Pascal Baetens. Nude Photography. The Art and The Craft. 2007

116 exploring techniques

the effects of distortion

Distortion in an image has a great impact on the viewer—

especially when the subject is the human body. photographic

distortion alters the original shape of an image and its effects

are surprising, sometimes shocking, views of what is usually

so familiar and predictable. Distortion is usually considered

undesirable, but it can be used in very effective ways; for

example, to create intriguing bodyscapes, or to exaggerate

a pose. A wide-angle lens is the ideal tool for creating

distortion; the elements closest to the lens will automatically

appear enlarged and the subject will be stretched toward the

edges of the frame. You can also create interesting effects

simply by experimenting with unusual viewpoints.

Unusual aspects

here, a low and close-up viewpoint

has the effect of exaggerating

different parts of the model’s body.

By positioning myself so that one

element became the foreground

of each image, she takes on a

strangely unreal quality. it doesn’t

matter if an element is so close

that the lens is unable to focus

sharply—this is exactly what

happens with the human eye,

and only adds to the overall effect.