A bird’s eye view and a normal view are two different perspectives that can be used when looking at objects or scenes. The main difference between them is the angle or height from which the scene is viewed.
A bird’s eye view shows an object or area from above, as though the viewer were a bird flying overhead. This provides an overall, top-down perspective of the subject. A normal view shows the subject from a normal human perspective, at eye level on the ground.
Understanding the differences between these two types of views can help with visualization, photography, videography, mapping, and more. The unique perspectives provided by each view have distinct advantages and uses across many fields.
Characteristics of a Bird’s Eye View
A bird’s eye view has several defining characteristics:
- Viewed from an elevated position, as if from the sky or a very tall building
- Looks directly down on the subject
- Perspective is vertical rather than horizontal
- Objects appear relatively smaller than in a normal view
- Provides an overview of a large area
- Useful for observing relationships between objects/spaces
- Flattens the view and minimizes perspective distortion
- Offers a unique vantage point not possible from eye level
Some of the key qualities of the bird’s eye perspective include:
Overview of a large area
One of the biggest advantages of a bird’s eye view is that it allows the viewer to see a broad region all at once. This overhead vista provides information about the scale, layout, and connections between spaces that would be difficult to grasp from ground level. For example, an aerial view of a city gives a sense of the patterns of streets, blocks, buildings and parks that is not visible when driving around within the city.
Objects appear smaller
Since a bird’s eye view looks directly down on objects from above, items on the ground appear smaller and compressed. Cars look like tiny toys, and people are hardly visible as more than dots. This can allow a great amount of geographic area to fit into the frame at once.
Vertical perspective
Rather than providing a horizontal perspective across a space, the bird’s eye view offers a top-down vertical perspective. This aligns more closely with how maps represent space, with objects viewed from above rather than viewed outward. The orientation provides a different visual emphasis and flow of information.
Flattened, minimized distortion
When viewed from above, there is much less perspective distortion compared to an eye level view. Distant objects do not appear increasingly smaller, since the distance from viewer to scene is consistent across the frame. This flattening effect brings all objects toward a more consistent scale. The minimal distortion can help with tasks like planning architecture or layouts.
Unique vantage point
Humans are generally confined to viewing the world from the ground at eye level. A bird’s perspective provides a novel view that allows discovery and appreciation of spaces in new ways. This can reveal patterns, designs, and scales not visible from within a space. Just like how a map provides insights not possible from a single street view, aerial views offer unique information.
Uses of a Bird’s Eye View
Some common uses that take advantage of the unique bird’s eye perspective include:
Maps
Maps inherently require an overhead point of view. Traditional maps provide a scaled down bird’s eye perspective of a city, region or country. Features like roads, boundaries, elevations, and landmarks can be represented accurately from above. Digital interactive maps provide dynamic aerial views.
Landscape design
Landscape architects and designers heavily utilize bird’s eye diagrams. This allows them to plan functional relationships between spaces, envision traffic flow between elements, arrange plantings and terrain shaping, and more.
Architecture
Architectural plans, models, renderings, and drawings rely on overhead orthogonal projections to convey building dimensions, layouts, and designs accurately. A bird’s perspective is critical for spatial planning and envisioning the structure.
Real estate listings
Aerial photos of homes and properties allow potential buyers to view the full area and surroundings of a listing. This provides useful information about nearby amenities, roof conditions, and landscaping.
Construction planning
Builders and construction planners use aerial views to survey site conditions, plan staging areas, envision arrangements of equipment and materials, and coordinate workers and activities.
Filmmaking
Directors frequently include bird’s eye establishing shots and perspective to reveal a large environment, convey passage of time through landscapes, and provide unique visual storytelling.
Sports broadcasting
Aerial camera angles allow viewers to observe formations, player positioning, field layouts, and more nuanced strategic developments in sports.
Surveillance/security
Elevated, downward pointing security cameras provide broad coverage of facilities, public spaces, retail stores, and more to monitor activity and improve safety.
Research
Studying the growth and health of crops, forest canopy structure, spread of wildfires, migration patterns, and other phenomena often relies on aerial observation and photography.
Photography
Photographers utilize drone and aircraft cameras to capture unique bird’s eye photos and videos showing scenes in new creative ways. The overhead perspective allows for distinctive composition choices.
Videography
Aerial video can provide immersive bird’s eye view experiences, allowing audiences to feel like they are flying over locations. Cinematic establishing shots also frequently show landscapes and buildings from above.
Delivery/logistics
Mapping apps and aerial monitoring help delivery drivers navigate efficiently. Logistics managers can also track inbound shipments, fleet vehicles, and workflow using aerial tracking and data.
Characteristics of a Normal View
In contrast to a bird’s eye perspective, a normal view has characteristics including:
- Viewed from eye level
- Viewer within or immersed in the scene
- Perspective is horizontal rather than vertical
- Objects appear at their normal relative size
- Provides view of what is directly visible from a location
- Useful for observing detail, color, and texture
- Provides a direct sense of depth and distance
- The most common human visual perspective
Key qualities of the normal view include:
Eye level perspective
The normal view shows a scene from an average human’s eye level, around 5-6 feet above the ground. This immerses the viewer within the setting rather than looking down from above. Objects appear at familiar relative sizes.
Horizontal field of view
Rather than looking vertially down, the normal view extends outward horizontally, providing a panoramic perspective. The visual information flows left to right taking in the full breadth of the scene.
Sense of space and depth
Because objects recede into the distance, photos and videos from eye level provide an innate sense of the depth and 3D spaciousness of a scene. Overlapping shapes and perspective lines converge toward vanishing points on the horizon line to create perspective.
Focus on details
The normal vantage lends itself to observing smaller details, textures, colors, and intricacies not always visible from far above. Facial expressions of a person or the grain of a wood surface can be appreciated.
Immersive experience
Being situated within a setting through the normal view allows a more vivid, immersive experience. The viewer feels part of the action, able to look around and sense the scale. This is the most natural, familiar human perspective.
Sense of speed
Motion appears much faster in the normal view. Watching traffic from the sidewalk emphasizes its speed unlike an aerial view. The rush of objects toward the viewer creates an exciting dynamism.
Uses of a Normal View
Some common uses taking advantage of the normal eye level perspective include:
Photography
Most photography captures subjects from a normal standing height. This provides a natural view matching human visual experience. Conveying a sense of being present in a scene is a strength of the eye level perspective.
Videography
Normal view video provides an immersive first-person perspective that transports viewers directly into a scene. Handheld footage captures the feeling of actively moving through and interacting with environments.
Film and television
Framing shots at eye level helps audiences feel closely engaged in dialogue scenes, dramatic moments, and action sequences. The camera acts as the “eyes” through which viewers experience the story’s world.
Painting
Art often depicts people, places, and objects from an eye level viewpoint matching our typical visual encounter with subjects. This creates a recognizable, organic perspective.
Product design
Ergonomics, usability testing, and design evaluation rely on observing products and interfaces from a normal user perspective to optimize the experience.
Retail displays
Store shelf arrangements, window displays, and product placements are designed to appeal to shoppers’ normal eye level viewpoint as they browse and make purchasing decisions.
Architecture
Structures must appeal visually from the normal human perspective. Features draw the eye upward and outward based on viewing angles from the ground. Interior spaces also flow based on eye level lines of sight.
Virtual reality
To create an immersive virtual experience, VR headsets track motion and perspective from eye level to match what users would see in real settings. Mimicking natural viewing is key.
Video games
First-person shooter and exploration games rely on eye level perspective to make the player feel embodied in the game’s world through the protagonist’s eyes.
Sports broadcasting
Cameras at player head height provide visceral in-the-action footage conveying the speed and physicality of sports like football, hockey, boxing, and basketball.
Bird’s Eye vs. Normal View Comparison
Here is a summary comparison of key differences between the bird’s eye and normal perspectives:
| Bird’s Eye View | Normal View |
|---|---|
| Seen from above, elevated | Seen from eye level, grounded |
| Vertical perspective downward | Horizontal perspective outward |
| Useful for broad overviews | Useful for localized detail |
| Objects appear smaller | Objects appear at normal size |
| Offers unique vantage point | Offers familiar, immersive view |
| Applications in maps, architecture, surveillance | Applications in photography, film, product design |
In summary:
– A bird’s eye view looks directly downward from an elevated perspective, providing a vertical overview useful for understanding spatial relationships, scale, and patterns across a large area.
– A normal view presents a horizontal perspective matching human eye level, with more detail, a sense of depth, speed, and an immersive quality useful for visual storytelling and depicting scenes realistically.
When to Use Each Perspective
Choosing between a bird’s eye vs. normal view depends on the use case and goals for depicting the subject:
Use a bird’s eye view when you need:
- A broad overview of a large region
- To convey the spatial layout of complex subjects
- Flat, undistorted representation of shapes
- To plan construction, agriculture, or other spatial endeavors
- A unique perspective unlike any possible from the ground
Use a normal view when you want:
- To immerse audiences in a setting
- To emphasize speed, motion, vertigo
- To focus on fine details and textures
- Familiarity and connection to a human perspective
- To evaluate ergonomics and usability
Certain fields rely heavily on one perspective or the other based on their needs, while other applications may benefit from combining both viewpoints for a fuller understanding.
The bird’s eye view brings invaluable directional clarity, while the normal view provides visceral realism and intimacy. But both play key roles in visualization across disciplines.
Conclusion
In summary, the main difference between a bird’s eye view and normal view comes down to perspective. A bird’s eye view looks directly down from above, flattening the scene and providing a broad overview. This aids spatial reasoning and mapping. A normal view represents eye level perspective, maintaining depth and realistic scale useful for immersive visual storytelling.
Each perspective offers unique advantages. A bird’s eye view is more abstract and schematic, optimizing spatial logic. A normal view creates tangible realism to place the viewer in the middle of the action. Selecting the right viewpoint depends on whether you need to prioritize big picture orientation or granular human-centered detail.
Developing the ability to visualize and mentally switch between these vantage points provides flexibility for fields like art, design, photography, engineering and beyond. Both bird’s eye and normal views supply different informational and experiential modes of understanding the world around us.
