Is your tripod a little off the level? Just tell people it’s a Dutch Angle
May 13, 2016
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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The Dutch Angle. It’s one of those things you either love or you hate, and even when you are a fan, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between an intentional act and whether the creator simply forgot to level their tripod.
It’s one of those things I’ve tended to avoid, having never really seen a purpose for it in my own work. This study from Fandor, however, takes us through some of Cinema’s best scenes ranging from 5 to a full 90 degrees, showing us the angles that we probably didn’t even notice until it was pointed out to us.
Taking us on a journey from 5 through to a full 90 degrees,
https://vimeo.com/138044491
One particularly interesting thing in this video, if you’ve actually seen the movies from which the shots were taken, is that many of them are very tense scenes.
Tilting the camera can have a very jarring and unnerving effect on the view. It makes them feel like something isn’t quite right, it makes us feel uneasy, like something bad is about to happen (or is already happening), and so is perfectly suited to such imagery.
The Dutch Angle isn’t always for intensive scenes. Sometimes it just lets us get a better composition, especially if our subjects aren’t vertical.
But, yeah, it’s usually tension, at least when it comes to movies.
I’m still not sure it’s right for my work, but this video has given me a little more appreciation for the technique when it’s used well.
How about you? Is it something you regularly use with your photography or video work? What are your thoughts on the Dutch Angle in general? Let us know in the comments.
[via All Things Photo]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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5 responses to “Is your tripod a little off the level? Just tell people it’s a Dutch Angle”
Not for me. I got tired of seeing it at least 5 years ago. Most of the time I see it is someone hoping it will magically transform their cell pone snapshot into art. 99% of the time it doesn’t.
Oh yeah Ruben Jeroen
I’m dutch and i’m using it a lot!
don’t.
Like anything, it has its uses, and like anything, can be overused.