Image and Post by Rick Sammon – Follow Rick Sammon on Twitter
See Eye to Eye
When it comes to photographing people, I almost always try to see-eye-to eye – shooting at the subject’s eye level. At that level, the viewer of the photograph connects with the subject – and the image looks less like a snapshot and more like a photograph.
Compare these two pictures of Cuban musicians. One, taken while I was standing straight up, looks like a snapshot. The other, taken while I was kneeling, is a much-improved shot.
Of course, I do break that rule, as illustrated by the picture of the woman performer, who I also photographed in Cuba. She was actually on stilts when I took the shot. In that case, not seeing eye-to-eye was the best approach.
P.S. Both pictures were taken in the shade – where the light is soft and flattering. The musicians were playing in the shade. However, I asked the woman to move into the shade – my favorite place to photograph people.
