Depth and perspective

Some of the most visually interesting photographic images are those that emphasise perspective, indicating depth and distance. Again, depth of field, viewpoint, and the perspective of the selected lens all contribute to the success of the effects. While perspective is a managed element in all but two-dimensional subject material, subjects such as those illustrated here do exaggerate perspective for effect.

It is possible to line up one subject behind the other. This is called a diminishing effect, because objects of similar size appear smaller the further they are from the foreground. Linear perspective describes the effect of parallel lines apparently converging to a vanishing point in the distance.

Hughenden, Qld has a gigantic dinosaur in town. The actual size of this model is modest, the chosen perspective has made the hotel appear diminished in the background and the model enlarged in the foreground.

Because of the linear perspective in this image of the Busselton Jetty in WA, the lines appear to converge and disappear at a vanishing point on the horizon. [120/43 mm, f8].