Eye level

Eye level is a viewpoint where the camera sits at roughly the eye height of a standing person. The horizon falls near the middle of the frame and the viewer feels placed inside the scene. In architectural visualization it is often called the human perspective, because it shows a building or room the way people will really see it.

Why eye level works

An aerial view explains a project; an eye-level view lets people inhabit it. Walking up a street towards a building, you notice the scale of the entrance, the shadow under the eaves and the texture of the cladding from this height. Indoors, eye level helps furniture sizes and ceiling heights read correctly. Clients and buyers remember these images because they can picture themselves standing there.

Practical points

Eye level does not always mean a standing adult’s height. In spaces used mostly while seated, such as a living room or a restaurant, lowering the camera a little often feels more natural. With tall buildings, eye level makes it hard to fit the whole facade in; stepping the camera back and keeping verticals straight usually works better than reaching for an extreme wide angle. When the heads of people in the image line up with the horizon, it is a good sign that the scale is right. For more on presenting work, read how to present a 3D architectural project.