The user's viewpoint

I chose some very different scenarios to demonstrate user's viewpoint. This is a fairly loosely defined exercise and I had some challenge with understanding what is being looked for; other blogs assisted but it seemed wise to interpret the exercise as I saw fit.

The first location is the hire depot of Edge Equipment Hire in Runcorn; specifically the warehouse section. I co-own this business although am passive as regards management of it.

Both of these shots were taken with f22 focal length, designed to capture a wide perspective of the warehouse.

This is a storage for the equipment waiting to go on hire so the user is concerned with several important operational matters:

• Layout of items so he can easily identify what he wants;
• Space to be able to move and transport the equipment and to work on equipment;
• Light to see the items clearly;
• Health and Safety so items can be stacked sensibly and in an orderly way

The images are taken from an eye level viewpoint as this is the natural way that the user will encounter the viewpoint. The first image works well to give the senses of space and orderliness, the second better meets the third and fourth requirements: light and health and safety.


The next scenario is as far from this as possible can be imagined.

Iona Abbey is a well known pilgrimage destination; I use a viewpoint of the cloisters for this exercise.  This image invites the viewer to be empathetic with the monks as they walk slowly in silent contemplation, and thus is taken at eye level with 28mm focal length. There is a sense of quiet contemplation in the uncluttered environs.

Lastly, and again in contrast, a view of the Olympic stadium in Stratford is included.

This is taken with a very wide angle - 10mm- as we are trying to get the sense of the scale of the vista that confronts the user. I chose this partly because it does include the crowd; in this image I think including many people is important because here we are trying to evoke excitement, anticipation, noise and action, responses that do not naturally flow from still images. The inclusion of someone else taking video adds to the feeling that the user is party to an exciting and fulfilling event. The viewpoint is sitting, exactly as the remainder of the crowd is.

I took this exercise to be about having a sense of empathy with the user; trying to convey the viewpoint and use that the user would make of his or her viewpoint. It is a little about photography in a functional sense and made me think about what the user is anticipating from the space that  he or she confronts.