IPG February Challenge! a 2oo9 Photo Challenge!

Tonia has determined our next challenge of 2009 for us! Yes, it's the February challenge! She seems to have selected an interesting one for us and will be judging which photo, in her opinion, best fits the project. Without further ado, she decided on "An Unusual Angle".  She wants you playing with perspective and having fun with this one. No straight on, straight down, or straight up shots.

Since this is going to be judged by Tonia, here's your chance to impress her with your take on grabbing a different, unique and unusual angle. Gayle has some thoughts and suggestions for people:

"I would suggest a LOW ANGLE approach whereby the FG subject is the main focus and BG is secondary yet still in focus....

or,shootin' kneeling down low using equivalent to wide angle 28mm to exaggerate height of bldg., etc,or to distort portion of subject which is closest to lens.....

or, if inside, set up still life near floor level rather than on a table and then lie down on floor to shoot with light level low, too."

• Do NOT submit any photo unless it was taken in Feb., 2oo9. This group has always been about taking new shots and taking shots specifically for the current challenge. It's the honor system...all new shots.

• Please, absolutely no fast food paper wrappers as a subject in your shots. We have to have some standards!

• Once again Gayle and I want to remind you to take a step back and keep the composition in mind. A unique and creative idea, as well as perfect settings, can mean absolutely nothing if the shot is poorly composed. Try to picture the shot as you want it before pushing that shutter release. You can have an unusual subject...you can have a quirky crop...and you don't necessarily need a level shot...but let's make it a priority to get the composition down to something that's appealing first.

It's another difficult challenge. This time, the difficulty is more in finding a creative and unique angle to capture a common (or uncommon) subject. It's going to challenge you to see the shot and then capture it.

Any questions or advice needed can be asked of either Gayle or I and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Just add IPC to the e-mail tag.

Some pointers...:

Be cautious not to confuse straight up (not allowed) with an oblique upward angle (allowed).  Sometimes getting lower than average and looking upwards gives you either an entirely new view or a nostalgic view of the world...as seen through the eyes of a child.

You can get some unique angles, as you can see from these two shots, by proper positioning and using a wider angled lens (if supported by your camera) as Gayle pointed out.  From the 10.5mm lens I used in these two shots all the way out to a 28mm lens, you get to see an added dimension which, when done right or composed prior to the shot, will give an added emphasis to the unique angle of the shot.  This first shot was taken at the Aquarium of the Pacific and I was simply playing with the idea of using a fisheye lens in an aquarium.  It doesn't really emphasize the unique angle.

This second shot, however, does seem to show a unique angle.  So you see, it's much more about what's behind the euipment than it is about the equipment.  Develop that photographer's mind and begin to see the world in a little bit of a different way.  It's your chance to show the world that you see...often the one people walk by without ever noticing.

By all means, don't neglect to look at the very low angle views.  Those with a love of Black & White can still delve into that area as well.  All you need to remember is to not shoot straight on, straight down, or straight up shots.

You don't have to lay on the floor or the ground.  Here I'm just sitting on the floor with my back against a chair...and grabbing a differently angled shot of Mrs. Doyle's Welsh Corgi...all tuckered out from playing.  I also converted him to sepia.  So a low angled shot doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be low.

Have fun with the project and don't hesistate to ask questions!

(And show us what you got)

As always...NO photos will be accepted after midnight, Feb. 28, 2oo9; Gather time.