Perspective, Angle & the 180° Rules

Camera height & angle (35mm)

• Low angle — striking, monumental, dramatic; good for modelling and impact.
• Subject's eye level — authenticity, context and atmosphere.
• Slight downward tilt — approachable, soft, painterly.
• Centred composition — breathing space, less clutter; works outdoors.

Be deliberate about where you place the subject in the frame.

The three "180-degree" rules

1. Cinematic (spatial continuity). Imagine an axis between two subjects and keep the camera on one side of it across a sequence, so left/right positions stay consistent — useful for photo essays, events and photojournalism so viewers don't get disoriented.

2. Compositional (turn-around). After a shot, physically turn 180° and look behind you — the best frame is often the one you'd have missed. A prompt for mindfulness in landscape, street and travel work.

3. Shutter rule (video). For natural motion blur, set shutter to double the frame rate — e.g. 1/50 s at 25p, 1/48 s at 24p.

Consolidated from notes: 35mm shooting; 18 Jul 2025 (180-degree rules)