Like many of you I am fascinated by much in this world around me, from the colossal to the minute. Usually when we examine something we can understand the size of it by using something in the surroundings to give it scale, for example a human, a house and so on.
Some Common Mistakes That Are Made
Some years ago I was studying a scientific textbook and there was a chapter on the Giant Sequoia tree. The point was made that the biggest trees in the world come from some of the smallest seed. Two images were then shown, one of the tree and one of the seed from which it came. The photograph of the seed was shown in a way to demonstrate scale whereas the tree was not. The impact that the images should have had was thus lost!
This is my own re-creation of what i saw in the textbook. Notice that the seed shows scale but the tree doesn't! The first image is from pixabay.com and the second is from here.
Look at The Difference When The Giant Sequoia is Given Scale!
Here is a picture of my sister-in-law when she visited the States. Notice how this picture shows scale.. and how!
Another Example Where Scale is Needed
These are the leaves of the giant Gunnera Manicata which is of the rhubarb family. How do we know it's giant? Photo credit pixabay.com
The same leaf with a human to give it scale. That's better! Image source
What Are Some Tiny Examples Right Here on Steemit?
One of our members @oceansoul13 was running a contest called the Tiny Art Challenge in which she was asking for just that, tiny art.
Here is an entry by @airmatti who is one of our Italian speaking Steemers and the designer of our Steemit Trading Cards.
Here are some cool Star Wars sketches that @airmatti did but how do we know that they're tiny? Why give then scale of course!
Now that's more like it! We can really see how tiny these portraits are!
Here's another example from the same contest. Notice how the coin makes the size of the drawing not only instantly recognizable by all the more impresive! The picture is by Lorraine Loots.
What do You Think?
- Do you see the importance of giving some photographs scale?
- Can you see how the Giant Sequoia tree shown in the textbook was ineffective?
- What photos have you taken that show scale?
I hope that you enjoyed this article about not forgetting to give your photographs scale!
Until next time,
@kus-knee (The Old Dog)
Very nice and interesting post. You bring up a good point. I find this subject very interesting as it deals with human psychology and how we interpret things.
I think this knowledge is important in order to get the right impact when people see your images. In the same time that scale offers an interpretation, contrast can offer focalization in art or photography and can make a huge difference.
Just like in life if there is not a contrast we have nothing to compare to and thus we can not understand or appreciate something. Much like a spoiled kid that gets whatever he points on will find himself depressed and bored later because he has no contrast to how it could be to really have to fight for these things and how hard they can be to come by.
It's the first time I see such a huge leaf. I wonder how many rhubarb pies you could make with those ones in the picture ? My grandma used to make me rhubarb pie a lot when I was younger maybe I will plant one of these big boys in her back yard to see her reaction hehe .
What a great comment! It's even longer than my post and so I will upvote it as such! Yes rhubarb pies are awesome!
Wow !! Thank you so much :) I usually don't write such long comments but because the post struck a cord with me it just kind of poored out like that :)
A giant rhubarb pie was the first thing I thought of when seeing that photo as well. I'm sure we'd all love to demonstrate the scale of our appetites in relation to a giant rhubarb pie.
I don't think that I quite get it yet :-)
Could you do a part 2?
Thats something else then always those god... whales..;-) let start the elephant contest also... I am the small one in the front..lol..
Would you like to consider to vote for me as witness... started a couple of days ago.. and I hope this can bring me dream come true.. Just consider it.. and thx anyhow.
Just keep re-reading the post over and over and over again and let the pictures sink in as you do so. Eventually it will come to you! :)
Thx again for your support. Man I love the commitment you have on the platform... I did my best the last 117 days. https://steemit.com/steemit/@rival/rival-new-milestone-today-i-reached-1000-sp-in-117-days
Would you please consider to vote for me as witness. I would be very very thankful. Your vote can really change my future.. it's free and you have 30 votes in total... No is also an answer, no problem..
so funny..Scale is a great technique to improve your images and shouldn't be overlooked. You can even have fun with it like this. As humans we need scaled to know how large and small the surround world is. In photography it helps us to enjoy the image instead of adding mental work to figure out the size of various elements.
Zoom the photo to see the same small leaf
Your example is awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing it!
Very interesting article :)))
We need scales sometimes, as in the #tinyartchallenges. Otherwise the photo has no impact. But there is another tool, if you take macro photographs. This is the depth of field! The less the DOF the more the object looks tiny, like this blue flower.
Sometimes, I also play with tiltshift, like this:
This is the view of Budapest but looks like a mock-up.
Thanks for your article, because I became inspired again! Maybe my next article will be about optical illusion!
I like your example and I also love to play with depth of field. Good to know that you're inspired!
This is my first article about illusion in art: https://steemit.com/art/@kalemandra/warning-if-you-only-believe-in-your-eyes-your-brain-can-be-easily-deceived-post-1-art
Sit down please
Together..... All ,....
Very good!
Only with this normal chair, one can see how small these people are ;-)...and even the dog!
It's incredible how we can be deceived by a picture based on what we already now! We might think something is small because we se some similar objects around, but in fact that one is not or vice versa! There where many interesting answers to the post showing this! It remembered me that I once saw some pictures of a special place where due to his lack of refernece the prespective goes to die: the salar de Uyuny, a 10000 square kilometers salt desert and here's a picture shwoing what I mean:
Questa foto di Salar de Uyuni è offerta da TripAdvisor.
Thank a lot for the mention and showing my work as a reference!!!
Very cool. Thanks for the photo!
wow those leafs are giant! i mean look at how tiny your head looks!
Yes they are most impressive!
Thank you for another interesting view.
Thanks to you for having a look!
So we have a little stone
Nooo,.. its big
Sure we do need scale, and especially in the mountains, there it is very hard to see the scale
That's a really fun example of scale fooling us! Fabulous!
hello dear @kus-knee,very informative article about the importance of scale for better result of any picture, thats awsome technique used professional photographers. i impressed from your scale using taken pictures. thanks and keep it up for more informative posts.
Thanks so much for taking the time to both visit and comment!
dear i always visit your posts regularly, thanks for your positive response on my comment...
Great post , the last photo is so fantastic thanks for sharing
Yes the artist who drew the bird is amazing!
you mean like this?
don't worry Old Dawg !
that pic is mine :)
thank you for posting such very helpful info
something to take into consideration when taking a photo
a very very good tip!
I will be honest though, I thought scales - that of a fish hihihi
peace Old Dawg and have a great weekend with the bird!
That's another great example!
thank you Old Dawg ..
btw .. I nominate @woman-onthe-wing for your cards
I hope you don't mind me writing it here
the contest she's hosting is going to have its anniversary on the 20th
I think she's already helped many foodies here
and have I been as famous and trending like you are I would do the honor
but I'm not so I nominate her :)
Excellent article ..we need scale to compare the things as smallest or biggest... you have beautifully these with examples.
Thanks so much!
My pleasure ...but its an important topic ...I have faced this problem many times..pictures cannot show the exact size and the problem is you cannot explain it..that's why scale for comparison is needed..
Thanks for the post...I am following you.. have a nice evening because its evening here..
Yes it's evening where I am too!
To think of that one might be able to get the differences in the sizes without the examples which really defines the artworks of the artists .
They indedd were amazing
Yes it is an important aspect!
Hi)))) Very instructive article turned out))) I will definitely take note of your advice)))) I never even thought about it when I took photos)))) From the bottom of my heart I sincerely thank you)))
Thanks so much for your kind words!
There is quite a large tree. And the leaves are also bigger. This tree is on the place.
Thanks so much!
nice blog.. I like the subject.. will post a picture from my personal collection with scale
This picture was from some weeks ago.. the hand makes you see how big the cricket was
Vote for me as witness, and make my dream come true.
Is that a giant grass hopper?
yes its a grass hopper.. I forgot the word..
Huge trees..... I cannot believe because I have never seen. 01 number of photo, it`s honey and funny. However fabulous photography @kus-knee.
Upvoted/ Resteemed
Thanks so much!
Incredible and Unbelievable old and huge trees photos. You showed with great example matching Photographs Scale from both of photos.
Have a nice day..
Nice day to you too!
Another entry. I was at this music festival some months ago.. The first picture is from the podium
the second you can see how big it was and how many people were there
Good example. Only by stepping back can you understand the size of the venue
indeed.. looking forward to more entries.. did you see my idea from yesterday for the trading card?
And please consider to vote for me as witness as this could really achieve my goals..
Wow! The trees are huge! And the Gunnera Manicata leaves are! I wouldn't be able to see how really huge thise are without a scale. You surprised me : )
I surprised myself! Thanks for coming by
Wow that bird! Incredibly drawn.
So true and there are some great artists right here on Steemit as well!
Indeed!
I envision to have direct communities shown in the future. It'd be easier for us to choose.
Nice to see these beautiful huge trees and the leaves are soo huge cant't see ever. Love it.
Thanks so much!
Great information. Do you think this will help me working on my cat avatar? LOL
That could be a solution!
Wow! This got me from the second picture of the giant tree. It is very important to always show scale. I never really thought of it this way.
Hey friend! Thanks for the much appreciated visit and comment! I spent the evening with someone from Benin city!
That tree is really
Really?.............
We had lots of 'Gunnera Manicata' in Patagonia. They grew like weeds there. The indigenous people would eat their stalks. Unfortunately, I don't think I have any photos. But, you're absolutely correct, if I had taken photos, they would have meant nothing without perspective
Wow, so cool that you saw the real thing! You mean the great @gringalicious didn't cook something with them!? now you HAVE to go back!
Upvoted. I'll be resteeming this now :]
Much appreciated. I suspect that you're British! :)
When I get my film developed I'll show some Moon shots
Not that one... When I lived in California there was a tree in Forestville that you could drive a car through! Don't ask me what that has to do with anything- It's still early in the morning!
Looking forward to more details when you've had your coffee!
My film will be ready monday and then we can see how my real moonshots came out!
@kus-knee,
Yeah, we need photography scaling and in most of times I am using adobe photoshop to do that job! Personally I hate to see different size of photography in an article! It's interrupting me :D
Very useful article from you!
Cheers~
R u a photoshop man! That's a good and useful skill!
Scale is always important and your examples are great.
The tiny art challenge was a great idea!
Yes that Tiny Art Challenge was impressive!
An excellent reminder, Old Dog!
Thanks a bunch!
Considering Gunnera Manicata can cause skin irritation sticking his head there may not be the best of ideas.
Good point nad something I didn't know!
That reminds me of some of my battles with Poison Ivy! My worst was when, as a boy, I crawled G.I. Joe style through a big patch of it while naked on Giant's Tomb island but that's a story for another day!
Haha its funny picture that man in middle of full o flower thats carzy
and post too :)
Yes that leaf with the head poking through is Amazing. I'd love to see the real thing!
Yea that's carzy :)
These seem to be ordinary shoes, but they are huge! To show their scale, I photographed passing feet :)
Well done and a good example!
Quite interesting infact more than that truly amazing use it make more sense to now after seeing the pics and reading about it in details thanks for that :)
Thanks so much @blazing
Very nice post
Thanks for giving me a hand(s)!
Good tip. I like the plant and the head popping out. 😊 Funny photo.
I use the scale tip often on eBay auctions. So, that people get an impression on e.g a pile of stone they would like to buy. Fewer surprises afterward.
You are very wise to show scale so that there are no misunderstandings!
Great photography of looking place. :) thanks for your posting
have a nice day.
upvoted
Thanks a lot!
Very good post. . Thankyou for sharing @kus-knee. . I have followed you
Much appreciated!
Posting yang sangat menarik, skala ternyata sangat penting dalam sebuah photo...
Congratulations @kus-knee!
Your post was mentioned in the hit parade in the following category:
Very intersting. Funny....
Amazing post
Jajajajaja this photo was too funny, scale 1:5?
Ye that's a funny one! 1:5? Maybe 100:1 as 100 heads will fit on that leaf!
Hello Friend @kus-knee! It's cool!! You gave me the pleasure of your photos! Have a good weekend!
Thanks and I wish you a great weekend as well!
A very insightful post!
I have known this for some time but do not always utilize it. Thanks for the reminder and you are TOTALLY right of course!