Forced Perspective - Research
Forced perspective is a technique that employs optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger or smaller than it actually is.Â
It is used primarily in photography, filmmaking and architecture.
It manipulates human visual perception through the use of scaled objects and the correlation between them and the vantage point of the spectator or camera.
I checked out a lot of forced perspective photography to get an idea of it and some inspiration. Here are some tips Iâve seen online in order to create a good illusion:Â
Every element in the frame has to work together. Harmony and composition are the key to a convincing forced perspective shot. Composition can create a realistic 3D scene with the 2D image that a camera produces.The composition is the most crucial part of forced perspective shots. You need to place your subject in the exact spot, or else people will notice the illusion right away.If you want something to look bigger than it is, put it in the foreground. To make it smaller, put it in the background.
Incorporate light, it can be used as a cool prop in your image.Â
Use Angles to Make Your Image Look 3D. With forced perspective in photography, youâll need to think beyond eye-level. You will either need to lay low on the ground or to take pictures from above.
Create a Flat Image, if you want your image to look two dimensional, then make your subject and prop look as flat as possible. Make sure you line up everything
Interact With the Environment to Create Depth. The most common backgrounds for forced perspective include flat surfaces, streets, and buildings. In most cases, people use each location for specific purposes. Forced perspective photographers often look for flat surfaces for big/small illusions. Or they use streets and sidewalks to create an illusion of depth or height. As for buildings, for example the Leaning Tower of Pisa, pretending to hold or carry them is a common trick. You can also think of other ways of interacting with your surroundings.
Use Toys to Add Character to Your Photos. Props are crucial when it comes to turning your ideas into reality. You can use pretty much anything from toys of different sizes to real objects to create such shots. You can place a small item in the foreground to make it look bigger.
Make Viewers Wonder How You Got That Shot. Your image is an illusion, you want people to ask, âwow, how did you get that shot?â But you should make it easy for viewers to understand what theyâre looking at. Get rid of any unnecessary visual elements in your frame to help them get the point of the picture right away. At the same time, you should make it difficult for them to figure out what makes the illusion works.
Use Paper Cut-Outs to Transform Objects. This whimsical images were created by Rich McCor, known on Instagram as âPaperboyoâ. He turns everyday objects into cute images using paper cut-outs, forced perspective, and a pinch of imagination.