What guidelines are there for choosing a point of view in composition?

Question

Just as we have the rule of thirds, is there anything similar for point of view?

On what basis and in which cases, you decide whether the POV should be higher, lower, or eye level?

Answer

When you take portraits, the rule is to be to eye level. But... if your model does not have too much hait, a little down the eye point of view can help. Same thing if your model has a double chin. A little higher than eye level can help.

Another thing is about the use of a wide angle lens. The rule is to keep the camera horizontaly and verticaly "aligned". But if you want to enhance some curves, or some perspective, you may rotate it a little bit.

Also, with a wide angle lens, getting a little bit down can reduce the importance of the ground, and at the opposite, taking it up may increase it (always with the camera H/V aligned).

A last thing. Putting the camera higher than your eye level may introduce a feeling of power / detachment. On the opposite, putting it lower may introduce a feeling of submission.

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