Forced perspective is a technique used in photography in which a deliberate optical illusion makes objects seem closer or farther away, as well as smaller or larger than they actually are. Travelers and tourists often use this technique to take creative and funny pictures. These pictures can be taken anywhere, but they’re usually taken where there’s a small number of objects that give the viewer perspective, like in open plains, or with world famous monuments. Before you is a list of popular locations and objects for forced perspective photos
1. The Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni), Bolivia
The world’s largest salt flat at 10,582 km2 (4,086 sq mi). It is located in southwest Bolivia, at an elevation of 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above mean sea level. The consistent white landscape and lack of reference points cause the sense of perspective to be undermined. The lack of perspective can baffle visitors, but at the same time enable them to easily create surprising and funny pictures to send home. The Salt Flats in Bolivia are by far the most popular location for taking forced perspective photos
Forced perspective photos in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (source: Javier Ignacio Acuña Ditzel)
Forced perspective photos in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (source: Ricampelo)
Forced perspective photos in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (source: Evaneos.com @ flickr)
2. Eiffel Tower, Paris
The Eiffel tower is one of the most recognized monuments in the world and the most popular attraction in Paris. Every single day, and at almost every hour, the tower is surrounded by tourists taking its picture. Many of them use forced perspective to create a fun and personal photo and memory rather than another generic picture of the tower. The most popular forced perspective pictures of the Eiffel tower are probably the point touching of the tip of the tower, and leaning on or pushing the tower
Forced perspective photos with the Eiffel Tower, Paris (source: lunavorax)
3. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa
Pisa is another world famous monument, and just like the Eiffel Tower, you’ll find countless of tourists all around it taking pictures. Most will take regular pictures of either the tower alone or the tower with their family and friends. Some will take more artistic photos. And if you look good enough, you’ll spot those who take the forced perspective pictures. Look for someone trying to either push an imaginary tower, or lean on an imaginary tower. Looking at people taking these photos is funnier than the pictures themselves
Forced perspective photos with the Leaning Tower of Pisa (source: Dmarcy)
4. The Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx, Egypt
Another world famous monuments that often fall victim to this illusion are the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza. The immense size of these monuments along with the background of the empty desert makes it easy to take forced perspectives
Forced perspective photos with the Great Pyramid of Giza (source: Benjamin Vander Steen)
5. Washington Monument, Washington DC
The Washington Monument stands in the center of the National Mall, between Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. Standing just over 555 feet (169.294 meters) tall, the Washington Monument is the world’s tallest obelisk as well as the world’s tallest stone structure. These facts makes it a prime candidate for forced perspective pictures, which means that like other monuments mentioned here, the area around the Washington Monument will often include people pulling, pushing, hugging or lifting – thin air, competing who will take the funniest and most creative photo no one ever took before (or since yesterday)
Forced perspective photos with the Washington Monument (source: Will Folsom)
6. Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower, London
Like other famous monuments, Elizabeth Tower and its huge clock Big Ben also star in many hand crafted forced perspective photos. Except the standard tricks of trying to push or pull the tower, touch its tip or lean on it, here people often try to set the clock
Forced perspective photos with the Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower (source: terencechisholm)
7. The Moon
The moon is not a good location for forced perspective, but rather a good object to be used in such pictures. The lack of surrounding objects makes it very easy to successfully employ the illusion on pictures of the moon. Same goes for the sun during sunset
Forced perspective photos with the Moon (source: lo.tangelini)
Every place with monotonic scenery and lack of reference points can make a good location for such pictures. The Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia is the most popular place, but the Salinas Grandes salt desert in Argentina is a popular place as well, the Bonneville salt flats in Utah, and many other deserts and sand dunes can be used. The illusion is easy to employ with objects in the sky (planes, birds) or in the sea (boats, ships, or even people swimming). So if you’re looking for a spot to take a cool pictures, use your imagination, enjoy, and feel free to send us the result to publish in this page!
