Whether you realize it or not, we live in a world that surrounds us in all directions. Every moment is taking place in a full three hundred and sixty degree environment. The challenge for photographers is that our cameras can only capture a small fraction of that view at any given time. That means we have to decide what stays in the frame and what gets left out.

Most people naturally photograph the world at eye level because that is how we experience it every day. The problem is that eye level is also the view people are most accustomed to seeing. Unless the subject itself is truly extraordinary, eye level photos can sometimes blend into the thousands of other photos people have seen before.

One way to create more interesting images is to deliberately change your perspective. Sometimes that means getting low to the ground. Other times it means finding a higher vantage point. One of my favorite approaches in theme parks is something much simpler.

Look up.

Unless someone is lying on the ground staring at the sky, looking directly overhead is not a common way for people to experience the world. When you point your camera straight up, you instantly create a photograph that feels different from what people expect to see.

The photo accompanying this article is a perfect example. It shows the painted underside of the Incredibles themed archway outside the Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure. Most guests photograph the arch from the side as they walk beneath it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that approach. In fact, it can create some wonderful images.

But by standing underneath the arch and pointing the camera directly upward, the image becomes something more unusual. The sky appears on both sides of the painted structure, immediately signaling to viewers that this is not a normal perspective. The small wisps of clouds help reinforce that feeling and prevent the blue sky from being mistaken for a painted wall or backdrop.

The result is a photograph that makes people pause for a moment and ask themselves how it was captured.

That curiosity is powerful.

One of the reasons theme parks are so rewarding for photographers is that their designers spend an incredible amount of time creating environments that surround guests from every direction. While most visitors are focused on the attractions, shops, and pathways in front of them, there are often incredible details hiding overhead.

Take a moment to look up while walking through a theme park and you may discover elaborate light fixtures, decorative ceilings, painted murals, themed signs, banners, architectural details, and storytelling elements that many guests walk past without ever noticing.

Disney in particular loves to use overhead spaces to reinforce the story of a location. Main Street windows tell stories about fictional residents. Queue areas often feature themed ceilings and props. Indoor attractions sometimes hide details above guests that help complete the illusion of the environment.

These details are often overlooked simply because most people never think to look up.

Photographing overhead subjects can also help solve another common theme park photography challenge. Crowds.

When you point your camera upward, you often eliminate most or all of the people who might otherwise be filling your frame. This allows you to focus on the architecture, design, and atmosphere without waiting for a perfect moment when nobody is walking through your shot.

The technique works especially well during busy seasons when finding crowd free compositions can feel nearly impossible.

Another advantage of looking up is that it encourages you to slow down. Instead of rushing from attraction to attraction, you start noticing the details that make each themed environment unique. You begin to appreciate the craftsmanship and storytelling that went into creating the space around you.

The next time you visit a theme park, challenge yourself to spend a few minutes looking above eye level. Look at the rooftops. Study the archways. Examine the signs, lighting fixtures, and decorative details. Point your camera straight up and see what happens.

You may be surprised by how many interesting compositions reveal themselves when you stop looking where everyone else is looking.

Some of your favorite photographs may be waiting just above your head.

We would love to see what you discover. Join us in the Fairy Tale Photo Academy community on Skool and share your favorite photos of hidden details, unusual angles, and overhead perspectives from your theme park adventures. You might inspire someone else to look up and discover a detail they would have otherwise missed.