Zain's Pix & Text

Composition Guide #7 | Vary Your Camera Angle

Zain Abdullah — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:38:21 +0000

A beginner in photography usually tends to shoot almost everything at eye-level. It is only natural since we tend to take pictures while standing most of the time and the camera is placed at our eye-level when we peek at its viewfinder. The resulting pictures, though, may look unexciting and familiar. This is because it is at this angle we normally view the world.

Simply changing the camera angle we can introduce a different perspective, sometimes a unique angle and a fresh view that can make a world of difference in the impact of our shots.

How to change the camera angle to the level other than eye-level can be as easy as lying low on the ground or climbing up a flight of steps. However, an unusual camera angle can imply various meanings that affect how a viewer interprets the shot. It also has a direct effect on compositional perspective.

Shooting lower than eye-level will make everything seem larger in size. The viewpoint seems to be coming from someone small in stature that’s why it is normally called ant’s eye view. In order to get that ant’s eye view you can simply lie on the ground or adjust your tripod to the lowest level if the camera is tripod-mounted.

Penang City Council Building

I chose an angle lower than eye level to shoot this majestic colonial building and tilted my camera upwards to make it look more dominant and perhaps larger. The passing motorbike was included to give a sense of scale.

My daughter Aishah while she was 2 years old

When photographing kids always shoot at their eye level. By doing that they will respond better to you because you are at their eye level instead of looking up at you.

A lotus bloom

Sometimes, when a subject is surrounded by distracting elements which cannot be physically removed from the scene, shooting it at low angle is a good trick to keep the subject in the shot while keeping those distractions out of the frame.

Conversely shooting higher than your eye-level gives the opposite impression that the photographer appears to be very tall, while everything around is smaller or shorter than normal. This elevated angle can be achieved by using a stepping stool, walking up a flight of stairs, or shooting from a second-storey window.

Subjects taken from a high camera angle can appear smaller, and this can be used to convey the impression of insignificance or weakness. This illusion of shrunken size is even more dramatic when the subject is known to be large. From a high angle, houses, boats, and cars can look like toys, and people may look like lilliputians.

As with unusual camera angles, a high-angled shot can provide a fresh take on an ordinary scene. Shooting at a high camera angle can also get rid of distracting elements so you can focus entirely on the subject. On the other hand an extreme high camera angle is the bird’s eye view. As the term suggests, the viewpoint is as if it is coming from a bird flying high up in the air. Aerial shots of landscapes are perfect examples of this camera angle. You can also get these kinds of shots from atop a tall building and shooting downwards at the ground-level, or if you are on top of a mountain with the scenery down below.

View from the peak of Genting Highland (about 2000m from sea level)

Shopping frenzy

I shot this at a higher level to show the pattern formed by colourful clothes on sale and the frenetic activities of shopping. I wouldn’t be able to present this scene had I shot it at eye-level.

Tea plantation in Cameron Highlands

I preferred to shoot this vast landscape of tea plantation at higher level to emphasize its vastness.

A blue bow

You can also get an overhead view or top view of your subject by standing higher than your subject and shooting downwards just like what I did when shooting the blue fishing boat above and the fish silhouette in the picture below.

Fish silhouette

Next time you go out shooting, remember to vary your camera angle and don’t only shoot everything at your eye level.

You may want to read my previous articles on composition as listed below:

Please also check out the top ten tips on how to take better pictures.

Happy shooting!

My best 12 pictures of 2011

Zain Abdullah — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:38:36 +0000

I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. A year has just gone by and it is customary for me to reflect back on what I achieved and shot last year. I am pleased to share with you my best 12 photos that I photographed last year. They are solely based on my personal preferance by taking into consideration technical, aesthetic and artistic factors. It was pretty difficult to decide but I tried to be less personal with them in choosing which one to be included as my best 12. They are arranged in a chronological order as below.

1. Waterfall

I love the close-up shot of this waterfall shot as it shows the sheer power of water and by shooting it close-up the viewer won’t be able to guess how high or how short the waterfall is. It just merely shows the almost abstract look of the water cascading on the rocks. This was captured in Sungai Gabai Waterfall, Hulu Langat which is approximately 35km (22 miles) from Kuala Lumpur city centre.

2. Adjusting the parachute valve

One of the crew members adjusts the parachute valve of a hot air balloon to ensure it is fully closed to contain enough air before the hot air is pumped in and the giant balloon is erected. This was captured during the Third Putrajaya International Hot Air Ballon Fiesta held from 17 March to 20 March 2011 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. It is an annual event held during school holiday and it is normally well received by the local visitors as well as foreign tourists. It also an event that photographers look forward to every year. More photos of Third Putrajaya International Hot Air Ballon Fiesta can be seen here.

3. Fishing on Tanjung Dawai pier

I found some anglers enjoying fishing on the pier at Tanjung Dawai beach in Kedah during sunset. And I just clicked away. This, I think, is the best shot.

4. Kuala Besut fishing village

Kuala Besut fishing village is bathed in golden low-angled light in the early morning. When shooting landscape or seascape what matters most is the quality of light, once found only then will I think of the composition.

5. Arranging the merchandise

This lady mans one of the shop lots in a shopping arcade in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur.

6. The Seberang Jerteh Timber Mosque

The Seberang Jerteh Timber Mosque is the new landmark of my home village, Kampung Seberang Jerteh. It is made of 80% chengal wood and its architecture was inspired by the Terengganu’s traditional Malay/Muslim architecture.

7. It's raining

I just love this contrasty scene of yellow stripes against dark grey asphalt and a blue umbrella. Taking photos after rain or during light rain has its advantage as your picture would look more contrasty. This is because the dust, smog or haze in the air have been washed away by rain.

8. A florist adjusting her flowers

I am a sucker for vibrant colours. When I stumbled upon these colourful flowers which were neatly arranged I just needed a human element to complete the picture. All of a sudden a lady manning the flower shop came out and adjusted the flowers on display. I quickly took a couple of shots and this is the chosen shot.

9. Windows

I found windows of Hotel Malaya fascinating as they formed an interesting pattern besides its classic architecture.

10. Shopping for headscarf and veil

Ladies are busy shopping for headscarf and veil at one of the shops in Kuala Lumpur while in the foreground are mannequins’ head dressed in headscarf to display its merchandise.

11. Admiring

I couldn’t help feeling amused when seeing this guy stopping and gazing at the billboard as if he was admiring a painting by a famous artist in an art gallery. I photographed this scene to immortalise the amusing scene.

12. Petronas Twin Towers

It has been some time since I last captured the majestic Petronas Twin Towers so when I had the opportunity to do so I grabbed it and this shot I think is the best one.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Comments and criticisms are welcomed with open arms.

My recently captured street shots

Zain Abdullah — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:04:16 +0000

I am delighted to post and share some street shots that I captured recently. Lately I have been inspired by many street shooters. A bunch of immensely talented and highly respectable street shooters in In-Public website inspired me big time. They as if unanimously show and communicate what street shooting is all about.

Many thanks also to Thomas Leuthard who generously came up with not one but so far two free e-books on street shooting and enlightened us on what street shooting is about from his point of view. Keep inspiring guys!

For you, dear readers, I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

Take care and photos!

Floral stairs and floral dress

A watchmaker repairing a watch

At a newsstand in Lebuh Ampang

A chit-chat with an old friend

It's raining

Waiting for a train

Making garlands

Rushing home

A busker tunes his guitar before starting his performance

A bookworm

A florist arranges the fresh flowers

A trader carries his merchandise - shoes - from the warehouse to his stall in Kuala Lumpur Chinatown

Palm reading at Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur Chinatown

A chit-chat between two friends

A florist adjusts her fresh flowers on display

Selling mobile phone accessories

Is this real?

Shopping frenzy

Lady chicken traders at Kuala Besut Wet Market

Traditional Indian barber

Free e-book on tips and techniques for street photography by Thomas Leuthard

Zain Abdullah — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:20:45 +0000

Especially for street photography aficionados and street photographer wannabes, I am pleased to announce that Thomas Leuthard at 85mm is so generous to produce and publish not only one but so far two e-books dedicated to street photography and let us download them for FREE. The books contain, inter alia, his experience in street photography, tips and tricks on how to approach people in street photography and more importantly his superb street shots taken from many parts of the cities worldwide. Thomas Leuthard is a Swiss photographer who has committed his life to only street photography and he has become who’s who among modern street photographers.

Feel free to download two of his ebooks on street photography entitiled Going Candid and Collecting Souls from his website here for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Happy reading.

Going Candid

Collecting Souls

Sunrise in Kuala Besut

Zain Abdullah — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:27:01 +0000

Fishing boats are silhouetted against the orange and blue sunrise sky at the mouth of the Besut River in Kuala Besut

The silhouette of a fishing boat against the sunrise glorious sky in Kuala Besut

The sun is rising

Kuala Besut fishing village at the magic hour

Beautiful lighting

Contrasty lighting

Masjid Kayu Seberang Jerteh

Zain Abdullah — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 02:26:37 +0000

Of late my home village, Kampung Seberang Jerteh, has been receiving a steady stream of publicity for the past one month since the completion of the Masjid Kayu Seberang Jerteh (the Seberang Jerteh Timber Mosque). The timber mosque was built to replace the old mosque which has been there for more than forty years. I believe when the old mosque was built 40 or even 50 years ago the architectural beauty was never taken into consideration that’s why what resulted was just a very basic buiding fitted with a small tower on its roof and on top its tower there was a small dome just to denote that it was a mosque. After all it was strategically located at the T-junction of the main roads to Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Besut.

The old mosque is now gone and it has been replaced by a new and unique timber mosque whose architecture was inspired by the traditional Islamic Malay architecture. It is also adorned with traditional Malay “awang larat” wooden carvings. Something that Besut is famous for thanks to its world famous wooden carver Wan Su and family.

The timber mosque now known as Masjid Kayu Seberang Jerteh was reported to have cost RM12 million and it can accomodate about 800 worshippers. It was built of 80% chengal timber. It was also reported that the timber mosque was the brainchild of Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh who hails from Kampung Seberang Jerteh and was then the Terengganu Menteri Besar. In fact Idris Jusoh’s private house which was also built from timber is just 2km away from this mosque. He is still currently the Jerteh ADUN.

Although the new timber mosque is not fully completed as its large pool and its landscaping work is still being constructed it started to be used last Ramadhan and it held the first Eidulfitri prayer last Tuesday.

The mosque has become a prominent landmark to Kampung Seberang Jerteh in particular and to Besut in general. It is also hoped that the mosque doesn’t only serve as a trourist attraction but more importantly it manages to attract a lot more people by offering various interesting religious programmes that transcends the political and racial boundaries.

Today I managed to capture a couple of shots as I am still at my kampung for Hari Raya holiday. Today’s morning the weather was very fine resulting in nice lighting, deep blue sky and highly contrasty scene.

Do enjoy the pictures.

Masjid Kayu Seberang Jerteh

You can view more pictures of the Masjid Kayu Seberang Jerteh here.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Zain Abdullah — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:07:46 +0000

In the spirit of merdeka (independant in Malay) I am pleased to wish my beloved country Malaysia, Happy 54th Birthday and my fellow Malaysians Happy Independance Day. Malaysia (it was Malaya then) achieved her independance from the British colonial government on 31 August 1957.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Jalur Gemilang - the Malaysian Flag

Selamat Hari Raya Eidulfitri & Eid Mubarak

Zain Abdullah — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:37:35 +0000

To all muslim readers and muslim friends I wish you Selamat Hari Raya Eidulfitri and Eid Mubarak.

May you enjoy your Hari Raya with your loved ones around in your beloved hometown and may Allah bless us all.

I also would like to apologize for anything that I have said and done that might have offended any of you. Please forgive me. As they said, to err is human, to forgive divine.

Do drive carefully as I am sure you don’t want to contribute to the frightening statistics of road accident during the festival season in Malaysia.

From the family album: Our last year's Raya at my parents' house in Jerteh my hometown

2011 Eid Bazaar at Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Zain Abdullah — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:21:19 +0000

Every year Kuala Lumpur City Hall issues temporary permits to the traders to open their stalls along Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur city centre. Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman is located off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman regarded to be the busiest road in Kuala Lumpur. The bazaar attracts people from all walks of life who go there to buy things in preparation for Eid Festival. People who go there are not only from Kuala Lumpur but they are from various parts of the country as you can find pratically everything here ranging from all sorts of traditional clothes to the wide range of food as well as household items. In short it is a mecca for shoppers. What is more attractive here is almost all the merchandise offered here are at bargain prices.

For photographers the site is also a haven for street photography. The subject is everywhere. It is full of human activies, facial expression and being Asian it presents a wide spectrum of hues.and shades.

Do enjoy the highly colourful scenes that I managed to capture recently.

I also would like to wish all muslim readers ‘Selamat Hari Raya Eidulfitri’ or Eid Mubarak.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming Eid or Hari Raya with your loved ones around.

Have a safe journey on your ‘balik kampung’ trip and do drive carefully.

A row of tents snakes through on Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

"I am done with my shopping, darling"

One of the traders is waiting for customers while observing his merchandise

A lady seems busy shopping for cloths

Various types of shoes on sale

One of the workers at a stall selling headscarves is busy arranging the merchandise

A trader is busy adjusting her merchandise at a headscarf kiosk

A trader is busy arranging her merchandise on display at one of the shops at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Various perfume on sale

The street, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, is thronged with people from all walks of life

Exploring the Intricacies of Photography with Passion – An Online Exhibition

Zain Abdullah — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:01:23 +0000

The online Light & Composition Magazine is holding a special online exhibition entitled Exploring the Intricacies of Photography with Passion. It is held to showcase the selected photos from “Photo of the Day Award” collected over a period of more than a year. The selection was based on votes from viewer generated by Facebook’s Like, Tweets/Retweets, Viewers’ comments as well as Stumble Upon click and most recently Google+’s +1 click.

The photos showcased are made up of various genre and categories produced by a multitude of photographbers around the world – professionals and amateurs alike. That said photographs are however pigeonholed into 26 main categories.

I am honoured to have 3 of my photographs made it to the Islamic Photography category in Part 2, Motion Photography category in Part 3 and Travel Photography in Part 4.

Below are my three photos selected by Light & Composition Magazine to be included in its Exploring the Intricacies of Photography with Passion online exhibition.

Mannequins in headscarf - Islamic Photography category

Shopping Frenzy - Motion Photography category

Hot air balloons flying over Putrajaya - Travel Photography category

Please click “Like” or retweet or +1 my photo if you like it

Do enjoy the rest of the photos as well by various photographers around the globe.