Sometimes a different photographic perspective results in a better image.

It’s that dilemma many photographers face. You take a great photograph only to find that it looks like everybody’s snapshot. Imagine a single black-eyed Susan filling the frame, every photographer has shot that same picture. We all have them in shoe boxes and on our hard drives.

This cottage has probably been captured hundreds of times with a wide angle lens from the sidewalk leading to the front door. Take a few steps backward and frame the shot with the arbor at the entrance to the walkway and voila. You have a great image.

The sun was rising in the east and shadows were already long and deep.

Leaves had not started changing color in Vergennes due to recent rains. I could not control the timing. We were there to do a job, plain and simple. My wife and I went to Vermont to shoot video of business coach Steve Roller’s “Big Ideas Retreat.”

I wanted to come home with plenty of images from this trip and this little cottage was charming. I needed to capture it without creating the same shot that thousands of photographers have done before me.

This picture would be “okay” if I shot it wide angle from the sidewalk. It would be better if I framed it with the arbor. That would give it a fresh look that add lots of interest

Forward or Back

Taking a few steps backward showed more of the arbor and it resulted in dark shadows running through the bottom third of the image. That would not do.

The sun was not yet over the peak to our east and shadows were already getting harsh. I wanted the arbor to frame the shot. It was just a matter of finding the right place to stand. I could picture the image I wanted in my head.

This vantage point was perfect.

Always look for ways to make a common shot uncommon. You’ll be glad you did.