When out walking a trail, we are used to seeing things from a perspective of 5′ to 6′ above the ground because that is where our eyes are. As a photographer I am always looking for new perspectives on the natural world. One of my favorite perspectives is just a few inches above the ground.
This abandoned stretch of road through a marsh is part of one of my favorite trails in the IDNP. It may not look like much from this perspective at eye level. But when I point my camera at the foliage on either side of the road I see something entirely different as the following images show.
From this perspective the grasses and sedges form a solid mass of green, with a lot of depth and intricate detail. By choosing where to place the focus you can create so many interesting compositions.
Here is another trail, one where the foliage is much higher which makes it easier to see interesting compositions hidden within the mass of vegetation. The following are some images taken from along this stretch of trail, again from a perspective of maybe 1′ above the ground.
Another thing you get from using this perspective is a loss of context. Although the images on this page come from two very different looking trails, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Getting down low and focusing on a very small area removes the big picture context, allowing your eye to focus on the details.