The Basics
A technique that uses optical illusion to make objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther than they really are.
Forced Perspective
This popular tourist photo shows a person appearing to “hold up” a famous Italian landmark?
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
What element of the camera controls how much light enters the lens?
APERTURE
Describe a classic forced perspective pose.
Example: “Pinching” the moon, “holding” a person in your hand
True or False: Forced perspective is created by changing the camera’s focal length.
False — it’s created by the positioning of the camera and subjects.
This movie famously used forced perspective to make hobbits look smaller than humans?
The Lord of the Rings
What does “focal length” measure? THE DISTANCE FROM THE SUBJECT TO THE CAMERA. or. THE DISTANCE FROM THE LENS TO THE CAMERA'S IMAGE SENSOR
THE DISTANCE FROM THE LENS TO THE CAMERA'S IMAGE SENSOR
You have a toy car and a real road — how could you create a convincing illusion?
Place the toy close to the lens and line up the horizon to match the real road
This setting primarily affects depth of field?
Aperture / F-stop
What object is often used in forced perspective photos to “trap” the sun?
A hand.
What is the effect of a low camera angle in forced perspective photography? MAKES THE BACKGROUND APPEAR FURTHER AWAY THAN IT REALLY IS. or. MAKES THE SUBJECT APPEAR LARGER
MAKES THE SUBJECT APPEAR LARGER
What’s one way to make two people appear to be the same height when one is much shorter?
Move the shorter person closer to the camera
This kind of lens can exaggerate forced perspective effects — wide or telephoto?
Telephoto lens (compresses space)
In film, what term describes this illusion technique used for set design to save space and materials? MINIATURE FORCED PERSPECTIVE or MERGING 2 OR MORE SUBJECTS
Miniature Forced Perspective
What’s one trick to make a small object appear large in a photo?
Place it close to the lens with a distant background subject
Challenge: You want to make a person appear to “walk on” a coffee cup — what must align?
Their feet must line up with the rim of the cup in the frame
The most important element to align when creating a forced perspective photo
The subject positions.
The most common example of forced perspective in photography is: DEFYING GRAVITY. / MAKING SOMETHING LOOK BIG or SMALL
Making something look big or small.
Which camera setting would you adjust to keep both near and far objects in focus for a forced perspective shot? Hint (F-stop / aperture setting)
Increase F-stop to at least F16.
What’s one creative idea for a forced perspective photo involving nature?
Example: “Catching” the sun in a net, “squishing” a mountain between fingers, etc.