level or slightly down? Maybe getting low helps capture the facial expressions of the athlete? When I see sculptures/statues of famous people, they are usually in a straight on perspective, not "looking up", same is true of paintings. There must be an element to photography that getting low is advantageous, any one know what it is? __________________ mark iin; mark iid(S); 7d; G10: Canon 17-40, nifty 50, Canon 24-70L, Canon 10-22, Canon 70-200/2.8 L II, 300 2.8, 400/5.6, L 135, Canon 85/1.8: Canon 100 macro, tubes, Canon 1.4 tele conv. =======>>> play W.A.I.N.

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#2
lawlz_xD Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 265 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? In my opinion, any average "photographer" with a digital camera will be shooting down onto the players, and will result in the same type of average pictures. I suppose for sports such as swim, water polo (I shoot these two sports), it's a must to get down to the players level, and I often find myself having to lie down on the deck to get some good shots in.

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#3
Adama Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 215	Re: why is getting low good? The whole idea is to give a lesser seen perspective. Most people are either shooting/viewing sports from eye level or, as lawlz_xD noted, down on the athletes. It just makes the shot more interesting. Also as you noted, it can unclutter the background without needing bokeh. __________________ 1D Mark III - 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS - 24-70mm f/2.8 L - 50mm f/1.4 - 580EX II flickr http://www.alexpylyshyn.com

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#4
FlyingPhotog Cream of the "Prop" Join Date: May 2007 Location: Probably Chasing Aircraft Posts: 57,298	Re: why is getting low good? In the NFL, if you shoot from the endzone, you have to get down to avoid blocking TV cameras and/or crowd. Nothing will get you a AA Battery to the back of the head faster than blocking some drunk-azz football fans view of the field. __________________ Jay Crosswind Images *Facebook Fan Page* "If you aren't getting extraordinary images from today's dSLRs, regardless of brand, it's not the camera!" - Bill Fortney, Nikon Corp.

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#5
Sibil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,009 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? Helps capture faces and also brings the viewer of the image into the action. __________________ 40D, 7D, 1D, 1DII, 135/2, 85/1.8, 50/1.4, 28/1.8, 70-200/4, 15-85/3.5-5.6, 24-105/4, Sigma 100-300/4, Tokina 80-400/4.5-5.6, Kenko 1.4, 580EX II, 270EX

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#7
snyderman Cream of the Crop Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wadsworth, Ohio Posts: 7,053 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? definitely gets more 'faces' in the shots. dave __________________ Canon 5D2 > 35L-85L-135L

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#8
chris270 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 274 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? The biggest reason to get low is to eliminate distracting backgrounds like sideline crowds, buildings, and parked cars. Try shooting half a soccer game from your knees and the other standing...it shows how much you can eliminate. Alot of the newspaper photographers in my area stand and shoot and then quickly travel on to the next game. I always look at their shots in the paper and look at the difference in perspective of mine from down low....sometimes a big difference in bg. __________________ Christopher Cecere My Website \| My Blog MaxPreps Galleries \| Sportshooter Gear List

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#10
DC Fan Goldmember Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,679 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? Bicycle racing from a standing position. Bicycle racing from ground level. Yes, there's a difference.

20th of October 2009 (Tue)	#11
tomd Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live next to my neighbor Posts: 12,306 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? DC Fan, thanks for posting, great examples. __________________ mark iin; mark iid(S); 7d; G10: Canon 17-40, nifty 50, Canon 24-70L, Canon 10-22, Canon 70-200/2.8 L II, 300 2.8, 400/5.6, L 135, Canon 85/1.8: Canon 100 macro, tubes, Canon 1.4 tele conv. =======>>> play W.A.I.N.

23rd of October 2009 (Fri)	#14
snyderman Cream of the Crop Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wadsworth, Ohio Posts: 7,053 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: why is getting low good? Football with camera approx 2' from ground level ... I can get down pretty low still for an old guy! Example: __________________ Canon 5D2 > 35L-85L-135L

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