Get Low!

Marie Torio is a NY based
photographer specializing in food, restaurant, interior and
editorial. Her website where
she can be reached
www.photosbymarietorio.com and her Instagram
photosbymarietorio 

Hi friends! As the fall season is coming to an end I have been able to go through some images and am pleased with the fact that I tried something different in my approach to taking photos. I am happy to say that in the middle of getting back into the "back to school routine,” work assignments and testing recipes, I made the effort to go out to take some walks and enjoy nature with my camera on hand. When it comes to photography, lighting, composition and subject are important but I chose to focus on my angle or perspective with these images.  The common thread with these photos is that I shot my images from a lower, close to the 
ground viewpoint.
    For the image facing the open road, in the middle of a park bursting with early fall foliage, my camera was literally held parallel to the ground. I aimed to get the focus sharp towards the front and washed out the back to create depth or bokeh. The reason I chose to take this photo from such a low vantage point was because I felt like it made the road look bigger. Had I taken this photo standing up and straight on, the road wouldn't have seemed so spacious and wide. Even though the composition would have been a little bit more balanced, the depth of field I was trying to achieve wouldn't have been the same. The open road spoke to me because it reminded me of life and how we should try hard to view everything that life 
presents us as an opportunity to grow 
and learn.  
    The photo of the red leaf on the ground in front of Belmont Lake was taken during golden hour. There was warm lighting and the way the sun hit the leaf helped to highlight it's detail.  I took a lot of shots of leaves this season from different angles but this was by far my favorite. One, because its an angle that I haven't really tried before and two, because I was satisfied with the placement of the leaf in front of the frame, the cool tone of the water behind it and the other colors from trees in the background. It was a perfect moment and I’m happy I caught it.
    Lastly, the shot of the leaf on the pavement was taken while I was waiting for the kiddies to come off the bus. It was one of those gloomy rainy days we had and I remember taking a class where my instructor stressed how she purposely chose to shoot photos on gloomy days where it was either wet out or overcast. Since then, I have always tried to see the beauty in days we might not think are as nice. I loved the mood in this image, along with the slick glossy floor and the  focus on the leaf. Even if it was dead on the floor and rained upon, it held up 
its shape and allowed me to get a 
good photo.
    I hope I have inspired you to take a look on your own photography methods and ask yourself what you haven't tried.  Whether it's because you never thought to give it a chance or maybe because you thought you might not be good at it.  Give it a try, you have nothing to lose. Enjoy the process and the moment. Be patient with yourself and while shooting, take a step back and really think about how its helping you to improve. 

Happy shooting!!