365-19 backyard perspective

So Darcy issues a challenge today to show off your amazing weather. She posted some beautiful shots. I've had those types of scenes in the past at my house. However, our weather right now is nothing I'd call amazing. It's in between; neither warm nor especially cold, neither sunny nor completely cloud covered, neither frosty, snowy beauty...sorry, I ran out of opposing phrases. Right now it's very BLEH. Gray. Overcast. Varying tones of neutral. Very boring, photographically speaking. To me, anyway.

But not being one to walk away from a photography challenge, I figured I'd show the world just how BLEH our scenery is. In the process, I was given a remedial lesson on perspective.

First, we'll see the difference in varying one's perspective through the camera lens.

1. BORing. Very flat, straight-on, and snapshot-ish.

2. Different perspective - get down low. In the leaves and mud.

3. Why not angle the camera while I'm down here in the leaves and mud?

4. Usually I would've tweaked the above photos a bit more - boosting the color, sharpening the images, etc. But I was determined to show just how seriously BLAH it is here. However, I couldn't let it go at that. So here's some minor edits to the angled shot.

While I was sitting on the ground, I began to notice some things. Things you don't notice when you just look out the patio window. Leaves frozen in ice. Way-too-early-budding on our apple tree. Hmmm...maybe there was something worthy of photographing after all.

5. Had to pull out the tripod for this one, so I could zoom in and get the shot I wanted without blurring it beyond recognition.


It would seem that a change in perspective actually brought something worthwhile. So if you're feeling uninspired, go sit on the ground (bring a blanket if it's too yucky) and look around. You might be surprised at what you'll find!

I'm sure you could find many other situations into which you can insert a perspective adjustment. It can take you from boring, bleh, and uninteresting to a colorful, amazingly beautiful leaf, half frozen on the ice.

Oh, and while you're at it, go shoot some weather, head over to Darcy's place, and sign the MckLinky. Then check out the weather around the blogosphere. Enjoy!!