What I See

On the way to Redifer Commons, I couldn't help but notice the frequent use of brick all around campus.  You'd think at a place like Penn State with so much spirit, all the buildings would be blue and white.  Nevertheless, the architecture around State is pretty neat.  Not only am I talking about the Millennium Science Complex and the IST Building, but also the little architectural marvels.  Eastview Terrace's staircase complex is particularly photogenic.  I've abstained by not adhering to the rule of thirds this time, emphasizing the symmetry of the scene.  Notice the columns in the background that form a square in the center of the overhang.  The trees, equidistant from the center of the picture, lead the viewer's eye to the core of the photo.  

Then, I walked up the stairs.

Alternate View

I've captured two views of the same structure—one from the base of the staircase, and the other from the very top.  The lighting, camera angle, and the environment create two very distinct photos of the same object.  In the first photo, abundant trees complemented by bright light produces a feeling of warmth, crispness, and clarity.  The back view lacks the color differentiation and light to make the structure stand out.  The inky left side of the photo contrasts with the shining right side, split by a near-white sidewalk.  While the first photo emphasizes the bridge-like structure, the second uses it as perpendicular counterpart to the sidewalk that is so integral to the image.  

Perspective can change a lot.  Given any object or structure, you have countless permutations of options for a photograph.  Wait a couple hours during the day to adjust your natural lighting (or days or weeks!).  Be cognizant of when students will be walking to class to get a "busy" shot full of people, or something much more calm and bereft of life.  It turns out there are a lot of choices.

Take this tree for example.  I had the option of taking a "traditional" shot of the tree, capturing the entire trunk, all the branches, and the ground around it.  But no, I got on one knee, basically proposed to the tree, and aimed my camera up toward the sky.  What remains of the leaves looks like scattered green confetti.  The trunk and branches serve as highways leading up to the clouds.  In this photo, the tree becomes something more than just your regular old photosynthetic scaffolding.  

Your subject, natural lighting, and timing influences much of the final image.  Despite this, you can alter your photo considerably by changing your perspective.  Some people view photography as something passive—simply documenting a "given" scene in time.  Hopefully, I've shown you how photography is more about creating the scene you want than plainly accepting what's given. 

Moreover, it's critical to understand how powerful changes in perspective can be.  They can change photos, opinions, and people.  Remember, no one sees the same tree the same way.