In photography and movie making, forced perspective is a technique that creates an optical illusion that makes objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or further away than they really are. The technique is often used humorously in various settings, but it can also work as a practical solution.

For example, renowned film director Peter Jackson, best known for his Lord of the Rings trilogy, used forced perspective to make certain characters look much shorter than others. No wonder he is about to receive a lifetime achievement award next month from the Visual Effects Society.

Stephanie Kay-Kok, a Netherlands-based photography connoisseur, shared some useful tips on creating some great pictures with forced perspective.

“When you’re shooting alone, getting a forced perspective composition just right can be difficult. Unless you’re working with objects that are within hand’s reach, you’ll have to walk back and forth to reposition the subjects and check their position in your viewfinder, over and over.”

Turns out, with another person, you’ll be able to make the necessary adjustments hassle-free. If you’re alone, though, good props may be an option too. Stephanie suggests that the best props relate to the environment somehow, strengthening the connection between the foreground and background.

In the end, make sure you have the right composition, as it's key in forced perspective. Place the objects in the environment so that they serve your vision, and make sure you experiment a little. Look for creative angles and out-of-the-box ideas to make the shoot more entertaining.