How many of your photos have been taken from your eye level? The more pertinent question might be, "Are there very many that have been made from a different level?" I must admit that the majority of my photos are taken this way, though I will occasionally look for a unique perspective, including a higher vantage point from which to photograph.

This could be from a higher point like a hill, as in these views in Switzerland, Portugal, and the Palouse area of Washington state.

1-T_07_0840 1.5-T_19_0654Terraced vineyards along Douro River, Pinhão , Portugal 2-U_16_0144

Here I photographed Banff's Peyto Lake from an iconic lookout.

3-C_13_0379 Quite often roadside pullouts offer interesting perspectives, as this of the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.

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When I'm on vacation, particularly in Europe, I'll go to the centre of the town or city. There I'll often find either a town hall or church with a tall clock or bell tower. Most of these allow tourists to climb to the viewing platform.

5-T_07_0579View from church tower

This was shot from a church tower in Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany.

6-T_11_0051Views from tower of Old Town Hall

This one I took from the Old Town Tower in Prague.

Look for other high vantage points with in towns, as this in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy.

8-T_19_0709 This view looks straight down from a bridge in Porto, Portugal.

9-T_19_0779Xcaret Mexico resort

This creates a unique perspective on a musical group at a Mexican resort.

How can you take an interesting photo of an urban parking lot?

10-C_19_0162 I did by looking down from the patio of an apartment building. The colours certainly add to the photo.

In this photo I gained access to the rooftop of a hotel in Havana.

11-T_15_0562 The ultimate high vantage views come from an airplane.

12-921282Mount Logan in distance

Hiring a plane was the only way for me to photograph Kuskawalsh Glacier in Yukon's Kluane National Park.

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My friend Tim took me up in his plane in the Muskokas for the view.

I'll conclude with a selection of some of my photos taken from various high perspectives.

14-Tractor working vineyards, Osoyoos, British Columbia This is an Okanagan vineyard where the highway climbs out of the valley near Osoyoos.

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From a pullout I was able to emphasize the twisting road in Italy's Umbrail Pass.

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A street scene in Vienne, France.

16-T_06_0740Lauterbrunnen Valley I took this photo of the Lauterbrunnen Valley looking down from the village of Murren, Switzerland.

17-T_11_0118View from Hohensalzburg Fortress This unusual pattern of roads was uniquely visible looking down from Hohensalzburg Fortress in Austria.

18-T_11_0741 Mountain passes provide numerous overviews, as this from St. Gotthard Pass highway in Switzerland.

19-T_12_0068 These unique perspectives get the viewers attention because these scenes are not normally seen these ways.

How often do you see beach scenes photographed from on high, as this in Rhodes?

Even though the perspective might be unique, light and composition are still paramount to obtain good photos.

Next instructional blog will be on March 2.