Today we’re talking about putting your camera in the dirt, or pavement, or any flat surface that your Platypod MAX can support. A lot of people underestimate the power of a low angle shot. Most can’t accomplish this shot and have it stable because they don’t have a device that can have their camera that low. Most tripods can’t go that low, some people need to hand hold it or put a sandbag on the ground. Both options wouldn’t do the job as well as a Platypod MAX.
It’s a really versatile product that you can drill into walls, hang from trees or use as a discrete tripod!
So first off, what’s considered a low angle? Well, it’s anything that is below eye level. That doesn’t mean that your camera has to be all the way on the ground, but it’s a different perspective when it comes to photographing your subject.
Hero Shot
The first way you can use a low angle shot is to create a hero shot. The subject takes up more of the frame and we see them as a dominant figure. It is also a good angle for full-body shots as it accentuates the legs and makes them appear longer.
A rule of thumb is that if you’re shooting a headshot or something that is shoulders and above, a higher angle might look more appealing. As you back up and want a waist-up shot, being at eye level is better. A full body shot should be shot at a low angle.
You can also use this low angle shot to be scary and foreboding. Since it’s not a natural way we see people, it can come across as strange. If you put a wide angle lens on there, you’ll have some distortion which will add to the creepy factor.
Trunk Shot
Getting your camera in unusual spaces can also be a unique perspective that can add something to your story. I’ve used this technique when people are opening boxes to get a reaction shot of them.
Reduce Background Clutter
When shooting portraits, you can use a low angle to get rid of an unflattering background. By going low, you’ll have more sky in your frame, which is better than a distracting background that might not look good with your image.
By doing this, you’ll also add some interesting foreground elements like grass to your image which could make it pop or you can use it as a framing device.
POV Shot
Having your camera low and on the ground will also help you create great point-of-view shots. A POV shot could be great for a shot of someone after they passed out or our waking up from a sleep. I use this shot as well to get a doctor’s point of view in dentist videos. You can be pretty creative with this angle.
Running/Walking/Low Angle
Grabbing shots of people walking or running across your frame at a low angle is a great b roll shot or transitional shot. I use it a lot in my documentary shots. As with all these other shots, they’re just interesting shots that add a bit more interest to your story.
We can use this concept to drive a car over the top of the camera. You will see this shot sometimes as a transition in films when people are going on a road trip.
Basically, we’ve just shown you a bunch of ways a low angle can be incorporated with your video. Mainly you can use it to grab a different perspective and an interesting shot.
