Forced Perspective in Photography

This is an assignment that students love to hate. They love going out and trying new things, but they hate how difficult this can be. This assignment forces them to think not only as a photographer, but a viewer as well. They need to be in control of all items, and that can be very frustrating.

Even though I feel the need to stuff cotton balls in my ears to drown out the complaining during this project, I keep teaching it because the cost is worth the reward. This exercises their creativity, and they become much more conscious of their position and surroundings in the future. They also get to know their focus and camera angles better, as well as the importance of communication with their models.

Things to watch out for:
1. Focus
When you hold an item close up and far away your camera will often try to focus on one or the other, which in turn makes your image blurry ruining the illusion. Make sure students really know how to work with their F-Stop to create the right look.
2. Don't do the same type of force perspective
Make it clear that they cant do ever image where they are just holding a big object from far away in the tip of their fingers, make them try a variety of things.
3. Brain farts
Make a prompt box or make them do research and have them directly copy an image. This project is so challenging that even if they are directly taking an idea it will be so different, you will never be able to tell.

Prompts:
- Make something look big
- Make something look small
- Make it look like you are picking up someone
- make it look like a classmate is a giant
- Make it look like you are floating
- Making look like you are walking on walls
- Make it look like you are falling off a cliff


Here are a few video that I found helpful in teaching the Technique.

This is great video showing how Forced perspective was used in Lord of the Rings. After this project the students have a whole new respect for that movie. 

And finally here are a few of the student examples. 

Enjoy!!